The Best

As I have grown older I have made a conscious effort not to deal in hyperbole unless I’m attempting to be sarcastic. Something else that I try to steer clear of is absolutes. Often times my blogs will feature personal favorites, but to the best of my knowledge, I never wrote one proclaiming something is the unequivocal best. Well tonight that changes. Because I don’t know what else to write about, here is a list of things that ARE the best. At least in my opinion.

The best television drama ever is the HBO hit, The Wire. Nothing comes close.

The best television character ever is Omar Little from; you guessed it, The Wire.

The best television sitcom ever is Leave It To Beaver.

The best television dad ever is Sheriff Andy Taylor from the Andy Griffith Show. Opie had a good pa.

The best television game show ever is Match Game.

The best male television game show panelist ever is Charles Nelson Reilly.

The best female television game show panelist ever is Elaine Joyce. Heavy sigh…

The best animated television show ever is King Of The Hill.

The best thing I ever saw on television was coach Leroy Fedders drowning in a bowl of Mary Hartman’s chicken soup. Priceless.

The best band ever is The Who.

The best “new” band is Dropkick Murphys.

The best concert I ever went to was at the Milwaukee Arena when Cheap Trick opened for Queen. It was wonderful.

The best football game ever that I saw in person took place September 27, 1992, when Brett Favre tossed a 35 yard TD pass to Kitrick Taylor with 32 seconds left in the game, sealing a dramatic come-from-behind victory for the Packers over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The best football game that I ever saw on television was the immortal Ice Bowl game. As quarterback Bart Starr snuck across the goal line giving the Packers the1967 NFL Championship over the Dallas Cowboys, my mother bounced off of the couch onto the floor as she squealed in delight.

The best baseball game that I ever saw in person was at Wrigley Field between the Cubs and the Mets in the late ‘60s. I went with my dad, uncle Dave and my sister Teri along with a couple of our cousins. I don’t even remember who won. It was still the best.

The best playoff baseball game that I ever saw in person was at venerable County Stadium in October of 1982. The Brewers beat the California in game four of the American League Championship Series.

The best baseball game that I ever saw on television was between the Brewers and the Minnesota Twins on June 25, 2005. In that game Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks each hit their first career home runs. I will never forget the raw emotion exhibited by J.J. Hardy and Prince in the dugout after Fielder’s homer.

The best hockey game that I ever saw in person was an IHL game at the Bradley Center between the Milwaukee Admirals and the San Diego Gulls on November 27, 1992. It was the day after Thanksgiving and I went to the game with my girlfriend Michelle. The Admirals gave the Gulls their first loss of the season in a hair-rising shootout.

The best hockey moment that I ever saw on television was a game between the Rangers and the Penguins on April 18, 1999. The game marked the retirement of Wayne Gretzky. When the game had ended, Gretzky, fighting back tears, skated laps around the rink for more than ten minutes, showing appreciation to those in attendance and to those watching the live telecast.

The best softball player that I ever saw play was Bruce “Hollywood” Meyers. I always felt good when he was coming up to bat.

The best double cheeseburger in Kenosha comes from The Spot. There I said it.

The best flavor of ice cream is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

The best flavor of custard is Pumpkin Pie from Shirl’s Drive-In.

The best raviolis that I have ever tasted were made by my grandma ‘Noni. They were the size of a man’s fist and she never ran out of them at family get-togethers. Never.

The best meal my mom ever made is her famous “Perone Macaroni”. My little brother Joey calls it “poor food”. I call it a meal that brings back wonderful memories of family.

That’s enough; I’m all bested out. I really don’t care if you agree with me or not because theses things ARE the best. At least in my opinion.

Until next time…from the booth.