AFL Coming Back!

That's the rumor at least....this popped in my Google Alerts:

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP)—The Arena Football League and its players reached a collective bargaining agreement that could clear the way for play to resume in 2010.

Jim Renacci, the vice chairman of the AFL executive committee, told The Associated Press the agreement was to be announced Monday.

“That was an integral part of getting us back for 2010,” Renacci said Saturday at a sports law conference at the Harvard Law School, adding an announcement on resuming play could come in the next 30 days. “We really need to if we’re going to get back into the boat for 2010.”

Renacci said the new labor agreement is just one step toward getting back on the field next year. The league also plans to restructure into a single entity ownership model and work out a deal with ESPN, which invested in the league and owned broadcast and internet rights.

A spokesman from the NFLPA, which represents the indoor league’s players, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Renacci, a partner and managing board member of the Columbus Destroyers, said the agreement with the players was the first major hurdle for the 22-year-old league.

The AFL’s possible return bucks a trend of cutbacks in sports as leagues and teams try to adjust to the deepening recession. College programs are cutting expenses, pro leagues have been laying off workers and even blue-chip teams like the New York Yankees are finding it harder to sell once-coveted tickets.

“These are trying economic times,” rocker Jon Bon Jovi, co-owner of the ArenaBowl champion Philadelphia Soul, said in December, when the league’s owners voted not to play in ’09. “The revamping will ensure that the AFL continues to provide value to its fans and not only survives but thrives in the years to come.”

Arena football features eight-on-eight play on a 50-yard, indoor field. The AFL’s 25-team minor league, af2, was not affected by the shutdown.

Renacci said the league plans to resume play with 18 teams—the original 16 plus two in cities he would not identify.

“We’ve had a couple of teams that want to join,” he said.

~ Hath

Story Update

Online is updated again :)

~ Hath

So, you wanna be on Broadway?

Audition for Memphis! This surprised the heck outta me. It's listed as a "Feature Film"... interesting.

In any event, I'm too old for these roles apparently lol

And too white.

And I can't sing.

Dammit!

~ Hath

Bill and Charlie sing with Jon Bon

Bill Belichick and Charlie Weis sang with Jon Bon Jovi at the Hannah and Friends benefit dinner in New York City on Thursday night. Man, what a priceless video!

Apparently, Jon offered to donate $50k (to Weis’s daughter’s charity) on the spot if Belichik would sing. Belichik countered with $60K NOT to sing. Jon won in the end.

Charlie really got into it, Bill was a reluctant drag-along, but HEY! He can smile!



Cracked me up :)

There are some pictures up here in my PB. They're screen caps from some of the video from last night.

~ Hath

David Speaks!

From the Toxic Avenger Blog....

Toxic Avenger Blog: TECH DAY 3: DAVID SPEAKS!

Hey hey. This is my first blogging experience (more of a music guy, ya know ... gimme a song and I know how to write it. So this isn't quite my thing but I'm trying for you Toxaholics -- and yeah, I dig that name.) Let me start out by saying that The Toxic Avenger js going to rock the house! I'm working on the sound design now so the show will be a theatrical rock 'n roll experience. It's funny because with Bon Jovi, we play to stadiums that seat at least 50,000 or so. But here at New World Stages (which is a great theatre) there are only 350 seats. So no matter where you sit, you'll feel like you're practically on stage. You're also going to laugh a lot. And rock out. And I just read the beginning of this blog and I definitely didn't write the paragraph about hoping to make Joe into a pill that we can all swallow him. I don't feel that way at all.

Let me also say that we have a really kick ass band. Our drummer, Alan Childs, played with Bowie on the Glass Spiders Tour, and our Musical Director, Doug Katsaros was in the band Balance (and he wrote the three notes that make up the "By Mennon" theme -- how cool is that?.) And our guitarist, Chris Cicchino, and our bass player, Dan Grennes, are real rock guys. They're all killer players. So come see the show! If our premiere at George Street Playhouse was any indication, you're going to have a great time.

LMAO, complete with typos and everything.

Damn, I love him :)

And look at that smile! If THAT isn't the picture of joy and loving what you're doing, I don't know what is.

~ Hath

Story Update

Online's been updated. I'm working on the others, but it's slow going. Thanks for your patience!

~ Hath

Toxic Cast In The Studio (reprise)

More pics!




















OK, can I just say, I'm in LOVE with David's smile?! He looks like he's having the time of his life!



The Toxic Avenger, based on the cult-film favorite by Lloyd Kaufman and Troma Studios, is fast-tracking the production of its highly anticipated cast recording to be available in time for the show's opening night in New York City (Monday, April 6th). Therefore, the cast took a break from rehearsal and hit the Avatar recording studios on Monday March 9th and laid down final tracks of the David Bryan/Joe DiPietro score. BroadwayWorld.com sent in our cameras to grab all the "Toxie" fun!

The Toxic Avenger will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th.

The performance schedule for The Toxic Avenger is: Monday, Wednesday - Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2 & 8PM and Sunday at 3 & 7PM. Tickets are $51.50 & $71.50 and may be purchased through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200/www.telecharge.com.

For further information and fun online content, please visit the show's official web site (www.TheToxicAvengerMusical.com).

~ Hath

source

Toxie is Ready for Broadway!

Here's a great little snippet of an interview with David, talking about the music of Toxic Avenger.

David and Joe are in the studio, mixing the soundtrack this week.

I am so excited to hear all the music for this show. What I've seen on the Toxie website and in clips has me excited for this show!

~ Hath

SNL Weekend Update

... Featuring Jon Bovi: a Jon Bon Jovi "opposite" band; instead of a tribute band. In case you haven't see it, "Jon Bovi" is a band for those who hate Bon Jovi.

Now, I of course, LOVE Bon Jovi, but still, found my self laughing at this bit.

This clip is on my new favorite site: Hulu. You can watch just about anything on Hulu :)



~ Hath

New Stories in the FF Bible

From Tresca: Living in Sin
This one is a Puppy Jon story.... and it starts out with quite a surprise....



By Becky Mahan: Where the Wildflowers Grow

Jon is an uptight, perfectionist rock star roughened by the music business. Annabelle is a free-spirited country girl born and raised in the small-town South. Neither knows a thing about the other's world until they collide in an unexpected twist of fate. What results is a surprising development and string of events that leaves two once-strangers - and their lives - forever changed.

Glad you're feeling better, babe!

Yes, Joe posted that all is well with David again lol... Here he is with 3/4 of the Toxie band, and Rocco, Joe's dog. Seriously, if you haven't read Joe's blog, you gotta.

And yes, Joe, some of us were concerned for David. We just love him to pieces (from afar, and in a stalkerish, but not dangerous way, promise.)

~ Hath

Poor David...

If you haven't been following Joe DiPietro's blogging on the rehearsals, etc., for Toxic Avenger, you're missing out. And if he's telling the truth, poor David had a bad case food poisoning this weekend.

Yesterday was the first non-stop, full run through of Toxie. Poor David called in to say that he woke up with intense food poisoning and he's only been able to lift his head off the pillow to vomit.

Joe's extremely funny, and if you haven't read his posts, I suggest you do. He'll make you smile. For example, today's post, about D's sickness... he posted a Theatrical Tip:

It was absolutely a good thing that David didn't come in today since actors tend to take it the wrong way when they see one of the authors vomit during a performance.

Who knew? lol

Anyway, David, I hope you're feeling better :)

~ Hath