BK35- The #1 Songs

Not my number 1's per se, but the song that was #1 on the US pop chart on each of my birthdays since July 20, 1973. It's an eclectic mix, to be sure, some classics like Billy Joel and Prince; some one-hitters like Sir Mix-a-Lot and EMF. So here they are, from Billy Preston (above) in '73 to Katy Perry in '08.

1973- Billy Preston- Will it Go Round In Circles?
1974- George McCrae- Rock Your Baby
1975- Van McCoy- The Hustle
1976- The Manhattans- Kiss & Say Goodbye
1977- Barry Manilow- Looks Like We Made It
1978- Andy Gibb- Shadow Dancing
1979- Donna Summer- Bad Girls
1980- Billy Joel- It's Still Rock & Roll To Me
1981- Air Supply- The One That You Love
1982- Survivor- Eye of the Tiger
1983- The Police- Every Breath You Take
1984- Prince- When Doves Cry
1985- Duran Duran- View to a Kill
1986- Peter Gabriel- Sledgehammer
1987- Heart- Alone
1988- Richard Marx- Hold Onto the Nights
1989- Martika- Toy Soldiers
1990- Glenn Medeiros & Bobby Brown- She Ain't Worth it
1991- EMF- Unbelievable
1992- Sir Mix-a-Lot- Baby Got Back
1993- UB40- Can't Help Falling In Love
1994- All-4-One- I Swear
1995- TLC- Waterfalls
1996- 2Pac- California Love
1997- Puff Daddy- I'll Be Missing You
1998- Brandy & Monica- The Boy is Mine
1999- Ricky Martin- Livin' La Vida Loca
2000- Matchbox 20- Unwell
2001- Usher- You Remind Me
2002- Nelly- Hot In Here
2003- Beyonce & Jay-Z- Crazy In Love
2004- Usher- Confessions, Pt.2
2005- Mariah Carey- We Belong Together
2006- Nelly Furtado- Promiscuous
2007- Rhianna- Umbrella
2008- Katy Perry- I Kissed a Girl

If you'd like to see what was #1 on your birthday or special day, go to a site I've used for years, This Day in Music.

BK35- Best Comedy Movies

The clock is ticking- 35 is less than a week away, so here's another self-indulgent list of my favorites. This time around, my favorite movie comedies. The greatest ones are those that you can watch over and over again and still laugh and, of course, quote every line. I believe that most of these qualify, at least for me. In no particular order:

The Early Years ('80s- Early '90s)

Airplane!
Hot Shots 1
Hot Shots 2
Naked Gun
Naked Gun 2 1/2
Police Academy 1
Police Academy 2
Major League
Bull Durham

The Mansfield Years (mid-to-late '90s)

Tommy Boy
Space Balls
Kingpin
There's Something About Mary
Swingers
South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut
Animal House
Dumb & Dumber
Ace Ventura
Happy Gilmore

The Frat Pack Years (2000's)

Office Space
Old School
Wedding Crashers
Dodgeball
Anchorman
Scary Movie 1, 2 & 3
Not Another Teen Movie
Napoleon Dynamite
Superbad
Borat

BK35- My All-Time Dodgers

The latest in the lead-up to my 35th birthday, this list was easier than I had anticpated. I decided to make a normal 25-man roster, and I did not move players from positions that they had played on a Major League level. I did not go on sheer talent alone, as I included their contributions on a team level as well. All players are within my lifetime.

C- Mike Piazza
1B- Steve Garvey
2B- Steve Sax
3B- Pedro Guerrero
SS- Chad Fonville
LF- Kirk Gibson
CF- Brett Butler
RF- Mickey Hatcher
DH- Eddie Murray

Bench- Russell Martin, Eric Karros, Tim Wallach, Andre Ethier, Shawn Green, Dusty Baker, Ron Cey

SPs- Fernando Valenzuela
Orel Hershiser
Ramon Martinez
Pedro Martinez
Brad Penny

Bullpen- Pedro Astacio, Jeff Shaw, Jay Howell, Steve Howe, Eric Gagne(CL)

Manager- Tommy Lasorda

Honorary Captains- Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson

BK35- Greatest Games

The countdown to 35 continues with the greatest baseball games I have been at. Some are for their historic significance, most are for their importance in my life. In chronological order:

June 10, 1979- Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia- Braves 10, Phillies 3

My first game, got to see 2 Hall-of-Famers pitch. Great way to start an obsession. I covered this in detail last year.

July 11, 1982- Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia- Phillies 4, Dodgers 3

First time I got to see the Dodgers, with Pedro Guererro (above), Ron Cey, Steve Sax, et al. Grandma couldn't believe that a 8-year old knew every player's name and screamed at each of them.

August 4, 1985- Yankee Stadium, New York- White Sox 4, Yankees 1

The only huge milestone game I have attended- Tom Seaver got his 300th win that day. Also Phil Rizzuto Day, only time I saw a number retired.

August 28, 1988- Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia- Dodgers 5, Phillies 0

I am sure i am the only one at this point who knew the Dodgers were on their way to the World Championship. Less than 2 months later, I would be proven right.

October 19, 1999- Turner Field, Atlanta- Braves 10, Mets 9 (11 innings)

Only living in Atlanta for 2 days at this point, I got to see Game 6 of the NLCS, and a great one at that. Piazza homered and Hershiser pitched (unfortunately both for the Mets). Still the only playoff game I have been to.

July 11, 2000- Turner Field, Atlanta- American League 6, National League 3

All Star Game! Not only did I get to work at the FanFest this year, but got to enjoy the game as well.

April 2, 2002- Dodger Stadium, LA- Giants 9, Dodgers 2

First time in Dodger Stadium and I was walking on air. I met Odalis Perez and sat in the infamous rowdy bleachers.

September 11, 2002- Turner Field, Atlanta- Mets 5, Braves 0

On the year anniversary of the horrible events of 9/11, It was the most patriotic game I have ever attended. NYFD was in attendance, it was just a surreal event.

March 9, 2003- Holman Stadium, Vero Beach, FL- Dodgers v. Expos

Got to Dodgertown, and it was even more incredible than the first time in Dodger Stadium. Even more meaning now that they've left.

September 11, 2004- Camden Yards, Baltimore- Yankees 5, Orioles 2

Staci and my first game together. WHo knew that 4 years later we'd have been to 20 parks together on our way to all 30?

April 14, 2005- RFK Stadium, DC- Nationals 5, Diamondbacks 3

First game in DC in 34 years, and the atmosphere was electric. It began a magical 3 months where the Nats were really good.

July 4, 2006- RFK Stadium, DC- Nats 6, Marlins 4

Ryan Zimmerman hits a walk-off homerun to win the game! And...oh yeah, got engaged to my beautiful wife. :)

April 9, 2007- Pfitzner Stadium, Woodbridge, VA- Avalanche 8, P-Nats 0

My first game working in baseball. A feeling that was 20 years in the making.

August 31, 2007- Pfitzner Stadium, Woodbridge, VA- P-Nats 4, Hillcats 0

P-Nats win 11th in a row to end the home season, come up just short of a rush to the playoffs. The beginning of our wedding weekend brought 10 of our family down to the game.

BK35- The Albums

With the big "3-5" less than 2 months away, I will be starting a series of lists called "BK35," which will chronicle different aspects of my 12,784 days on this big blue marble. First up- the 35 most important albums of my life. Some will be obvious, if you know me, some may surprise you. Instead of ranking these, I'm breaking these albums into categories that I see fit- it's my blog, wanna fight about it? :) Enjoy:

The Albums That Introduced Me To My Favorite Artists- not necessarily their best work (and in some cases their greatest hits) but without which I may have never found them.

Def Leppard- Pyromania (1983)
Sheryl Crow- Tuesday Night Music Club (1994)
Chicago- IX (1970)
Styx- Paradise Theater (1980)
Frank Sinatra- Duets (1993)
Journey- Greatest Hits (1989)
Survivor- Eye of the Tiger (1981)
Stone Temple Pilots- Core (1993)
Van Halen- 1984 (1984)
Pink Floyd- Division Bell (1994)
Night Ranger- 7 Wishes (1985)
Queen- Greatest Hits (1991)
Eagles- Hotel California (1976)
Billy Joel- Innocent Man (1983)

The College Year Albums- music is such a key part of life, but it seems especially so in college.

No Doubt- Tragic Kingdom (1996)
Live- Throwing Copper (1994)
Bush- Sixteen Stone (1995)
Stone Temple Pilots- Purple (1994)
Rage Against The Machine- Rage Against The Machine (1994)
Tool- Undertow (1993)
Billy Joel- Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 (1985)
Sheryl Crow- The Globe Sessions (1998)
Meatloaf- Bat Out Of Hell (1978)

The Best of the Best- desert island material.

Def Leppard- Hysteria (1987)
Frank Sinatra- Sings For Only The Lonely (1962)
Bon Jovi- New Jersey (1988)
Foo Fighters- One By One (2002)
Billy Joel- Songs In The Attic (1977)
Survivor- Vital Signs (1984)
Norah Jones- Come Away With Me (2002)
Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon (1975)
Michael Jackson- Thriller (1983)
Creed- Human Clay (1999)
Guns N Roses- Lies (1988)
Def Leppard- On Through The Night (1980)