Reports From The Stand?

So I've been toying with the idea of doing Twitter updates while I'm in the tree stand this weekend.

Do I dare?

I'd need the good phone which my wife might not let me take into the wilderness for fear of me losing it. That's fair.

Hmmm. Maybe just opening morning...

Happy Manniversary

14 years ago today I was hired at WAPL. I'm still here and it's official...

This is the longest relationship I've ever been in.

Parts Unknown

Ever wonder where all those wrestlers who were billed as being from "Parts Unknown" were really from. The WWE's Chris Jericho says he has the answer.

I've Got Mail - October Edition Follow-Up

Well that didn't take long. "Sim Jevero" of Oshkosh has already read my previous post and has crafted his well-planned rebuttal...

Comments: Here is just a quick thought, YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Think about it. You are just luck to have a job.

Sorry "Sim". All I can think about is why someone with a hyphen and now an exclamation mark fetish is spending waaaay too much time at my web page. It makes me a bit uncomfortable.

See what I put up with? Until next time.

I've Got Mail - October Edition

Golly dinglefoot! I just love getting mail because then I can share it with you and maybe we'll all learn something. This is an e-mail I received from... well... we'll call him "Sim Jevero" of Oshkosh. Due to the "complexity" of the missive, I'll break it down to address all his queries. He writes...

Comments: YO WHAT UP? Are you a real DJ or just a over gloi - f- ied tape player?

First off, musically WAPL went from vinyl straight to CD in the late 80s. I think the last time tape was used at WAPL was in the late 90s and by then it was well on its way out. So I'll answer 'no' -- I'm not an "over gloi - f- ied tape player". And I don't know if "gloi - f- ied" is supposed to be how the kids are saying "glorified" these days but I'll chalk that up to a typo or someone who has a hyphen fetish. "Sim" continues...


How is it you can not answer the phone? Or maybe they take that responsibilty away from over night?

I get this often. My listeners' main issue with me is that I don't answer the phone. Guilty. I wont lie to you, gang. I don't answer the phone because I think that the person calling is going to be critical of my work or possibly drunk and belligerent (which never happens after midnight). But after getting this delightful e-mail, I don't know what I was ever worried about.


It is all nice you help out the morning show but what about your show? Maybe that is why U are still the night ...

And I believe this is where "Sim" was distracted by a rogue moth and proceeded to chase it around the apartment with a rolled up newspaper, hitting the computer keyboard and inadvertently sending his e-mail before he could rattle off a really serious burn. Tough luck.

If only my job was about playing music this wouldn't be an issue but unfortunately my other duties here at the station have me out of the studio during the show so I don't get to answer the phone. Hope that clears things up and I'm sorry for those of you who let the phone ring for an excessive amount of time just to be denied. But if you're still upset about it think about this. Is it really some huge thrill to talk to me anyway? Most people who know me don't think so.

Keep sending those e-mails! And I promise to be more diligent in my page updates, too. I've been so friggin' lazy about it.

Go Bucky!

Whilst you surf the interweb today, why not vote for our own Bucky Badger in the Capitol One Mascot Challenge and stick it to that damn red thing that Western Kentucky calls a mascot. Here's the link.

B.J. Raji...

Here's an idea... sign your contract, fatass. You haven't accomplished enough to justify being a dick yet.

Twittergate!

It would seem that some asshat decided to hijack my Twitter account and send spam with it. If you were a follower of mine, a thousand apologies. It wasn't me who tried to direct you to porn. Hopefully it'll be up again in a week.

The Runaways movie - with pics!

Wow... have I been anti-social. Better post something.

I promised to do this about a week ago but forgot. Here's a picture of Kristin Stewart as Joan Jett for the Runaways film...




...and here's Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie...



The movie is set to be released in 2010.

Go Go You Pilots!

I went to Sunday's Brewers game (Thanks again Ron & Gordo!) and realized that next year is The Brew Crew's 40th anniversary in Milwaukee. However, the team actually got its start 40 years ago this year when the Seattle Pilots took the field in Sick's Stadium.



For those that don't know, the Pilots moved to Milwaukee after one year in Seattle. From what I read, the story is rather complicated and I couldn't begin to explain it but this site can. Anyway, I found this video of Sick's Stadium with the official Seattle Pilots fight song as the soundtrack. The song is so full of hope for the Pilots' success and knowing what was eventually going to happen to the team... well, it almost brings a tear to my eye. Almost.

A-ha!

Rap Chop

Found this via my friend Doug who does mornings on WSSP-Milwaukee. Hilarious.



Should Vince be endorsing anything involving slapping?

I like eggs...

...but I don't know how to take care of them. Thank goodness for Channel 5's Dr. Steve Brule...

Take Your Kid to Work Day

So a bunch of coworkers brought their kids in for Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day. Now I have to think if any of them heard me swear.

That's why I lock myself in my office.

A plea to the Green & Gold.

Before you make your first draft pick Saturday, please remember the fun stuff that happened twenty years ago this year...



I would be irresponsible as a football fan if I didn't offer up this nugget of football history. Now choose wisely!

[By the way, catch draft updates all weekend on 1150 WHBY as well as 1570AM & 95.3FM The Score.]

Get to know me!

Since us radio types can be secretive at times, how 'bout I regale you with some insightful "Ross Maxwell Fun Facts".

-My first car was a 1965 Plymouth Fury. My mom's uncle couldn't drive anymore so I bought it from him for $500. Because they never traveled far, it had 55,000 actual miles on it when I bought it in 1986.

-I have arguably the largest collection of Chester Marcol football cards in the world. 9!

-I once put a crack in the windshield of a Chevy Nova with my head. My dad had stopped suddenly to avoid hitting a killdeer in the driveway. I was five.

Don't you feel closer to me now?

Shandy is dandy!

Phone a friend! Call your grandma! Ride through town screaming like you're Paul-freakin'-Revere! Tell everyone you know that Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy is back on the shelf at your local repository!

Sorry... I'm a big fan.

This is the third year for Leinie's seasonal beer and for me it never disappoints. Light and crisp, it's perfect for those warmer months so as soon as I find out that they're selling it again I rush to the nearest store and grab some. It's the only beer that my wife buys without me having to ask because she likes it too.

So if you know someone who drinks it, let them know its back on the shelf.

For your health.

WAPL High Octane Crew 2009 - The Lineup

Ladies and gentlemen... boys and girls... children of all ages. It is with great pride that I unveil the three local drivers that “Your Station for Speed” will sponsor for the 2009 racing season...
Actually, you already know them. But I’ll talk ‘em up anyway.

John Meidam

John’s back in his #3 Super Late Model at Wisconsin International Raceway. He drives for beer. You can’t go wrong with that.

Todd Verhagen

Freedom’s own “Tiny Terror” once again pilots the wheel of his #52 Limited Late Model at WIR. This year he’s going to have the best crew ever because I get to be part of it. I think. Maybe they’re just humoring me. Anyway, these are last year’s colors. I’m trying to talk him into black and red for this year. Wish me luck.

Scott Mullen

Scott is our lone dirt driver with his #1 IMCA Modified. You should see him whip that sucker around the track. Sometimes the front wheel is so far off the ground in the turn you’d swear he was gonna flip the car.

It’s good to have everyone on board again this year. As soon as I get updated pictures I'll post them on the High Octane Crew page... and no, I haven't fixed the pix there yet. I will soon.

Get ready. We light ‘em up in less than a month.

For Smelly Teens

Here's another nugget of wisdom from Channel 5's Dr. Steve Brule...

Dan Seals... I'm sorry.

I don't necessarily believe in the supernatural, unexplained occurrences and the like but I want to pass this along because I never had something happen like this before.

[REFLECTIVE PAUSE #1: God, this is starting to sound like the beginning of a Penthouse Forum letter. Anyway...]

Within the last week I somehow heard a certain song which I had stuck in my head for days... "Meet Me In Montana" by Dan Seals & Marie Osmond. I know, right? What the hell? I think I heard it in the car on the way to Marshfield this past weekend but I'm not sure. Now although I can stomach the occasional country tune I'm not a country music fan and I won't go out of my way to listen to it unless forced to...

[REFLECTIVE PAUSE #2: For those of you that know me you'll know that I go to the Hodag Country Music Festival every year. Not my choice as it is one of the many sacrifices I make for my lovely wife. Therefore when I say "unless forced to", that's what I'm talking about. Just know that I take at least four cases of beer along for the duration just so you have an idea how I cope.]

So this song has been stuck in my head for the last few days. I even found it online and downloaded it so I had it. Weird. Anyway, I'm on the Facebook Wednesday morning and Calgaro did a status update, saying...

"...light of the world, shine on me, love is the answer."

[REFLECTIVE PAUSE #3: Lyrics from "Love is the Answer".]

So I reply...

"England Dan & John Ford Coley? You're on the WRONG station."


[REFLECTIVE PAUSE #4: "England Dan" is Dan Seals if you didn't know. He's on the left.]

Later that morning Roxanne Steele, John Jordan, Elwood and I were talking and Calgaro walks up and first thing he says to me is that those lyrics were from Todd Rundgren, not ED&JFC. I replied that ED&JFC recorded and released that song too. Then we all had a short discussion about 70s music and moved on with our lives.

[REFLECTIVE PAUSE #5: Don't bail yet. I'm getting there.]

Yesterday, Dan Seals passed away. Found it out this morning after all this other stuff occurred. And now I'm wondering if the persistence of that song in my head and the whole Facebook thing was trying to tell me that this was going to happen. It's really strange that a guy who I haven't thought about in years suddenly crossed my mind on two separate occasions in the past week right before he left us. But I suppose it was just coincidence. It sounds like Seals was rather sick so if it was some supernatural sign I doubt I could have done anything anyway. But if I could have... well then, Dan Seals... I'm sorry.

Although I didn't mean it to, this may have come across as some flippant attempt at humor and if it did, I apologize. In all seriousness, Dan Seals was as big a part of my musical influence growing up as any artist on 70s radio. Whether it was the songs of England Dan & John Ford Coley or Seals' foray into country music where he also had success, he should be regarded as one of the best and rightly so. I doubt any of the larger country stations in NE Wisconsin will do any tributes to him but there may be something on 104.3 The Breeze later on. Dan Seals died of mantle cell lymphoma at the age of 61.

I'm now Twitter-pated.

In order to be hip and in tune to what's hot in the world today, I've now signed up an account. Just click on the Twitter logo.

Now you can be a "Ross Maxwell follower" short of having to drink the Kool-Aid.

What? Too soon?

JJ Maloney's in Kaukauna

Tonight's last Michelob Ultra night is at JJ Maloney's in Kaukauna where you can register for a Norway Mountain ski package. Since it recently came under new ownership, a number of people have asked me where JJ Maloney's is. Since I'm all about helping my fellow man (especially when beer is involved) I have directions on how to get there easily from Hwy. 41 at the Hwy. 55 exit. You can view them by clicking here.

I'm so helpful that they should call me "Rand"...

Rand McNally... "THE MAPMAKER"!!!

See you tonight.

When MacGyver goes bad...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

For Your Health

Because I'm all about helping my fellow man.

NASCAR on FOX sucks rocks.

I watched the NASCAR pre-race coverage from California yesterday.

Waitaminnit... let's restart.

I tried to watch the NASCAR pre-race coverage from California yesterday.

Is this what its going to be each week? Fluff like Hammond's Dr. Seuss bit? A Digger cartoon? Ridiculous. They could have redeemed themselves when Gavin Rossdale hit the stage and had him play a good ol' fashioned ass-kicker to get people fired up but it would seem that the more logical choice was a slow love song. Really? Don't get me wrong. I like "Love Remains the Same". Great song. Save for an ice skating broadcast, it absolutely has no place on a sports show.

But hey, if you're into the new FOX pre-race format don't let me stop you. You may find it entertaining. But as the guy in second place on the backstretch says... I think I'll pass.

By the way, there's no law that says you can't turn the volume down on the TV and listen to something better before the race starts. Catch pre-race coverage for each Cup series race on The Score at 1570 on the AM and now at 95.3 on the FM. No fluff... just facts. Here's the link to the website. They stream online, too.

Daytona Observations

(Maybe you should read the "Disclaimer" post before you read on. I'll wait.)

(...)

(...)

(...)

(OK.)


By now, you've probably seen the infamous "Dale Jr. incident" at last weekend's Daytona 500...

...or maybe you didn't. Take a look.



It makes you wonder if the guy driving the car that hit Brian Vickers wasn't Dale Jr., would he have been parked for five laps for rough driving? It happened to Jason Leffler the day before in the Nationwide race for doing less. And knowing that Junior was just coming off of a pit miscue - a miscue which had just added to the list of other problems he had during the day and raised his frustration level which you could clearly pick up on if you were tuned to his scanner channel - you're telling me that what just happened wasn't just the slightest bit deliberate? Wake up.

I'm no Jr. hater (hell, I watched the race in Dale Jr. Crocs and I own one of his new sweatshirts) but NASCAR knows that no matter what he did, parking their most popular driver for five laps in the biggest race of the year would mean people would change the channel. And NASCAR can spin things all they want but their decision (or lack thereof) was just as deliberate as what you saw on the track. Over the last number of years, their trail of inconsistent penalties against drivers and teams runs for miles. They know which drivers fill the seats and they will bend the rules and exploit gray areas to make sure they do not jeopardize the fan base if they don't have to.

It may not seem like it but I'm not as excitable about this as it may seem because I've seen this sort of thing before in NASCAR. It's not worth getting your undies in a knot. But I've said it before and I'll say it again. NASCAR races are fun to watch but NASCAR as a governing body is a joke. And until fans tell NASCAR that they're tired of the politics and the favoritism, and actually do something about it (like stop watching races), things will never change. At that level, NASCAR is the only game in town... and they know it.

Verne Gagne

I never thought in a million years that I'd see this story...

Kids do the darndest things...

2009 WAPL High Octane Crew Update

As we get closer to the start of the 2009 racing season be looking for a freshly-updated "WAPL High Octane Crew" page, chock full of new pictures of our drivers' new rides. As of right now we have one driver locked in for the 2009 season. Todd Verhagen has agreed to once again pilot the #52 Schadrie Poured Walls & Concrete Construction Chevrolet for WAPL in the Limited Late Model Division at Wisconsin International Raceway (A little Busch Light and Mount Royal go a long way).

You can go to the "WAPL High Octane Crew" page via the link along the right side of my blog page at wapl.com. As I write this however, we had some issues when we changed over the website and now many of the pictures are in the wrong place. As soon as I figure out how to navigate the other aspects of this new site, I'll fix the pix. You'll just have to hold on a bit.

By the way, look for "In the Draft" to go back to three days a week -- Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 1:40pm -- starting the week of February 7th.

I've got mail!

Over my 13+ years as a WAPL employee, I've received my share of mail, whether it be "e-" or "snail". Unfortunately, 90% of it is junk. But over the years that other 10% has run the gamut. The most consistent mail I get is from WAPL Superfan Mort who sends a Christmas card to the staff every year. And as technology evolves so has her cards.

(BTW, Mort... the Stones card this year could give Hallmark a run. Great job!)

I've received letters from prison (hell, I think all of us here have at least once) and letters from those not incarcerated. And it's not just letters, either. I've received packages in the mail with gifts from listeners. I remember getting a box of candy from someone a few years ago. I think the piece of mail I'll remember the most is the white box that I got from a listener about ten years ago. He was appreciative of the overnight show so to show his gratitude he sent me...

...a Makita rechargable power drill. Used. I still have it too.

But not all the mail I get is sunshine and flowers. So when they told us that we were going to be able to post regularly on the new WAPL.com I started to save some of the mail I get so that instead of needlessly responding to some of these individually, they can be discussed in a public forum. So let's go to the mailbag!
______________________________________________________

From December 18, 2008

"You and your buddy Len need to lighten up on Brett Favre being named to the pro bowl. Brett is playing at a high level and he is exciting to watch, and teams still fear him more (evidence the players and coaches who voted for him) than say your choice of Phillip Rivers who no one wants to watch and no one fears. Like Santa said to you, "Don't go thru life drunk and stupid"...it is not attractive dude."

Lynn in Auroraville
______________________________________________________

Now I get that just because Favre's gone it doesn't mean that his fans are no longer fans so I empathize with Lynn's e-mail missive. There's only one problem with it, however...

I wasn't on the morning show that day.

The people on the show talking about Favre were Rick McNeal & Len Nelson -- you know, the two guys that have been on the show for twenty-plus years. I was not on with Len talking about Favre. In fact, I may have been asleep by then considering I do the overnight show. I find it interesting that Lynn couldn't figure that out on his or her own. Surely he or she can distinguish between Rick's voice and my own because they're quite different.

And even if I was on the show that day, why would you feel the need to e-mail me about your Favre issues instead of one of the guys who's name is actually on the show? I don't pick the topics so take it up with the fellas in charge. And as much as I'd like to chat up our friends in the greater Berlin area I'd rather not have it be some puddinhead who spouted off before he or she did their homework. Maybe Lynn should be the one who should heed Santa's warning. Onward!
______________________________________________________

From May 14th, 2008

We want Randy Hawke!!!

Michael - Team Leader
Green Bay

______________________________________________________

Fair enough. Here you go... but you probably could have done that yourself. It's called Google. Try it sometime.

But seriously. Randy's gone and probably not coming back so let it go and move on. If you're still crying yourself to sleep because you didn't hear the "Friday yell" after... what, ten years... find a therapist. Sheesh.

(NOTE: There was a guy who used to sit at the south end of the rink during Green Bay Gamblers games in the Arena and he always held up a sign against the glass that said "We Want Hawke!" every time we were out on the ice doing our radio thing. I'm guessing it's this guy. [Ross just got a faraway look on his face.] Gamblers games in the arena... those were damn fun.)

______________________________________________________

From May 4th, 2007
Greetings,
Dialled up my own name and your host Ross Maxwell popped up.
I usually spend time in Milwaukee region every summer to escape the New Zealand winter and have interests in motor racing and good rock music so sending a hello to my namesake.
Cheers
Ross Maxwell
New Zealand
______________________________________________________

See? Some of the mail is nice too.

I hope to open the Maxwell Mailbag once in a while so feel free to e-mail or snail me with your thoughts and concerns... just be warned that I might post 'em. So don't be a puddinhead.

Attention Fox Sports...

Take a look at this...



See that? Their animated football player ran on the field, caught a pass, made a juke, and simply raised his arm in celebration after making a virtual touchdown. It didn't point and taunt. It didn't breakdance. It didn't wear a Santa hat. And most importantly, it didn't come back after the intro.

I'm not sure if you folks do marketing research when it comes to your shows but I'll bet that if you were to ask the viewers of your football broadcasts about your robot, they'll tell you that it's annoying as hell.

But I know that mascots like "Cletus" are the thing at Fox. The NASCAR broadcasts have "Digger", the animated gopher that pops up whenever they go to that shot from the ground-level camera embedded in the track surface. It may have been mildly amusing the first time that "Digger" popped up, looked behind him and saw cars coming at him, got scared and disappeared but that was the only time. Now each time "Digger" appears I pray that somehow... someway... he gets a tire up the backside. Thankfully, I don't think Fox has a mascot for their MLB broadcasts but I'm sure it's only a matter of time until they dig up the remains of Max Patkin and digitize him for the sake of sports entertainment.

I understand, Fox Sports. It's football. People are going to watch regardless. But I'd like your games a lot better sans robot. You want "Cletus" on the intro? Go nuts. But I don't need my quality football viewing time polluted because someone in your graphic arts department wants everyone to see a cartoon robot juggle.

The Disclaimer

As part of us having a new top-o'-the-line kick-ass website, the suits want to employ one of the many features of our new cyber-playground by having the WAPL airstaff start 'blogging' on a regular basis. I get it. It's the 'in' thing right now to rope off your own little slice of the internet and fill it full of long-winded, sometimes egocentric propaganda so that everyone can be exposed to your unsolicited opinions and philosophies. And if there's anyone in this world that can dish out mindless drivel like that, it's me.

But I'm not sure they really thought this whole thing out. In the studio we can turn on a microphone, tell you the last song that was just on or talk about the latest concert and it's relatively safe banter. But giving us the internet and the freedom to delve a little deeper into other subjects has the potential to get a little dangerous. I mean, isn't that part of having a weblog? To share your innermost thoughts and feelings with the rest of the world? And since the WAPL staff -- unlike other stations in Northeast Wisconsin -- have a personality, this has the potential to get rather interesting. Now while I'm sure management would appreciate us just sticking to posts of compelling tidbits like what's coming up on our show, reviews of concerts or movies we just saw or the occasional funny animal pic, well...

...I won't always play nice that way.

This doesn't mean that whenever I post something its going to be so controversial that my job will be in jeopardy. And by no means is it a knock on my coworkers 'blogs' since the keeping of a weblog at wapl.com is new to us all and we're all going to be expressing ourselves differently. (See, that's personality). Just don't look for me to subscribe to a 100% sanitized "feel-good blog-of-the-year" mentality. There's going to be occasions when things need to be said that other people will not say and since I'm not afraid to be the bad guy, I'll -- for lack of a better term -- "drop a dime" on somebody. (I AM hip. Thanks for noticing.)

Seriously, don't get me wrong. I'm not out to tick people off 24/7/365. But I've never been accused of suffering fools lightly and there are those times when something happens in this world that strikes me as being so outside the boundaries of reasonable logic that I'll have to share the stupidity with all of you. That way you can formulate your own opinion or we can all have a good laugh. I can't tell you when it'll happen but you'll know when it does. And it won't be about me just being a jackass...

...Well, maybe sometimes it will be.

So I'm going to take this opportunity to warn you well in advance. There will be times when you read this page and you're probably going to be offended, horrified, angry... hell, maybe all three. Just know that "the opinions expressed here by Ross Maxwell do not reflect those of WAPL or Woodward Communications". There. Now we're all nice and legal.

I know I'm making it sound like I'm ready to blast out of the gate and right away p*ss in everyone's cornflakes but such is not the case. I feel however that if I'm lucky enough to have you as a regular visitor, you should know what you may be in for. I guarantee there's gonna be someone in this world that I'm going to rub the wrong way and my prediction is that within six months I'll be called into someone's office here at the station to explain myself pertaining something I post. Meh. I'll survive. But until that day arrives, let's start our strange and wonderful journey together with a picture of a polar bear falling on his ass...



...and we'll go from there.