DO NOT BUY THIS NEW SUGARLESS GUM!!! IT IS A TOTAL RIP OFF!!!

                       I am really getting angry at some of these new lousy products that are flooding our marketplace, especially some of these new sundries that major corporations like 7-11 are selling in our country, only to have the products be over-priced and absolute rip-offs!!!
                 I was at 7-11, and I thought I would buy this new sugarless gum I saw that looked pretty cool from the package: I love the USC Trojans, and the movies Gladiator and Spartacus, so I thought I would give it a try. It says clearly on the box that it gives great pleasure and I thought with the "twisted sensations" thing, that it would have multi-flavors, kind of like Bubblicious does. It was outrageously expensive, almost $5.00 for 3 pieces of gum. I tore open the package, and the gum was absolutely COVERED with that fine white powdered Splenda or Sweet -N-Low, similar to the powdered sugar you used to see all over on those rectangular pink pieces of  bubble gum in a package of baseball cards. Then I stuck the gum in my mouth, and it tasted absolutely terrible!! No sweetness or flavor at all, just a rubbery talcum powder-like taste. I was patient, thinking it might be one of those kinds of gum similar to a Wonka's Everlasting Gobstopper jawbreaker, where the flavors come in delicious waves. I literally chewed it for a half an hour and it tasted exactly the same as it did when I first put it in my mouth, so I finally spit it out.
                  Anyway, If anybody else is curious about this new sugarless gum, DO NOT BUY IT...It is the worst chewing gum I have ever bought in my life. All you will have is a sore jaw and a ton of disappointment.

CONFESSIONS OF MS. PAC MAN'S FORMER LOVER

            With the age of TMZ, The View, Dr. Phil, and other public airings of dirty laundry, I need to Tide myself completely over here, and should have confessed this when Maury Povich was doing A Current Affair in the 1980's....I feel guilty as I haven't been completely honest with all of you, and it is time I come clean as confession is good for the soul, especially publicly for all to read.             
          I have led a double life by giving you all the impression I have no kids and am "free" when I am actually imprisoned with four kids out of wedlock ....All four were conceived from an adulterous relationship that began one passionate night long ago, when Mr. Pac Man was away on business....Ms. Pac Man and I had way too much to drink, and I gobbled up way too many rows of those dots that were in fact, some sort of tiny of tiny pre-Cialus/Viagra pills, and the result was unplanned passion and unplanned quadruplets. I am STILL disgruntled because Ms. Pac Man PROMISED me I had "nothing to worry about" as she told me she had her circuits tied: A lie every unplanned father regrets believing and has to pay for for 18 years: To this day, I still have to send my child support in quarters and tokens every month.
            But the MAIN confession I have, because these short circuited kids were not mine of my own accord, I often was short-tempered and short-circuited myself, and was often unplugged from them as a father. Most shameful of all was that I often cursed, yelled, and yes, I shamefully hit Ms. Pacman when I failed at playing her game out of frustration in front of the kids.
         I have been haunted by this guilt for years but I feel SOO much cleaner now that this dirty laundry is now public.....I just wanted come clean and say I love you to my four beautiful kids Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Clyde!!!!!!!

2014 copyrighted:  all rights reserved and are the sole property of Teddy Vardell and Ms Pac Man...Any gobbling of this blog is strictly prohibited

YOU HAVE TO BE A GLADIATOR TO BE A COLLEGE OR PRO FOOTBALL FAN IN COLORADO

             College football is officially here, and so I am in complete battle mode right now, and have put on my gladiator helmet that will remain on until 12:01 am tomorrow night....I am known all over Boulder and the University of Colorado, as Tailgatin' Teddy...But tonight, I am known and feared as the legendary Gladiator they call Theodorus Maximus. I will be riding south to conquer Mile High Colosseum and watch the battle of the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams.  A lot of people probably are saying or muttering to themselves, "you aren't a football player, why do YOU have to get ready for battle? You are just a FAN" ..This makes me so angry I am wielding my sword with a short loin cloth right this second!!! 

          First of all, in Colorado, they hurry to legalize marijuana yet do absolutely NOTHING about their 1959 "freeway" system, which is STILL a two-lane horse trail on 1-25 and Highway 36 that is constantly under constant repair, so they are all, in reality, one lane horse trails. I might add that it literally took me 4 hours last year to get to the game from a city only 55 miles away.....oh, and by the way I am SOOOO glad they legalized marijuana!!! What a great idea!!!! I know now, that I-25 will be completed sometime around 2098 instead of 2023 or so. I actually recommended to my congressman  that Colorado's first priority should be to legalize powerful uncut 100 percent pure Mexican or Hell's Angel's  manufactured methamphetamine, not pot, as that might REALLY help speed up the road crew's asses and get this damn road work completed: With a little deathamphetamine in their noses, they would work around the clock like an ant colony with no breaks and no lunch, and we would see some busy shovels indeed, and get the construction done in a week and a half or so instead of the next oncoming ice age. So, I need to battle all those "cone-stoned zone" folks in orange...and I don't give a damn about signs that say doubled fines or work zones, I am going 75 MPH the entire time  regardless. If I hit some workers along the way, they can get their hard hats and "SLOW DOWN"  signs out of the grill of my car at the stadium. 

            Secondly, to get into the stadium is like entering a state prison...Last year, they had, (and this is familiar to all of you that have to endure flying out of DIA,) 20 stadium entry ways but yet only TWO open with ONE wind breaker wearing wand-waver who makes you empty out every pocket and every body orifice you have...Each line had about 20,000 people trying to get in, with each fan one by one  having to raise their arms to be frisked....I was pissed because the TSA employee that frisked me last year was this HUGE fat guy with sweaty BO and Funyun breath, and he was a little frisky indeed with his wand...He buzzed me all over my body for so long, for a minute or so there, I thought he was going to give me a full cavity search with his kielbasa sized fingers.... So I have to battle these over eager TSA people. 

              Now we get to the real reason I have to be a Gladiator: I have to slay a lot of the fans. Alcohol is usually the reason why, as there are always a bunch of drunk idiots in the stands, and I get tired of these beer swilling idiots more interested in beer and getting up to pee,  than in the damn game.  I have decided to let them pass one time the entire game and that is it...They will have to go around to the other side after that....There is ALWAYS a drunk guy/wanna be coach behind my ears that insists on screaming coaching advice the entire game into the void the coach never hears but travels far enough to pierce my ear drums and smell his alcohol infused  barley breath. I will kill any one of those fans within 3 sections of me this year...Finally, the thing and group activity that pisses me off most of all, I saved for last: It is when the group of jack-offs in front of me, (with absolutely NOTHING obstructing their views from goal line to goal line) suddenly pop up out of their seats  in unison like jack-off -in -the-boxes,  right in the middle of a big play, as if their standing up is going to change whether they score or not...I have endured this maddening mob of "pop-ups" as my dad coined these idiots for 30 plus years, and any person or persons that stands during the game in front of me is going to immediately get stabbed with my gladiator sword, and I promise they will not stand up again during the game or any other time ever again. 

            In closing, I want to say that I will also be killing the greedy $30.00 parking people and any bastards that try to sell me an $8.00 luke warm sorry, limp-looking Cialus-less weiner in a stale bun that they call a "hot dog" or a $5.00 luke warm flat soft drink with lousy melting shaves of ice in it. 

          This year folks, I am going to enjoy the game...I am carrying my own home popped plastic bag of popcorn, a can of coke, and my sword all clandestinely up my private balloon knot and hopefully get past security. I only hope that I don't run into that same giant behemoth over eager blue flamed TSA employee with BO and bad breath who puts on rubber gloves.

TONY GWYNN: A BELOVED MAN APART

                  I am so sorry to hear of the passing of a San Diego legend in Tony Gwynn. He was my very favorite baseball player in MLB and was certainly my favorite Padre ever to play the game. He played the game with integrity, grace, consistency and enthusiasm and was a true role model. His play, as well as his personality, was why he was one of my heroes. He played every game the same way, regardless if the Padres were in first place, or in last place: With all his heart, and you could always count that trademark Tony Gwynn line drive base hit ever single game. His friendly demeanor and great personality was what set Tony apart from all the others.
                 He was the kind of guy to say "Gosh Darn It" with a little smile, instead of throwing his bat and screaming the F-word,  if he rarely either popped up or struck out. He was always friendly and gracious in his interviews and would engage with his fans with his trademark voice and smile before the games. But what I loved about Tony Gwynn the most, was his lack of ego. A lot of San Diegans probably have similar stories of their brushes with Tony Gwynn out in public that brings a smile to their face, and mine was one I will never forget.
                 I had the very cool experience meeting Tony for the first time myself back in 1994 and got to see how he treats his fans out of uniform and off the field in the general public first hand. LIke Tony, one of my favorite fast food places was Popeye's Fried chicken up on Aero Drive.  I happened to pull up to the Popeye's parking lot just as a nice dark blue BMW eased into the slot next to me. I looked over and saw a guy who smiled at me as if I was an old friend, and I smiled back and after about 2 seconds immediately recognized him and exclaimed to myself, "TONY...BUDDY!" We both got out of the car, and I introduced myself and shook his hand, and we both had a great conversation. 
                All I remember from that pleasant sunny afternoon was his friendly trademark smile, and how he made a complete stranger in me, feel like I was a fellow player in the clubhouse or life long friend. He was so friendly, and he acted like he had all the time in the world to engage with a fan, and it was something I never forgot. He was as friendly to me as his classy interviews we all loved to see in the post game reports. I have met my fair share of ego maniac jerks during my brother's 8 years in the NFL, who made me feel foolish for introducing myself, as some of them  treated me like I was a piece of doggy doo-doo on their shoe. But it always seems that the TRULY great ones, like Barry Sanders and Tony Gwynn, ironically, are the ones with the least amount of ego. 
               Mr. Gwynn was a true example of what is good about sports, and my condolences to all that knew him on a much more personal level as associates or players, and especially to his family...What an amazing man he was and what a class act and ambassador for all of professional sports on and off the diamond. He truly was a diamond in the rough and a true San Diego Son: #19 was a Beloved Man Apart.

A HEADBANGER'S ULTIMATE STRIKE OF THE BEAST FEAST: EXODUS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES AND SLAYER ALL IN THE SAME NIGHT!!

                    I experienced one  of the greatest Witching Hours of  heavy metal I have ever seen and heard this past Saturday, May 10th, 2014 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver Colorado: I got to see my favorite speed metal band on the planet, EXODUS. I got to see the funky, yet punky and heavy SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, and I got to see the mighty Pharaohs of Thrash Metal themselves, the incomparable Diabolus in Musica metal band, SLAYER!!!! I have a lot to tell, about how my cranium was assaulted for damn near three straight hours. Bang your head against the stage and metal takes its price indeed. My ears did indeed bleed!
                   After standing in the rain, waiting to get in to the sold-out Fillmore,  I kept looking towards the lacerated sky for red raindrops, but thankfully, we didn't get too drenched in any regular  rain nor blood rain. I knew that Exodus was on the bill first as Gary Holt is not only shredding riffs and leads for his band Exodus, but was also going to be pulling double-duty by playing in Slayer later that evening, as he has been filling in for the legendary late Jeff Hanneman: Gary Holt, in my humble metal opinion, is the greatest riffmaster in metal, and no person could have filled in more respectfully and deservedly for Jeff: Exodus and Slayer have been friends since the Bay Area Thrash scene exploded in the early 1980's, and my oh my did Gary do a stellar job. More on that later. 
                    This blog is about the concert but before I begin to write, I must give a little info on your humble author here. I have been a fan of Slayer ever since they released Show No Mercy in 1983 on Metal Blade Records, a fan of Exodus since I bought Bonded by Blood on Torrid/Combat Records in 1985, and a fan of Suicidal Tendencies every since Mike Muir just wanted a Pepsi: ALL of these on vinyl, so it tells you I am indeed a metal dinosaur. When I bought those records, I was an 18 year old testosterone-filled headbanger and now am a testosterone- depleted, 48-year old headbanger. I haven't changed in 30 years to my loyalty to speed metal and neither has Exodus, Suicidal Tendencies or Slayer to us fans. I proudly wore my Bonded By Blood T-shirt I have had for 28 years, that shows the famous Devil/Angel Siamese twins. (see below) 
                    Up first, was the mighty Exodus, and when the lights dimmed, I heard the classic intro sound effect of a jet plane crashing and I knew they were going to they crush into  the classic "Bonded By Blood" to start off the show. They then played the galloping riffed "Piranha",  the mosh pit opus "Toxic Waltz", the heavy "Blacklist", "War Is My Shepherd", and for their encore, the last song on Bonded By Blood, "Strike of the Beast." A short set indeed, but guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Altus, bass player Jack Gibson, the scowling Rob Dukes on vocals, and the octopus-like drummer, Tom Hunting gave an awesome performance yet again and were tight as I have ever seen them. I have seen Exodus nine times over the last 30 years and they have never sounded so good. Tom Hunting is  one the greatest metal drummers I have ever seen, and he was more spectacular than ever. They crushed our craniums and made us bang our heads against the stage. There was absolutely "No Love" and they made me thrash like a pissed off "Piranha" on "Deathamphetamine." 
                    Next, was the legendary crossover punk/funk/metal band Suicidal Tendencies. I have always wanted to see S.T. and never have, and they broke my punk/metal cherry in splendid fashion, opening up with "Don't Bring Me Down", one of my faves, and other classics like "War Inside My Head", "Possessed To Skate", and "Pledge Your Allegiance."  S.T.'s funky sound had you jumping up and down the entire show with their great beats and frenetic energy on stage. Mike Muir hasn't lost a step since he first wanted a Pepsi in 1984, and I was honored to have finally seen them live. Stellar performance. 
                    Finally, it was time for Slayer: The lights dimmed and you heard the chant of "SLAYER, SLAYER, SLAYER!!" What was REALLY awesome about this gig was that they played all their old school classics like it was a metal time warp back to 1983-1986! They opened up to my delight with the classic "Hell Awaits" something they haven't done since 1985,  and then shredded through other such old school classics like "The Antichrist", "Black Magic", "Die By The Sword", "Chemical Warfare", "Necrophiliac", and one of my favorite Jeff Hanneman penned songs, "Captor of Sin". They also slayed us all with later classics such as "Seasons in the Abyss", "Dead Skin Mask", "War Ensemble",  "Mandatory Suicide," "Hallowed Point", "Jesus Saves", "Postmortem," and "South of Heaven." 
                 They saved the best for last as a tribute to Jeff Hanneman. They played his masterpiece, the heaviest metal song of all time, "Angel of Death" as their encore, with a new green and white banner that read "ANGEL OF DEATH, JEFF HANNEMAN" in the style of a Heineken logo. I could almost feel Jeff's spirit on that evening, as Tom Araya (bass and vocals), Kerry King (lead guitar), Gary Holt (lead guitar) and Paul Bostaph (drums) gave a performance of epic Slaytanic proportions to their Wehrmacht Member fanatics like me. Tom never sounded so good vocally, Kerry shredded with his trademark aggression as usual, Gary was amazing, and how the hell he has the stamina to play in two of the most fast speed metal bands on the planet in the same night, is unfathomable; and finally Paul Bostaph, who I have seen play in both Slayer and Exodus before, was absolutely an octopus like Tom was behind the drum kit. 
                     This for me, out of countless metal shows I have been to, was the best and the most special I have ever seen for a variety of reasons: Exodus has remained true to their roots from the very beginning, and have been flying the metal flag proudly ever since. (Gary Holt,  you are my hero.)  I also commend Slayer for the same reason, never compromising for anybody, and for the courage to continue on with the passing of Jeff. I am grateful I got to see these three bands together in one special night and that I  finally got my Pepsi and got to see Suicidal Tendencies after being a fan for 30 years.
                      What an awesome show and what a beautiful unholy trinity of three legendary bands in one special night, and it will be a Lesson in Violence I won't soon forget.

             

TRIBUTE TO JUNIOR SEAU, FIVE YEARS AFTER HIS PASSING, 1969-2012

May 2nd, 2017 is the five year anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest football players and greatest linebackers ever, and a proud son of San Diego...I wrote this small tribute to Junior two years ago today, but #55 will never be forgotten. This tribute is for all you Trojan and Charger fans and especially all his friends and team mates that knew him best. 

***************************************************************************************
                 A true San Diego Football Legend and person who was loved by former players, friends and fans, sadly passed on May 2nd, 2012.  God bless all of you who knew him well during this difficult time.
               As a fan, I got to see #55 first hand long before he was a Charger, when he was an outstanding player for Oceanside High School. Both Junior and my brother Tommy played on the same San Diego All-Star High School Football team (Junior was defensive captain and Tommy was offensive captain)  against Los Angeles's All-Star high school team. Junior played linebacker, quarterback, and receiver, and literally was a man among boys. I remember my dad and I were watching him wreak havoc on the field, and  during the game, he said to me "that kid could be starting at any division one college in the nation." Not surprisingly, after the game when our family went down on the field to see Tommy and met Junior for the first time, he was literally surrounded by USC scouts and recruiters getting their pictures taken with him. The rest, as they say, is history.
                  Junior was the most intense, talented football player I have ever seen to this day....His stellar career at USC and in the NFL was legendary and speaks for itself. It was so much fun to watch Junior all throughout his awesome career and trademark "Bolt" dance after a sack. It was also such a treat to watch Junior and Tommy play against each other in the Pac-10 and  in the NFL. 
                   I only knew Junior and his family through the peripheral of Tommy's and Junior's high school, college and pro football careers but I was very saddened to hear this news. His parents were always so very nice and Junior was always approachable and friendly with that trademark Polynesian smile of his. God Bless all of his family and close friends during this difficult day.

A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GREAT JEFF HANNEMAN OF SLAYER

   

        Jeff Hanneman of Slayer passed away on this day in 2013 and it was, and still is, very sad for all of us loyal Jeff fans who followed his awesome metal career ever since Slayer's Show No Mercy days in 1983, (when they actually wore make up on that album only to ditch it after getting flak from all the Bay Area Thrashers:) Jeff's incredible duel guitar work with Kerry King is no less legendary than the duos of Holt/Hunolt, Hammett/Hetfield, Mustaine/Friedman, or the legendary duo of Murray/Smith. Last year at the Metal Awards show, they appropriately dedicated the entire show to Jeff, and it was nice to hear the condolences and memories from his fellow metal artists. It was a perfect gathering of his fellow artists and it was almost prophetic that the Metal Awards happened to be on the day of his leaving us behind.

     As a fan, Jeff was one of my metal guitar heroes. He was an electric, aggressive presence on stage, and with his love of hardcore punk, his playing reflected that nasty attitude with precision and heaviness. My first time I saw Jeff play was actually on a video Norman Leggio had, called "The Ultimate Revenge", a 1985 concert video tape put out by Combat and Metal Blade records. The show was played at Studio 54, which had Exodus, Slayer and Venom getting revenge on all posers and disco..I was speechless watching Jeff for the very first time with his gnashing teeth, long straight blonde hair, black leather jacket,and furious headbanging, shred through such classics as "Die By The Sword", "Hell Awaits", & "Chemical Warfare." Among one of my favorite penned Jeff Hanneman songs is "Captor of Sin," where he goes into a classic Hanneman lead right from the start of the song which encapsulated his style. Jeff also wrote the heaviest song of all time in heavy metal history with his "Angel Of Death" masterpiece. He will be sorely missed by us fans, especially we Slaytanic Wehrmacht fans that have been fans for 30 years. He is a legend. Next week I will be going to see Slayer along with one of my other very favorite metal bands of all time, Exodus, who I am proud to say will be my 7th time I have seen since 1985. 

      Gary Holt, one of my very favorite riffmasters and lead guitarists in metal, will be pulling double duty in both Exodus and filling in for Jeff Hanneman.There is not a person more deserving of filling in for, but never replacing, Jeff: Gary is one of the pioneers of thrash and has been buddies with Slayer ever since Exodus were cutting their teeth at Ruthie's Inn in San Francisco 30 plus years ago. Gary is one of the most humble coolest guys I have ever met, and to this day, I will never forget his giving me a big metal bear hug when he came of the stage in 2004 when he spotted me, a 38 year old headbanger in my "Bonded By Blood" shirt in the front row.

                 I am a 48 year old headbanger now and It will be an honor to see Slayer once again, and I know Jeff will be there in Spirit. HELL AWAITS NEXT WEEKEND IN DENVER!!!

POST SCRIPT!! This concert was absolutely epic and it is hard to believe it has been over seven years ago!!!