Mo's Manic Monday - Lick

Posted: Monday, July 21, 2008 by Travis Cody in
34



Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Lick. MM graphic courtesy of Mr Tucker, and my rudmentary skills with my PhotoPlus software.

I have three Licks for you today.

In 1979, Mario Mendoza hit .198 for the season in 373 at bats with the Seattle Mariners, then in their third year of existence. George Brett is credited with the coining of the term The Mendoza Line, which essentially describes ball players who's batting averages dip below .200 and basically can't hit a lick.

Sports announcer Chris Berman of ESPN turned it into a catch phrase, and it has been a part of baseball jargon ever since.

In his nine year career with Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Texas, Mendoza had a career batting average of .215. He actually pitched two innings in 1977 with Pittsburgh, giving up 3 hits and 3 runs. He was a dependable infielder who played 2nd, 3rd, and short with a career fielding percentage of .960.

When I was collecting baseball cards, Mendoza's was so common that I must have 25 of them from 1976 through 1980.

The rock band KISS released the album Lick It Up on 18 Sept 1983. They were on MTV that day, without the legendary make-up for the first time since their early days. The line up included original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, with Vinnie Vincent and Eric Carr.

I've been a KISS fan ever since a junior high talent show. A whole new world of music had been opening up for me. Some guys I knew played around with a garage band. They weren't very good, but it was cool. They decided to do a lip sync in the talent show, and they chose KISS because of the make-up. They had a full drum kit, guitars, mic stands, and amps.

It took forever to set everything up and they new the school wouldn't allow that much time for a 4 minute lip sync performance. So they recruited five of us guys, and we practiced moving the equipment around until we could get it set up in under 3 minutes.

They got the sound system cranked up and it really looked and sounded like they were KISS wailing Rock And Roll All Nite. They ended up winning the talent show and the $50 grand prize. They split $40 for themselves and paid us $2 each for helping set up.

I added that $2 to my allowance savings and bought the Destroyer album.

Finally, has anyone ever figured out how many licks it takes to get to the tootsie roll center of a Tootsie Pop?



I've been forgetting to add Mr Linky. I remembered this time, but when I went to get the MM linky, I had forgotten my log in. Sheesh!

34 comments:

  1. Anything to do with heavy rock is ok with me. It took up a significant part of my youth.
    A great album.

  1. Jeni says:

    When I saw the title here and then, he photo of Mr. Tucker, I thought oh no, is this where Trav is heading with this post?
    But you managed the Manic Monday -or whatever it's called, quite nicely, or so I thought at any rate!

  1. Barb says:

    $2 - You could have bought a bunch of Tootsie Pops, Trav! hahaha.

  1. Oh the kitty one is hilarious. Good one there.

  1. you had me with mr. tucker's picture trav. you know me and cats!

    smiles, bee
    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

  1. You got your licks in travis.

  1. Anonymous says:

    Love the video and that picture w/caption just cracked me up!

    Happy Manic Monday, Travis!

  1. Julie says:

    Good job Travis! I'll get back to the MM's soon. Mr. Tucker looks adorable as always and Kiss was a good one...back in the day.

    But you had me at "I have three Licks for you today."

    **sashays off grinning**

  1. Kitty cleansing is not a good thing to contemplate when they are kissing you.

  1. Finally a post I can relate to!
    I'll bet you didn't know this but I am responsible for convincing KISS to ditch the makeup. Their color palettes were all wrong. Didn't they know anything about music?

  1. I played drums (not really) on a lip synching thing me and a couple of friends did at a talent show in high school. We did Z Z Top's "Francine." We were horrible and didn't win anything. But folks laughed.

  1. Liz Hill says:

    OMG the Mr. Tucker pic reminded me of this


    http://andastheworldturns.blogspot.com/2007/05/wordless-wednesday-edition-no-24.html

  1. Sandee says:

    I believe it's three licks. You weren't the only one that thought of a tootsie roll. Have a great day Travis. :)

  1. Unknown says:

    This is my first time playing and I did the same thing as 4 other people...Does that make me look bad? Hmmmf. Hope not.

    Happy day to ya and gr8 week. *huggies*

  1. excellent post travis

    236 licks...but I am just sorta guessing

  1. Yay for Mr Tucker and the licks!

    I always loved that smartass tootsie pop owl!

  1. j says:

    The Tootsie Pop commercials! PERFECT!

    Jen

  1. Meribah says:

    Aaaaand we must not forget the most important licks of all...PUPPY EAR LICKS!!! LOL :P

  1. Anthony: This was when I began to develop my own musical identity.

    Jeni: Well, I didn't really think I needed to go naughty today.

    WT4W: That's right!

    Callie Ann: He's a real character!

    Bee: You're a sucker for a furry face!

    Sarge: I did!

    Lois: Right back atcha!

    Julie: Hehehehehehehee

    Jamie: Ew.

  1. Mimi: I had no idea that the make-up colors would have so much influence on the music!

    Charles: I'm not musical at all, even to the point of faking it in a lip sync. But I sure was a good roadie!

    Turn: HA! They just don't care do they? And that face...

    Sandee: I figured someone else would do Mr Owl.

    Chuck: Nope. It might mean that you're sharing a brain with four other people though. LOL!

    V: I used to try and count the licks all the time, but I always ended up pulling the pop off the stick too early.

    Mo: Last night he had a hold of his foot and nearly turned himself on his head to nibble between his toes.

    Jennifer: One of the all time greats!

    Meri: Of course!

  1. Kimmie says:

    Hi Travis!

    Oh this whole post was fun! I loved Mr. Tucker, The whole Kiss thing, (My oldest brothers classic rock band does a rendition of "I want to rock and roll all night") the baseball trivia worked for me, and I loved the Tootsie Roll video!!! Cool Beans, you get a Gold Star! You should be proud of such a wonderful effort you put into this MM! ;-) Thanks Trav!
    Hugs,
    Kimmie

    P.S. I started a new blog! Just click on my avatar! I missed my friends.

  1. Noner says:

    I always tell my dog, "Its not polite to lick that in front of me!"

  1. Schmoop says:

    Very creative job, Travis. Cheers to ya!!

  1. I loved KISS growing up, still do, and oh the Owl...I think it only takes me about 3 licks on the Tootsie Pops... Yummy OH!!!

    SMOOCHES~

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hello there! It is my first entry for my new blog.
    I love that video!

  1. RW says:

    I bet you had a KISS army card huh?

    You have to watch Detroit Rock City the movie, if haven't already.

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hi! Thanks for dropping by.
    Great entry!

  1. Anonymous says:

    Wow, what a wonderfully eclectic mix of LICKS for this week's Manic Monday! :)

    Great minds think alike, right (on the totsie pop commercial)!

    Happy MM, Trav.

  1. Cool on the talent show/Kiss deal. Nice of your friends to shoot everyone $2, too!

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hi Travis. Good post. I love your photo of your cat, and the caption, lol.

    Summer is hot and busy here in the Okanagan, so I've not been doing much blogging or visiting online, but still hold all my blog friends in my heart.

  1. Great post for Manic Monday, Travis! I got the feeling that when you were a kid maybe you did get your tongue stuck on a metal pipe...huh? Did ya?

  1. Unknown says:

    Interesting post...

  1. Kimmie: YAY for a gold star! And I'll be by soon to see the new blog.

    Noner: Indeed!

    Matt: Thank you Sir!

    Dix: According to Mr Owl it's 3. But I think it's more.

    Anna: It's a classic.

    Roger: Nah, but I sure loved the music!

    Adam: Thanks!

    CWM: Yeppers!

    Lana: It was pretty cool...my first and only working gig in the music biz.

    Alice: Glad to hear that you've been keeping busy.

    Teach: I'll never tell. Hehehe.

    Dana: It was fun.

  1. Linda says:

    I am obviously mega-late for MM this week but it's been one heck of a busy week and I still haven't caught up on my sleep since coming back from Boston!

    So you were a roadie for a little while - how cool! And for a winning band, no less!

    As for the Tootsie Roll ... nope ... I just can't help but bite into the darned thing!