Things to do in Des Moines when you're Dead - Sports edition

No surprise, but as with the last few years, I have tried to hit as many of the area's professional minor league sporting events.  With Jeremy Lin hitting the mainstream a few months ago with his "outta nowhere" story, I figured it was time to revisit some recent trips to watch the local action.

Des Moines Buccaneers - The Bucs are an USHL Hockey team.  These are players at the very beginning of their career- 18 and 19 years old looking to play in college and hoping for a shot at the big time.

Success is possible here, but limited.  To give some idea, I think there are 3 alumni from the Bucs in the NHL (probably the most bnotable, a third-line center).  Even then, the Bucs are a blast to watch, and the fans embrace them.  Gasper Kopitar remains the team best player from the last couple of years (His brother is a star on the LA Kings).  The team has been terrible this year, but the flipside of that is that they seem a bit rowdier this year than normal.  As this is hockey, either is okay with the fans.

Iowa Barnstormers - I can't imagine watching arena football on tv, but it is a blast in person.  The team started the year by signing Derell Johnson-Koulianos.  DJK seemed a can't miss for the NFL- setting records at a Big 10 College; but while at Iowa, his roommates got caught running a crackhouse (seriously).  DJK is trying to rehabilitate his image by playing in the CFL, but apparently he could not translate his game to the Arena game; and was cut by the 'Stormers  before the first game.

I am not sure if the Barnstormers are good this year or not (They lost the game we attended, but arena football seems like a crapshoot anyway).  I did attend the home opener armed with the must-have accessory - a cowbell- and I must say I have to recommend it,

If anyone from the barnstormers is destined for a pro career- it has to be the receiver Jesse Schmidt- who has several team records, but played college football for a Division 3 school- though his age would suggest that maybe that window is closing.

Iowa Energy - The Energy (of the three) is probably the best chance to see a future star.  The NBADL (Developmental League) indeed got a boost from the Jeremy Lin story.  Still, the future pros you will see are most likely sixth men and future NBA journeymen.

The Energy are led by last year's NBADL MVP Curtis Stinson (and yes, Lin played in the NBADL last year).  Stinson seemed like a can't miss NBAr when he played at Iowa State, but the games I have seen him in have him marked for me as an unlikely NBA starter (not quite the field general a NBA team would look for in a point guard).

Recently, the Energy picked up Patrick Ewing, Jr; who i have not seen, but seems to have a pretty solid wrap of he would be good if he actually put some effort into it. 

NBA Developmental basketball is a lot more exciting than it sounds and the local team does it right - uptempo music over the PA, great gimmick nights (starting of course with 70s and 80s nights), and that other feature attraction, winning.

On the Shelf 069: VCMG

In case you have missed it, after 30 years of not speaking, Martin Gore and Vince Clarke have got together (at elast virtually) and put together a project. Lest you forget, Clarke was a member of Depeche Mode for their debut album Speak and Spell (where Clarke wrote the lions share of songs before departing, in turn making Gore the primary Mode writer for years, and going on to form Yaz and Erasure).

VCMG is not what you expect- not a loud announcement, but an album that *gasp* seems to be a labor of love. The two have come full circle by making techno music influenced by the musicians they effectively gave birth to.

I think both Mode and Erasure (and Yaz as well) are largely underrated by the music critic world, and given the under-the-radar press on this album, wanted to share.

It's not really my thing (at least not immediately- maybe if Gore was singing, I would feel different), but even then, I have to say it's pretty good. Fans of both will likely be happy with this musical diversion.

Things to do in Des Moines when you're Dead 4 -Buzzard Billy's

Buzzard Billy's was one of the first hangouts that caught my notice when i first moved here. 

Specifically, two things 1) Crappy Beer Night- which is as the name implies- a chance to drink cans of Hamms for a buck apiece and 2) the gator appetizers (Less exciting now that the local Bass pro Shop features them in their restaurant-slash-bowling alley).

As notable as the gator on the appetizer menu are the Armadillo Eggs (Hang on.  Jalapeños and cheese wrapped in chicken breasts wrapped in bacon, and fried.)

It had 70s kitsch decor, and though there are plenty of bars in the area that have also done this (most notably, the great fun High Life Lounge), Buzzard Billy's was always legendary in social circles.

I can't recall what happened exactly, but it closed down, and only recently has been resurrected.  It is next door (combined) with Allplay (think Dave and Busters- videogames, skee ball, lazer tag and the like for adults).  

Besides all of the above, BBs goes for a cajun theme- the menu is heavy with gumbo, jambalaya, po boys, and various other Louisiana-themed dishes.  It's authentic ( as only from a short stop in New Orleans that I can recall) and its pretty damned tasty.

The website indicates the owner runs similar establishments in Waco, Texas; LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Lincoln Nebraska.

Oh, and of course, I do love the 70s decor which includes a Pete Rose poster (from the ubiquitous at the time, Sports Illustrated style- of which I had a couple), Threes Company trading cards, and plenty of beer ads (like a  Stag Beer St Louis Blues poster that maybe only a Metro Easters can fully appreciate).

The men's room has that poster of Farrah (naturally) and the Winter '67 GQ cover with Phyllis Diller.

A must stop in the 515.