Kevin's Watch

OK...not that type of evening...

I am talking about the top five people that, or you had the chance, you'd like to spend an evening with, getting to know them and picking their brains, (from any era), and why...

Let's set up the five categories.

1) Political

2) Sports

3) Music

4) Film / TV

5) Historical

...

Here's my list :

1) Political : Rush Limbaugh - he has helped me define what conservatism is, and helped me define my views on politics in general. I'd love to get a chance to light up a cigar and just talk about today's political spectrum with him. Close second - Al Gore...just how DID he invent the internet???

2) Sports : Charles Barkley - my all time favorite athlete. The type of guy that I'd love to go out and party with. He has never held back his views on any topics, tells it like it is, and doesn't care what people think about him. Great sense of humor, and I'd definately love the chance to get to know him outside of the sports industry. Close second - Stephen A. Smith.

3) Music : JS Bach - in my mind, the greatest classical composer of all time. I love to play classical guitar, and his pieces, by far, are the most fun and challenging for me to (try and) play. Just having a chance to spend an evening with him, and have a chance to learn anything (musically) from him would be an unbelievable experience. Second choice - Ted Nugent...camping and hunting trip.

4) Film / TV : Steve Martin - such an iconic figure in modern comedy. Now I admit that he hasn't had anything decent out in a while, but, wow...what a blast it would be to spend an evening getting to know him. This was a hard choice between Steve Martin and Robin Williams, but Steve got the nod. (Hell, he plays banjo and can juggle!)

5) Historical : Adolf Hitler - OK, maybe not a politically correct choice here, but I would love to find out just what the hell he was thinking in the implementation of the Final Solution. Taking on Russia, Europe, and the US in WW II? Could he have really been that crazy? That psychotic? Napoleon would be a close second in this category.

1) Political Franklin Pierce. the only president from New Hampshire and a war hero.

2) Sports Matt Bonner, Toronto Raptors. he is from my hometown and went to my hs. and is just a really nice guy.

3) Music Kristin Hersh, THrowing Muses/50 ft Wave. my favorite musician. writes some really cool abstract but personal songs.

4) Film / TV Molly Ringwald. I have loved her since we were both young teens.

5) Historical Ben Franklin. he would be fascinating. about everything really.

1) Political
Ben Franklin. The guy was just plain amazing. I could have chosen him if there was a Science category, and I could have chosen him for Historical. I'd talk to him for any reason. (Edit: Hey, I didn't see sarge chose him as well! )

2) Sports
Tiger Woods. I don't play golf, although I've enjoyed the few times I've been to a driving range. He's, not only, obviously, incredible, but golf is one of the few sports I could play with the world's best without affecting his game. He'd just have to wait around a little longer than usual. Not like going for a swim with Mark Spitz, or a run with Paavo Nurmi. They would have to have at least three broken limbs in order for me to keep up with them, and they wouldn't have much fun. And if I had a catch with Nolan Ryan, we'd be so much closer to each other than he's capable of that he could throw it underhand.

3) Music
jelerak is absolutely correct. For me, Bach is so far beyond nearly every other composer that there's no choice. (Beethoven would be second, but he was not a particularly pleasant person. )

4) Film / TV
Hmm... I really don't know. Maybe George Lucas.

5) Historical
Jesus. As many of you know, I don't believe Jesus was any sort of divine being. But he must have been beyond extraordinary to have become the most influential person in history. Even if he was only human, the love and kindness must have radiated off of him. At least that's what I assume he was like. I think he preached love, and people twisted his words over the centuries. Even if it turns out that's not what he was like, I'd at least learn that much. And if he was the divine being many believe him to have been, I might learn that, too.

It's gonna be interesting to see everybodies responses to this. To be honest, it's not the sort of thing I think about much, but in the spirit of things:

1) Uh, nobody really

2) Definitely nobody

3) Dunno, Jim Morrison maybe.

4) Uh, nobody really

5) Tough one... plenty of these I guess, from Sun Tzu all the way up to Ghandi.

Sorry about the poor showing...must come from being so insular.

--A

1) Political: Gerald Ford. I'd like to spend time with the George Lazenby of Presidents.
2) Sports: Trent Dilfer. Seems like a nice guy even if he has trouble throwing an accurate pass.
3) Music: Only one person I would reluctantly agree to spend any amout of time with. Ric Ocasek. If you know me you know why.
4) Film / TV: Kevin James.
5) Historical: After refreshing my knowledge by watching a recent History Channel special called "Washington the Warrior" I renew my interest in meeting the Father of our country.

Interesting.....

1. Political-Richard Nixon. Paranoid but brilliant political mind. Heckuva piano player too. A complex, fascinating man who would never get boring.

2. Sports-Phil Mickelson. Big, goofy-looking family man with his priorities straight. The kind of guy you'd want to have over for a barbeque and drink a few beers with.

3. Music-Most musicians are hopelessly banal, so a lot of the guys I'd like to talk to are right out. I'm going to go with Frank Zappa because he's definately not a self-absorbed tool.

4. Film/TV-Again with the banality. Oh what the heck, Kurt Russell. We could at least go shooting together.

5. Historical-No contest, Ben Franklin.

(1) Political - George W. Bush. He seems like a man who I could destroy at Scrabble.

(2) Sports - Paul Gascoigne (ex-England footballer). For much the same reason as (1)

(3) Music - Les Claypool of Primus. An incredible bassist who apparently enjoys wine and fishing. I doubt he'd be too easy to play at Scrabble though, so I'd probably go for Cluedo.

(4) Film/TV - Charlton Heston, purely for the Scrabble. Failing that I'd go for Michael Moore, just so I could tell him what a git he is.

(5) History - Jesus. Just in the vain hope he could do something about TV preachers and holy door knockers while he was here. And I reckon he'd be good for when the wine ran out.

1) Political - Osama bin Laden. Provided I'm not killed by henchmen, I think we'd have an interesting conversation.

2) Sports - None.

3) Music - I have to go with Steven Patrick Morrissey here, only because there's a lot I'd love to talk with him about, but I don't think I'd realistically like to meet him.

4) Film/TV - Nobody.

5) History - This one's tough. In the spirit of returning from France, I would love to meet Napoleon I Bonaparte.

Why no section for Writers? I'd go with Beckett for that one.

Yeah, there should be one for writers....I'd go with Hemmingway.

That'd be an interesting one. I love Hemingway. A Moveable Feast is my favorite of his.

1) Political--I dont trust 'em enough to spend any time with a politician.

2) Sports--'Joey' Johns. Like Cail said, just a great guy to have a beer and a barbie with.

3) Music--Joe Strummer. My fave musician ever and innately intelligent.

4) Film / TV--So many! An evening with Marilyn Monroe during her peak 'orgy' years might be a lot of fun.

5) Historical--David Hume. his writings changed the way people thought and is still relevant today.

1) Political : Thomas Jefferson.

2) Sports: um... poker's a sport, right (it's on ESPN and in the Sports forum)? Jennifer Tilly. Ok, probably Daniel Negraneu.

3) Music: Rob Zombie. *shrug* He seems pretty thoughtful in his interviews but also like he's a lot of fun to be around.

4) Film: Kevin Smith

5) Historical: Einstein

It's funny. I considered Kevin Smith, but figured he'd prolly get really annoying by the end of the evening.

1) Political : Yikes.. no thanks.

2) Sports: Uh... no one.

3) Music: Amy Grant

4) Film/TV: Hugh Laurie

5) Historical: Joan of Ark... was she really crazy? I'd like to know.

Since I've already met SRD (:mrgreen:), I might go with Hesse or Le Guin for writers.

1) Political: Thomas Jefferson. I'd like to see the look on his face when he realizes how we've fucked up what he helped accomplish. Maybe he'd have some ideas about how to get out of this mess.

2) Sports: Does Bruce Lee count?

3) Music: Motzart seemed pretty cool, at least in that movie. I bet he'd be fun to party with. I'd also like to play him all my favorite jazz fusion CDs and see if he is amazed or disgusted.

4) Film/TV: Kevin Smith was a good choice. I was going to leave this one blank until I read that. Oh, Schwarzenegger might be a hoot, too. [Got to go with guys, just in case the wife ever reads this. *grin*]

5) Historical: Nietzche, before he went crazy. I heard he smoked hash. I could hang with him.

[Adding my own categories]

6) Science: Einstein

7) Religion: Aleistor Crowley (does he count?)

8 ) Writing: Hemmingway--I'd like to see if I could kick his ass. Just kidding, I guess James Joyce.

9) Art: Da Vinci

10) Gay: Plato

Writer? Got to be the late, great Douglas Adams for me.

writer: Mark Twain. I would love to listen to what he and Ben Franklin would talk about.

sgtnull wrote:writer: Mark Twain. I would love to listen to what he and Ben Franklin would talk about.

Those two appear together at the USA pavillion at EPCOT in Disney World. Great show!!

what do they discuss?

the reason I didn't pick Jesus is that He would make the rest of the party extrenous.