Musical Interlude: Illegal Alien (1983)

 While "Illegal Alien", the 3rd single from Genesis' self-titled 1983 CD, was in heavy rotation on MTV, it didn't exactly resonate with fans despite the video being satirical in nature.

Singer Phil Collins added a toupee and a fake mustache as he and bandmates Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford played a trio of Mexican immigrants looking to enter the country.

"Illegal Alien" has been slammed for its apparent racist theme, demeaning to Mexicans. Understandably, it hasn't aged well, more than 40 years later, though today's government might look at it in a skewed light......

Baseball this 'n' that

 The Yankees won't go undefeated this season.

Arizona's Eugenio Suarez belted a grand slam off Mark Leiter, Jr. in the 8th inning to lift the Diamondbacks past the Yankees, 7-5.

Check the highlight reel:

The Yanks hit three more homers to bring their season total to 18 over 4 games, or, an average of 4 1/2 ding-dongs per game.

As for the suddenly popular "torpedo bats", it seems those have made their way to other teams, as expected.

The Mets' Francisco Lindor got a base hit using a torpedo bat in Tuesday's loss to Miami, while Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz had a big game vs. Texas Monday, going 4-5 with 2 HR's and 7 RBI in a 14-3 blowout.

Told ya it'd catch on.

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So Atlanta is 0-6 to start the season. It hasn't been that bad for the Braves in more than 40 years. Then again, back in the 80's, they didn't have key players out with injuries this early in the season.

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San Diego locked up 2nd year outfielder Jackson Merrill for a while to come with a 9 year extension. Over in Boston, rookie Kristian Campbell now has an 8 year deal, and pitcher Garret Crochet, who came over from the White Sox in the off-season, earned a 6 year extension.

Hopefully, the Mets & Yankees are paying attention.

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Making matters worse for Atlanta is outfielder Jurickson Profar getting popped for PED's. Profar, acquired from San Diego in the winter, is gone for 80 games and ineligible for the postseason.

You'd think he'd have learned from previous cases that getting caught kills your reputation, if you have one, dead.

Musical Interlude: Workin' For a Livin' (1982)

 "Workin' For a Livin'" was the 3rd single from Huey Lewis & The News' 2nd album, "Picture This", released in 1982. Unfortunately, "Workin'" missed the top 40, peaking at #41.

True story: Unity House's social club saluted clients who were in the workforce (after a sort) beginning in 1984. This lasted just a couple of years, as memory serves, due to heavy turnover in both clients and staff. "Workin'" was the inspiration for the event.

Musical Interlude: Three Stars Will Shine Tonight (1962)

 "Three Stars Will Shine Tonight", otherwise known as the theme from Dr. Kildare, peaked at #10 on the Hot 100 for the show's star, Richard Chamberlain, in 1962. Co-written by two of the pre-eminent TV theme composers of the day, Jerry Goldsmith & Pete Rugolo, it was Chamberlain's only real hit on the charts.

There is no documented video footage, so we'll settle for the audio track. MGM's record division released the single.

In memory of Chamberlain, 90, who passed away due to complications from a stroke over the weekend. Rest in peace.

Sports this 'n' that

 Some people just need a reason to hate.

After the Yankees dropped 20 on the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, including a team record 9 HR's, 3 of them by Aaron Judge, people were complaining on social media about the legality of a new bat, dubbed a "torpedo bat", that the Yanks were using.

However, Major League Baseball says that the bat conforms to league standards. I shan't be surprised if at some point, other teams, like, for example, the Dodgers or Phillies, decide to follow suit, which would make the Bombers trendsetters instead of cheaters.

At the end of the day, it's what we call a bag of nothing burgers.

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This isn't just opening week for baseball, but for the UFL as well.

The season opened on Friday with St. Louis blowing away Houston, 31-6. The UFL fills the Friday primetime space for Fox until the season ends, after which it'll probably be filled with baseball.

Saturday saw Arlington rout San Antonio, 33-9. Kalen Ballage, formerly with Miami in the NFL, set a UFL record with a 77 yard TD run.

Earlier today, in the first half of the ESPN doubleheader, Michigan dispatched Memphis, 26-12. Joe Tessitore (Smackdown) flew back from England in time to call the game.

As this post is being written, the DC Defenders lead the defending champion Birmingham Stallions, 15-11 with 3 minutes and change left in the 4th quarter.

Update, 6: 11 pm: DC won the game, 18-11.

Between this and arena football, this will keep football fanatics busy until next month's NFL Draft.

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It took just one start with Toronto before Max Scherzer landed on the IL.

Scherzer threw just 42 pitches before coming out of his start with thumb inflammation. The spate of injuries the last few years with the Mets, Texas, and now Toronto should be a sign that Scherzer, 40, may be nearing the end of the trail.

The Bible tells us God isn't mocked. On the other hand, raising money for "blessings" deserves to be mocked

 "Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he shall reap."---Galatians 6:7 (New King James Version)

In the 90's, the British trio Genesis produced a satirical take on televangelists and what we now know as the "Prosperity Gospel" with "Jesus He Knows Me", off "We Can't Dance". Phil Collins has said the song was inspired by British preacher Ernest Angley, but the video has the band on a mockup of Oral Roberts' studio set, or something akin to it.

Today, "prosperity gospel" preachers like Paula White-Cain, wife of Journey's Jonathan Cain, and the head of a "faith office" created by the Vicar of Vanity himself, Donald Trump, are being mocked for trying to fleece their congregations. Trump, we know, is pretending to be a Christian in order to deceive the evangelicals and retain his grip on his low information base of marks.

As Jesse Dollemore explains, White-Cain is asking her congregation for $1000 before Easter Sunday, April 20, three weeks from now.

Churches ask for "free will" offerings at every service. They don't make demands. For Paula White-Cain, it isn't enough she is married to a music legend. It isn't enough she has the stamp of approval of the First Grifter of this country. She, too, needs to enrich herself.

Here in the 518, churches do more for their communities, distributing produce, school supplies, and other items that people in the community need but can't afford themselves. Some churches work hand-in-hand with organizations like the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, for example.

Reality will be paying a visit to Paula White-Cain real soon, I think.

Remember the Milford Plaza? (1980)

 Today, it's known as the ROW Plaza, and is currently closed.

The hotel has gone through various hands over the years, but in 1980, after the Milstein family purchased the property, rechristening it the Milford Plaza Hotel, an ambitious ad campaign acknowledging its location in New York began, billing the Milford as the "Lullaby of Broadway".....

This ad got primo airplay on virtually every channel in NYC back in the day, and why not? It captures the spirit of Broadway, even using Broadway extras as actors in the ad.