#hey scullys just like me fr

[blackcat-blue]

started season 2, took one (1) look at mulder and went NO PLS HIS WHIMSY. ITS CRITICALLY LOW.

[dnickels]

9 people you'd like to get to know better!

thank you for tagging me @terribleoldwhitemen :)

three ships: I never really know how to answer this because 'shipping' seems like a philosophy that encomposses more than "I want to slam these two action figures together making kissing noises", which I haven't felt that strongly about since Thomas/Edward and their beautiful ephemeral three minutes of screentime. There's a trend in oldschool Morse fanfiction where Morse makes a pass at Lewis who is gently like "I don't think you're genuinely interested in me, you are just very lonely and we see each other every day" and I'm intrigued by the tragicomedy at work there. Oh fuck wait hang I've been posting every day about the insane psychosexual ordained-by-destiny thing Jean Valjean and Javert have going on (almost entirely one sided) and yeah that rules spectacularly

first ship: I disavow the creator and her hateful bigoted campaign and understand the fraught nature of the works themselves but yeah it was WolfStar. 'That middle aged werewolf is just like me fr'-- me at eight years old

last song: 'Human'-- Of Monsters and Men

last film: Wolfwalkers, rewatched for Halloween (there is a werewolf heavy ask meme)

currently reading: Not doing great on my reading- I have a PDF of Discourses on Colonialism and a gutenberg page of Known To the Police, a firsthand account of Victorian police courts open among my tabs but making little progress on either.

currrently watching: Inbetween television right now, other than Gilded Age I suppose but I don't know if I'm watching it so much as spectating, hooting, throwing popcorn at the screen, thriving

currently consuming: breakfast is same as always- hummus on toast with onions cucumbers tomatoes

currently craving: some guaranteed privacy -_- failing that a really good falafel wrap

tag nine people, ahhhh @fujoshi-simone-weil @georgestraitpridemonth @oysterish-sympathies @ourspecial @nightincarnate @votsalot @corallapis @hey-scully-itsme @hermathena

[honeypirate]

Going Home

Jet-Black Hero: Tsukuyomi / Tokoyami Fumikage x Fem!Reader - Pro Hero AU (in their 20s)

Tokoyami had it bad. He had it so bad he had to bribe dark shadow to keep his mouth shut about it when you would call him. Sure he’s older than he was in high school and has more control over his quirk partner- he could force him to keep his mouth shut, but it feels wrong to force him to do anything when he’s a friend

You met Tokoyami in high school, becoming instant friends and bonding over darkness and crime shows. You even went as scully and mulder one Halloween together. But then you moved to a different country before senior year and he hasn’t been able to physically see you since.

You kept in contact religiously. He was your best friend and you told him you’d die if he doesn’t remain that way. You talk every day whenever you have free time and FaceTime every Monday and Wednesday alternating evenings and mornings for each other whenever hero work allows.

You have a separate conversation going on Snapchat, Instagram, and texts that you both stay on top of. Your Snapchat streak said 1174 and you’d be damned if it ever broke before you got to see him again. And yes, somewhere along the lines, you fell for him, but you’d never tell him. You’d never ruin your friendship like that.

“Remember to pick her up at noon” Dark Shadow said into his mind and he rolled his eyes, like he would ever forget the date and time his best friend would be in his life again. The second his agency was confirmed he extended a contract toward you, a popular new hero who was looking for an agency. A six month contract with abilities to extend should it feel like a good fit.

“Seriously? Not just because I’m your friend? You honest to god think our quirks would work well if I’m your side kick? On the bracelet?” He nods into the phone camera and then looks down at the purple adjustable bracelet you had gotten for him on your last arcade adventure before you moved, a matching black one on your wrist.

“I swear on the bracelet” he said, heart skipping. Yes he knew your quirks would work well together that was true. But he also knew that he was dying to see to again and when you said you only needed a good enough opportunity to move back, he saw a perfect opportunity that fate had handed you both.

Your black bracelet was faded to grey over the years of never taking it off but your heart beat raced in your chest. “Okay” you say with a smile and warm cheeks “I’ll have my agent look over the contract and I’ll give it a serious thought career wise.” Your eyes sparkled and he hoped your agent liked the proposal. His heart racing as you smiled at him like that. God he loved your smile.

“I like it. It would be good for your hero image if you had hero work in other countries as well. Young hero going back home. We can make a good story out of it how you were home sick. It’s also good that it’s with your best friend.” You checked out after she said she liked it. You were going home. You were going home.

You called Tokoyami right away and he answered on almost the last ring. “I’m sorry I just needed to talk to you” you said and took a deep breath as he work up “no it’s fine. It’s always fine when it’s you” his voice was tired and thick and you could only imagine how it would be in person.

“I have some news” you said with a smile and he perked up, sitting up in bed and against his headboard as he looked out his window at the night sky “what is it?” He asks, trying not to feel too excited as the phone presses hard against his ear.

“Guess” you said with a teasing tone and he knew immediately

“Really?” He asks, not being able to hide the excitement in his tone as his empty fist shoots up in celebration

“She said she liked it. It’ll be good for my image” you said with a grin, holding the phone in the crook of your neck as you play with the bracelet you’ve never taken off.

“When?” He asks eagerly

“You should know when Fumi, you made the contract” you joke and he chuckles

“no I know when your first day will be but when are you coming here?” He needs to know how much longer. How much more time will be spent away from you

“A week”

he laughs once out of shock and joy “a week?” He asks and you laugh, joy lacing every part of your voice

“my agent got me a flight and an apartment. The building I asked for already had one open and it was easy peasy. It’ll be furnished for me so I’ll be there next Wednesday at noon. Then I’ll have three weeks there before I start work. With you”

He couldn’t believe it. It went so fast he feels like his heart is spasming. Eight years away from you and only one week to go. “I’ll pick you up text me your itinerary”

“Okay” you say with a laugh and then smirk as you say “you’re not gonna ask where I’m gonna be living?”

“Where?”

“#407” you say and it takes him a moment but he gets there

“You mean six doors down?” He asks and you laugh

“Yeah I hope you don’t mind. I just thought it would be fun” you feel nervous like he’s not gonna like it, your palms sweat

“That’s amazing I’m so happy” he says and you grin “really? You don’t mind I’m living in your building?”

“Why would I mind? The best person in my life is going to be my neighbor. I can’t wait”

You hear his alarm go off and gasp “I’m sorry Fumi I didn’t mean to ruin your sleep”

He laughs “you didn’t. Trust me. But I do have to go to work. To get things set for you to be here.”

“Okay. I’ll text you. Be safe today Fumi”

—

His hands feel sweaty as he stands at the gates. Jesus. Was this even a good idea? Fuck he was so nervous. Your plan had landed he was just waiting for the doors to open. When the fight attendants opened the door he felt dark shadow getting nervous as well.

But then he saw you, a hat on your head and sunglasses on to try and stay inconspicuous in American airports but since you were here now you took them off and ran your hand through your hair before scanning the room.

Fuck you were so beautiful his mouth was dry. You were so cute in pictures and face time but it had nothing on you in person. You were an angel. This was a bad idea he was too in love to do this.

Your eyes meet his and you smile wide, your hat and glasses in one hand and a water bottle in the other as you start making your way to each other. You started off walking and weaving around the slow walkers but once you had space you couldn’t stop increasing your speed before you were running for him, your water bottle clanging to the ground as you dropped everything and threw off your backpack to slam into his strong arms, laughing as tears fall into his neck as you bury your face into him.

“Hey Fumi” you whispered and held you tighter. You smelled amazing. Like fresh air and rosemary. He couldn’t get enough. He held you tight to his chest and realized you felt smaller in his arms but then he realized when you left he was 5’5 and tiny. He’s grown a lot since then and even though you have changed too, he’s still a much larger man than he was before.

He dwarfed you. You never thought it was even possible. He held you completely and you never wanted him to let go. “Fumikage” you say as you pull back, making sure he keeps his arms around your waist. You reach up and run your hand down his long feathers down the back of his head “you’re much larger in person holy crap. and your feathers are so beautiful!!! Fumi!!. I forgot the beautiful shades in the darkness of the black. How are you still single Fumi you must be dripping with fans” You joked but your heart hurt saying it. You wanted to hear him say he wasn’t dating. That he has feelings for you.

He looks down at you and feels pride swell in his heart as you praise him, controlling the urge to fluff out his feathers when you call them beautiful.

“No one wants to date a fan” he says shutting down your investigative prodding at his love life, but then says “You’re one to talk you’ve changed so much but I didn’t even know it was possible to be this gorgeous. Don’t think I didn’t read about America’s most eligible bachelorette.”

Your cheeks flush with heat and you hide your face in his neck “oh hush Fumi. Always flustering me. Like you haven’t FaceTimed me every week. And that article was a joke” he sighs softly and you can see emotions swirling in his eyes.

“It’s different in person” he says and you sigh as you gaze up at him with a smile “it certainly is”

Once dark shadow decided to ruin the moment you remembered you were still in the airport. Fumi carried your big suitcase like it wasn’t a hundred pounds and before you could object dark shadow had your backpack across his back. Dark Shadow just laughed when you stuck your tongue out at him. “we’ve really missed you” he said when he handed you your water, your glasses and hat already on his body

—

You fall back into an easy rhythm with Fumikage, teasing and playing while talking in his car back to the apartment. After laughing so hard and catching your breath, you look over at his profile and your heart skips. The sun is hitting his feathers, his black button up shirt that was unbuttoned at the neck pulled at his biceps as his right hand rests against the shifter and his left hand was on the steering wheel. God you didn’t know if this was a good idea. You thought you were going back to your childhood home but being with Fumikage nothing has felt more like home than this.

“The boxes you sent over should be here in the next few days. If you need anything or don’t have something you can always come over, I have a spare key for emergencies” he’s going over a few things that it seems like he’s really thought about before you came. He was prepared and it warmed your heart. You smiled up at him as the elevator dinged for the fourth floor and he looked down at you eyes widening as he catches you staring. you smile and reach out, taking a gentle hold on his free hand near you and give it a soft squeeze. “Thank you Fumi. You think of everything. I’ve really missed that”

He doesn’t let go of your hand until he has to unlock his front door, you’d be staying the night with him and your agent was meeting you in the morning with the keys for your place.

his fingers tingle to grab for your hand again but he doesnt

“You can have my room, I’ll take the couch in my office. It’s a pull out.” You smile from your place standing on the landing just inside the door, watching as he disappears with your luggage down a hallway then comes back walking a little slower and playing with his hands like he does when he’s nervous.

The edge of the landing went down a couple steps and he stopped at the bottom edge “feel free make yourself at your home” he says with a nervous chuckle and you grin, running and jumping off the landing into his arms and burying your face in his shoulder.

“Oh Fumi eight years was too long” you whispered into him and he holds you up effortlessly, his beak brushing your shoulder and he curves into you, desperate to hold you after so long “way too long” he agreed.

———

The weeks seemed to fly by, you were settled into your apartment and you just got done with your first official week at the office.

“So, Tsukuyomi, Sir” you say with a smirk and lean against his open office door “how was my first day boss?”

He crosses his arms over his wide chest and gave you his best Boss look, making your heart flutter and causing your cheeks to heat up. you chuckled and tried not to show how flustered you were when you walked farther into his office. He stood from his desk and gave you a nod with a soft chuckle “you did well. I think you’re going to love it here. Let me take you to dinner tonight to celebrate”

——

He showed up at your door at seven and your breath catches in your throat when you see him. Black straight jeans with a black button up tucked in with a red tie and black boots. He looked divine. Like a god of the underdark. His hands were fixing his tie and you stepped forward, not missing the squeak of his own breath catching in his throat at the sight of you, and fixed his tie for him.

You had on a red dress and a black jean jacket that has rolled sleeves and pair of black booties that look like you could kick someone’s ass in them. His brain immediately short wired and all he can think is how well you look together. How right. How good. Fuck this was going to be harder than he thought to just be your friend but he didn’t want to you to think he was a sleaze or make you quit his agency.

Your hands fix his tie and then rest against his chest, when you see his flustered eyes and nervous body language you chuckle and lean up, kissing his beak gently, then wiping the lipstick with your thumb “you look really handsome Fumi” you say softly and he feels a whimper catch in his throat.

your eyes turn from him up to Dark Shadow who had on a matching tie “is it too much?” He asks and you laugh “you look good in it but I do think you pull off natural look best” he nods and salutes you “message received” before taking it off and tossing it into your apartment behind you.

When you look back to Fumi he’s glaring at Dark Shadow like he was a bad child and you chuckled before boldly taking his hand, hoping you read the signs right and that he did feel the same.

“Are you ready?” You ask and he nods, his fingers tighten around your hand as he relaxes, giving you a soft squeeze before placing your hand on his bicep and holding you close as he cleared his throat “I got a reservation at this new restaurant downtown” he says as you enter the elevator and you smile up at him “anywhere with you is perfect”

Dinner went by incredibly quick, you sat in a back booth, talking and laughing the whole night. It was a new restaurant that catered to people with any kinds of quirks and had surprisingly good tofu and fish. (I mean who’s gonna get the chicken on date with a bird?)

By the end of the meal he’s grabbed your hand over the table and is running his fingers against yours softly. “Thank you for tonight Fumi, I really feel like being here was the right choice. I would have came no matter what my agent said” his eyes widened a little

“Really?” He asks and you laugh with a grin “of course! You’re special to me and I just needed a good reason to come back home” your expression was so soft he felt those three words crawl up his tongue.

His eyes look serious for a moment as he looks at the way your hands look together “y/n I need to tell you something” he says and gets extra serious

“What is it?” You ask, trying to keep your voice neutral even tho you know your face screams ‘I’m worried now’

He meets your eye for a few long seconds before he shakes his head. He couldn’t. He couldn’t ruin this close friendship when he wasnt positive his feelings would be returned. “Never mind. It’s not that important. What do you say about dessert?”

He was leaning on the table on his elbows, close enough to reach out and touch over the tiny table, and so you did. You reach up and ran your fingers lightly over the edges of his feathers with a soft smile. “Of course Fumi. But how about we go to the cookie place by the park you always talk about. I know you like it and it’s a perfect night for a walk.” He swallows hard and nods “that’s a perfect idea” he says as he signals for the waiter to pay.

You hold his hand all the way to the cookie place, talking easily and joking around, but you keep hoping for the perfect moment to confess. You had a feeling that’s what he was going to do at the restaurant, it changed your heart and convinced you to take the leap, almost positive he felt the same.

You sit on a bench in the park, one with perfect view of the city skyline, eating your cookies and dark shadow is teasing you about the time you kept stealing Tokoyami’s poptarts from the dorm kitchen. Your cheeks are hot and you’ve turned yourself towards Tokoyami, your left hand on your cheek and your face hidden in his shoulder as you laughed together, your right hand rested on his kid thigh. It felt so easy. So absolutely right.

You drop your hand from your cheek and look up at Tokoyami with a soft smile, heart racing at the emotion you find in his eyes.

“I’m sorry for stealing your poptarts” you say and his throat catches again at the way your eyes seem to shine with love for him he almost feels it’s too much but he wants to dive deeper, to drown in the love he finds.

He chuckles and cups your cheek “I never cared. I had the hugest crush on you then”

Your heart skips and your cheek heats even more under his touch “and now?” You ask, voice barely above a whisper

“Now I’m so in love I don’t know if it’s even quantifiable” he says with a hint of exasperation as he leans down and presses his forehead to yours.

Your eyes flutter closed as your heart thrums against your ribs, his confession echoing in your head as fireworks explode in your heart. You press a kiss on his beak and your heart skips when you hear a gasp catch in his throat

“I’m in love with you too, Fumi” you say and he pulls you into a hug, nuzzling his beak into your neck, wanting to get close to you to show you how much he loves you the best he can since he can’t properly kiss you.

He nips softly at your neck skin and you giggle so sweetly he feels light headed. You pull back and kiss his cheek before looking into his eyes. He cups your cheek again “that’s what I wanted to say back at the restaurant”

You chuckle and smile, taking his hand you press gentle kisses against his palm, trailing a few down to his wrist before saying with a smirk “I know”

[dubsism]

Today’s Movie: Road to Zanzibar

Year of Release: 1941

Stars: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour

Director: Victor Schertzinger

This movie is not on my list of essential films.

NOTE: This installment of Sports Analogies Hidden In Classic Movies is being done as part of something called The Great Ziegfeld Blogathon 2020 being hosted by Hollywood Genes. To quote her, this is an event about…

…Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. – the man himself, his Follies and shows, his spouses and romances, his performers and collaborators, his rivals, films produced by or about him, books about him or those in his sphere…anything goes, as long as it comes back in some way to Ziegfeld!

The link here is Bob Hope, who starred in The Ziegfeld Follies of 1936; The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of musical revues presented from 1907 through 1931, 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957.

The Story:

While it may or may not make sense, for me “Road to Zanzibar” marks the beginning of the famed series known as the “Road” movies featuring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour.  That’s because I saw this one first, so in my mind it’s the beginning even though “Road to Singapore” was released the year before. But to be fair, “Road to Zanzibar” is a sequel to “Road to Singapore” in name only; the major players play different character roles in “Singapore” than they do in “Zanzibar.”

Not to mention, the other thing which doesn’t make sense here…Zanzibar is actually a series of islands off the coast of present-day Tanzania in East Africa.  There ain’t no road that goes there…

As for the film itself, the plot of “Road to Zanzibar” centers on the exploits of boyhood buddies Chuck Reardon (played by Bing Crosby) and Hubert “Fearless” Frazier (played by Bob Hope).  They are carnival hucksters; Chuck is the classic smooth talking con-man and “Fearless” is the daredevil who gets shot out of a cannon. One day, they are using a dummy in place of “Fearless.” The trick was supposed to be the dummy being shot through a “ring of fire,” but the dummy gets set alight, lands on a tent, and the resulting fire burns the entire carnival to the ground.

Naturally, after having burned the carnival down, Chuck and “Fearless” have worn out their welcome and need to get out of town in a hurry. This results in a series of escapades, usually getting more ridiculous over time and frequently ending with “Fearless” getting hurt somehow.  Naturally, after a while “Fearless” loses his interest in this, and wants to return home to the United States.  The problem is “Fearless” discovers Chuck has blown all their money buying the deed to a diamond mine. Things only get worse when they discover the guy Chuck bought the deed from is a “looney-tuner” and it’s worthless.

As you would expect, “Fearless” is furious with Chuck and abruptly ends their partnership.  The split is short-lived as “Fearless” returns a bit later claiming he unloaded the mine on a sucker for $7,000. Right about then, the “sucker” Monsieur Le Bec (played by Lionel Royce) shows up and wants “Fearless” to give him a tour of the mine. Once again, Chuck and “Fearless” realize they need to get out of town quickly, so they hop onboard a boat headed for Africa.

Once there, they are immediately approached by Julia Quimby (played by Una Merkel).  She wants to enlist them for a rescue mission saving  to help rescue her friend Donna LaTour (played by Dorothy Lamour) from being sold at a slave auction. They place a bid which secures her release, but what Chuck and “Fearless” don’t know is Julia and Donna are also con-artists.  As such, Donna tells Julia about the money Chuck and ‘Fearless’ have. She also spills her plot to get Chuck and “Fearless” to take them across the jungle to see Donna’s “long lost brother,” who in reality is a millionaire named J. Theodore Brady who she intends to marry.

Along the way, a love triangle begins to form among Chuck, “Fearless,” and Donna; but that falls by the wayside when the boys discover that Julia and Donna are a couple of American showgirls-turned-fraudsters. This results in Chuck and “Fearless” being stranded and lost in the jungle. During their attempt to find their way back to civilization, Chuck and “Fearless” come across a cave full of skeletons and drums.

Being a pair of typical dumb-asses, they start banging on the drums which ultimately summons a tribe of natives.  At first, the natives think Chuck and “Fearless” are gods and they adorn them with jewels, food, and other goodies. Things start to go sideways when the natives decide to test them by throwing “Fearless” in a cage with a gorilla.  Being a supposed “god,” he is supposed to easily dispatch with the giant primate…which he comically does not.  As a result of failing this test, the natives prepare to cook them.

This leads to what may very be the “signature” scene in this film; when Chuck and “Fearless” use the infamous “Patty-Cake” routine to confuse the natives and escape.  Afterward, they manage their way back to civilization.  Having been lost in the jungle, they are obviously haggard and dirty. But fortunately, they aren’t broke because they have the jewels the natives gave them.  The return to civilization also sees them re-united with Donna and Julia, as Donna gave up the rich guy because she was in love with Chuck.  The film ends by coming full circle; the four of them end up starring in a carnival act.

The Hidden Sports Analogy:

The mind that sees these analogies between sports and movies spent it’s developmental years taking in plenty of both.  I started with sports, but discovered the other as “Movie for A Rained-Out Ballgame.” But it wasn’t until I signed up for this blog-a-thon that I saw the similarity between the partnership of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope and their equivalent in the sports world…the broadcast duo of Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola.

“Road to Zanzibar” was my introduction to Hope and Crosby; NBC’s “Game of the Week” served that purpose for Scully and Garagiola. In both cases, as teams Hope/Crosby and Scully/Garagiola became legendary. As individuals, they all became superstars. Bing Crosby spent decades as a huge name in Hollywood; both on the screen and as a recording artist…it’s pretty hard to say a guy who had 63 top-ten singles wasn’t a beast behind the microphone.  He also paired with David Bowie for one of the great odd pop-culture moments of all time.

Vin Scully was nothing new to me as a kid; he had been the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers since before the team had come to California in 1958. The irony of his success as a pair with Garagiola was the fact that Scully was notorious for being a “one-man show” during Dodger games, a fact that remained right up until his retirement after the 2016 season and celebrated in what I think is one of the funniest things on YouTube I’ve seen in a long time.

Vin Scully became the voice of baseball, not just the Dodgers. Since he’s now retired, and if you never experienced the joy that is Vin Scully, here is one of the great Scully calls of all time re-enacted (1986 World Series, Game 6 – The “Error On Buckner” call) with Nintendo RBI Baseball. Simply put, of all the evils of Dodger baseball I’ve ranted  (I hate the Los Angeles Dodgers more than earaches and tax audits combined), none can erase the joy that was listening to Vin Scully.

But Bob Hope and Joe Garagiola transcended their respective worlds.

The name “Bob Hope” will be one of those which will live as long as there are classic film fans, as evidenced by this very post. It lived in the sports world until 2020 on the placard for the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) event he created in 1960; the Bob Hope Desert Classic; it fell victim to the trend of selling the naming rights to deep-pocketed corporations. But the name “Bob Hope” will surely live forever in the town where that golf tournament is held; Bob Hope literally built Palm Springs, California.

Despite the heights reached by Joe Garagiola’s fame, I’m afraid his name will be forgotten as soon as the guys like me who remember him are gone. But Garagiola transcended sports to become arguably the biggest star on television in the 1960s and 70s; he was everywhere in the pre-cable “rabbit ears” television world.  It’s hard to argue that at his peak, Joe Garagiola was not one of the  most recognizable faces on American TV.

To illustrate that, name somebody else who can check all these boxes:

Bob Hope hosted the Academy Awards 19 times, but he never filled in for Johnny Carson.

Professional athlete

World Series champion

Hall of Famer (Ford Frick Award, Baseball Hall of Fame; Missouri Sports Hall of Fame)

Legendary sports broadcaster

Guest host on the “Tonight Show”

Game show host

Co-host of the “Today” show

Network news commentator

Best friend of a sitting U.S. president

Just look at the shots in this slideshow:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Garagiola’s first non-sports related television appearance came in 1960 when he appeared onstage at a campaign even for then-Senator John F. Kennedy.  Being on live television surrounded by VIPs including including former President Harry S. Truman, Garagiola made a move that put him on the map.  Growing up, Garagiola’s father had been skeptical of Joe’s career choices, and Joe knew that his father would be watching.  Without skipping a beat, Garagiola threw his arm around President Truman, beamed directly into the camera and exclaimed “Hey Pop, I just want you to see who I’m hanging around with now!”

As the saying goes…a star was born.

Garagiola’s new-found “star” status propelled him beyond the world of baseball. He hosted a St. Louis area professional wrestling show titled “Wrestling at the Chase” in the early 1960s; Garagiola’s brother Mickey was the show’s ring announcer. Joe Garagiola also became the long-time regular host of the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami on New Year’s Eve. He was such a popular television figure that NBC saw fit to name him as a regular co-host of the “The Today Show” from 1967-1973 and again from 1990-1992. As such, Garagiola became a fixture amongst the professional journalists of the NBC News team.

Now as an established on-air personality for NBC, Garagiola became a regular guest-host of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” including the only live performance of any member of The Beatles on that program while they were still together when John Lennon and Paul McCartney were guests on the show in May of 1968.

If that weren’t enough, all during this time, Garagiola also hosted the game shows “He Said, She Said,” “Joe Garagiola’s Memory Game,” “Sale of the Century,” “To Tell the Truth,” and the short-lived “Strike it Rich.” When he wasn’t hosting game shows, Garagiola was a regular panelist on Gene Rayburn’s “The Match Game,” which was one of the most popular television shows of the 1970s.

He was on it so much that for a time in the 1970s, television could have easily have been re-named “Garagiola.”

Later on, Garagiola introduced himself to a whole new generation when he became the co-host of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for the USA Network from 1994-2002. But what endeared Joe Garagiola to me was NBC’s baseball “Game of the Week.” You need to remember this was the 1970s; well before cable-TV and dedicated sports channels. That meant if you wanted to see baseball which wasn’t your hometown team, “Game of the Week” was one of your only options.

When you are a kid developing what will become a life-long love for baseball, that’s huge. It didn’t take long for Garagiola’s true talent to shine through; he was a tremendous story teller. He wasn’t polished or eloquent; he was genuine and likable.  He was everybody’s “Uncle Joe;” that one guy at ever family gathering who had a laughing crowd around him.  He was never trying to be the center of attention, but somehow always ended up there.

NBC’s “Game of the Week” became “appointment television,” and it didn’t take long for Garagiola to become a bigger attraction than the game.  I started hoping for a boring game, because that allowed far ore time for Garagiola to do what he did best…tell stories about baseball. But it wasn’t the stories that made Garagiola a star, it was his ability to connect with people. That’s how a guy who’s world was originally all about baseball ended up putting the world in his catcher’s mitt.

The Moral of the Story:

Never underestimate the power of being liked.

P.S. For the classic film fan segment of this audience, on my list of favorite actors and their sporting equivalents, Joe Garagiola compared favorably to Van Johnson.

P.P.S. To hear a roast of and eulogy for Joe Garagiola, check out Episode #39 of the now-defunct Radio J-Dub podcast* (forward to the 17:30 mark for the segment containing Garagiola)

* – Rated “R” for language

Check out Dubsism’s Movies and Blog-A-Thons page for a full schedule of projects past, present, and future!

Got a question, comment, or just want to yell at us? Hit us up at  dubsism@yahoo.com, @Dubsism on Twitter, or on our Pinterest,  Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook pages, and be sure to bookmark Dubsism.com so you don’t miss anything from the most interesting independent sports blog on the web.

Sports Analogies Hidden In Classic Movies – Volume 78: “Road to Zanzibar” Today's Movie: Road to Zanzibar Year of Release: 1941 Stars: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour…

[fewrebelsarchive]

⁇✿øツ✆ mattyxjovi orionxneveah ronniexbooker steviexharrison OR WHOEVER GIMME

WOWIE i love dying and being dead! 

JOVI FT. MATTY 

⁇ for A DRUNK TEXT. 

imessage › matty [10:59 PM]: i knwo its late and ur sleeping but im still out with th guyss si iw anted to te xt you and say god luck on ur Test baby Ur gonna do SOOSOO good and if u dont im gongna FIGHT ur texcher bec ause we stayed up sOSOO lte studying imessage › matty [11:01 PM]: not tht i didnt enojy helpign u i awlasy do but ur sossososo smart imessage › matty [11:05 PM]: ok ill stop txin u i lvoe uuuu little one dont wait up ill see u in the morning ❤️💙❣️💖💞

✿ for A SUGGESTIVE TEXT. 

imessage › matty [6:05 PM]: i may or may not’ve splurged and got myself new lenses imessage › matty [6:05 PM]: they’re supposed to capture natural light perfectly so of course the idea of shooting you, wearing nothing but one of my t-shirts came to mind imessage › matty [6:05 PM]: i’ve just realized we both seem to make excuses to see each other and fuck.. name a more iconic duo, i’ll wait 

ø for A LATE NIGHT TEXT. 

imessage › matty [1:05 AM]: hey babe i know you’re still at the library but don’t kill yourself over this test please imessage › matty [1:05 AM]: just like every other exam, i’m 100% sure that you’re gonna pass it. you don’t give yourself enough credit imessage › matty [1:06 AM]: i might be up by the time you get home bc i’m hooked on the people vs oj right now but if not i expect you to slip into bed and cuddle me. that’s an order 

ツ for AN EXCITED TEXT. 

imessage › matty [3:26 PM]: HOLY SHIT BABE imessage › matty [3:26 PM]: MY PROFESSOR APPARENTLY SUBMITTED MY PHOTOS TO A BUNCH OF MAGAZINES AND THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO USE MY SHIT imessage › matty [3:30 PM]: i deadass just opened a check for two thousand dollars…. fuckimessage › matty [3:31 PM]: we have to celebrate asap 

✆ for A MORNING TEXT. 

imessage › matty [10:41 AM]: just for once i wish you’d stop being such a square and skip class to sleep in with me imessage › matty [11:14 AM]: oops i fell back asleep imessage › matty [11:15 AM]: see how nice it is to be human trash? 

NEVEAH FT. ORION 

⁇ for A DRUNK TEXT.

imessage › orion [6:45 PM]: hiiiiiimessage › orion [6:45 PM]: ive bene paitnig and drinkinggggg all i can think abt is the day i took u to my favorite tree nd we kissed fr the fsrt time .it was nice wanst it ? imessage › orion [7:30 PM]: i regret takin u there u threre

✿ for A SUGGESTIVE TEXT.

imessage › orion [10:35 PM]: you might be a motherfucker but no one can fuck me quite like you do. imessage › orion [10:57 PM]: what do you say you come over and do that for me? imessage › orion [10:58 PM]: then we go back to not speaking. 

ø for A LATE NIGHT TEXT. 

imessage › orion [1:05 AM]: you piss me off so much. you know that, right? imessage › orion [1:05 AM]: what did i do to deserve what you did to me? imessage › orion [1:06 AM]: i was so good to you. i was, wasn’t i? i loved you so much, o. i still do. i don’t think i’ll stop. was i not enough? 

✆ for A MORNING TEXT.

imessage › orion [8:34 AM]: i need you to go. imessage › orion [8:34 AM]: i don’t want to see you when i get back to my apartment. seriously, o. imessage › orion [8:40 AM]: you have to stop spending the night. 

BOOKER FT. RONNIE 

⁇ for A DRUNK TEXT.

imessage › ronnie [1:04 AM]: lets just go. elts run away an dbe togehter imessage › ronnie [1:04 AM]: im not happy ronimessage › ronnie [1:05 AM]: i think im in love wiht yuou 

✿ for A SUGGESTIVE TEXT.

imessage › ronnie [10:05 PM]: charlotte’s on some trip fuck knows where. imessage › ronnie [10:05 PM]: i’ve cancelled my weekend meetings and i’m feeling like some pizza. and a lot of you.imessage › ronnie [10:05 PM]: how does italy sound? 

ø for A LATE NIGHT TEXT.

imessage › ronnie [2:23 AM]: are you up? imessage › ronnie [2:23 AM]: it’s cool if you aren’t i’ve just been thinking a lot about stuff at work and i was going to go on a driveimessage › ronnie [2:24 AM]: and i thought who better to do that with than my own little personal distraction 😘 

ツ for AN EXCITED TEXT.

imessage › ronnie [5:26 PM]: that meeting i told you about went AMAZING imessage › ronnie [5:26 PM]: the new publishing company fuckin’ ate up my proposal and they want to put my newest work out ASAP imessage › ronnie [5:30 PM]: christ, i couldn’t have done this without you ronnie. thank you for everything. 

✆ for A MORNING TEXT.

imessage › ronnie [7:41 AM]: you know i hate leaving you so early in the morning but i had to settle some things at home. imessage › ronnie [7:41 AM]: i had a great night, though. every night i spend by your side is a great night. imessage › ronnie [7:44 AM]: i have a free window open between meetings around lunch time if you’d like to get some food? my treat, of course 

HARRISON FT. STEVIE 

⁇ for A DRUNK TEXT.

imessage › scully [3:24 AM]: yuor the only girl who hsa ever liked me fo r meimessage › scully [3:24 AM]: i like yuo alot stevieimessage › scully [3:30 AM]: i lvoe watching the starss with yuo 

✿ for A SUGGESTIVE TEXT.

imessage › scully [10:05 PM]: i’ve got a bottle of vodka, bud, and blankets with your name on ‘em imessage › scully [10:05 PM]: i was thinking we could drive out to that field and look at the starsimessage › scully [10:05 PM]: orrrrrr drive out anyway and not look at the stars 

ø for A LATE NIGHT TEXT.

imessage › scully [4:13 AM]: you up? imessage › scully [4:14 AM]: i’m stoned af and i want pizza imessage › scully [4:24 AM]: i also got a notification from my netfix that there’s a new 9/11 documentary waiting to be watched. i’ll bring pizza if u pack a bowl for me 

ツ for AN EXCITED TEXT.

imessage › scully [5:26 PM]:  I KNOW IT’S LATE but the 23rd was supernova 1987′s birthday imessage › scully [5:26 PM]: we should’ve made it a cake i’m so sad imessage › scully [5:30 PM]: and high. mostly sad though 

✆ for A MORNING TEXT.

imessage › scully [11:41 AM]: ok i might be high but think about this imessage › scully [11:41 AM]: horses. do they know they’re horses? like imessage › scully [11:46 AM]: i wonder how they see themselves. woah