Hooters Sloan Continues To Dump Out Bahamas Content, Raccoon Soccer Delay & Caleb Ketchup Plays Baseball
I got a reminder on Wednesday that there is reality on the Internet
Clearly, it was shocking to my brain to hear the news Wednesday that Steve Gebhardt, 40, had passed away at his home in New Jersey. While you don't know the name, Steve played an integral role in the beginning stages of pop culture on the Internet.
I met him online in 2008 as I was developing my first project, BustedCoverage.com. Steve was in charge of marketing at Coed.com, which was a fairly large early Internet operation that was one of the first magazines to pivot to an online-only business model.
In 2011, Coed did an advertising traffic deal with Yardbarker.com, which had been purchased by Fox Sports. Coed promised Yardbarker that it would deliver millions of ad impressions, but it needed a sports site.
Last night, I went into my email archives to remember the full story.
Steve originally approached me in the spring of 2011 saying that Coed was going to start its own sports site with a New York City-based editor. By the next day, he was asking me if I would talk to management about my site, Busted Coverage. They wanted to buy an established site so they could immediately start delivering ad impressions.
Hours later, I had agreed to a deal to sell the site to Coed ownership. I would work from home and travel to Manhattan quarterly or whenever needed.
I went into my newspaper job, cleared out my desk, delivered a resignation letter to the manager on duty and walked out.
I've been working on the Internet ever since.
By 2012, Steve wanted to start his own business which became pop culture clothing retailer RSVLTS, which has become a titan in the industry. He was a big idea guy who came up with projects like 30 Ballparks in 30 Days where Steve and his buddy John traveled the U.S. hitting all 30 MLB ballparks…in 30 days and documenting the adventure for Coed.
In 2011, I joined Steve and John on an AXE Body Spray college football tailgating tour where we had to take a mannequin out on the road and have sorority girls spray him with AXE.
Our final stop on the tour was Georgia-Tennessee.
The next morning, we took the mannequin into the alley of our downtown Knoxville hotel and broke Quinn into multiple pieces and threw him into a dumpster. I still wonder if people thought there was a murder taking place in that alley.
I can't remember the last time I ran into Steve on the road, but I know we had drinks at the 2016 Red Hot Chili Peppers show in San Francisco where we were walking through the warehouse and ran into Mark Cuban.
Life gets away from you and time passes. Then you're on Facebook scrolling when you get the news.
There is a reality to this game. Wednesday was a reminder.
What advice would you give a 13-year-old as a grandparent?
- Myron in the UP writes:
Saw the responses to you question about faking it at the BBQ grill and yes, the first few times was trying to look like I knew how and not ruining the groceries. Kind of like starting dating. Then I married again to a Texas lady and my new son in law introduced me to the art of smoking. He also suggested a Masterbuilt gravity smoker. It has a small fan to control the temperature and a column to fill with wood and or charcoal so I cam walk away for three or four hours. Took a lot of the quess work out and now I grill or smoke at least weekly during the summer and at least monthly when I need to clear snow. Turns out everything from meat to chili to pizza to squash tasted better smoked.
Sorry for the rant but I did have a question to throw out to the group.
I was at a grandparents day for a 13-year-old last week and as part of the "experience " he had a list of question about when I was his age. But the last one was "What advice do you have for me?" So you have 2 minutes to tell a 13-year-old what you spent a live time learning. What is your elevator speech? What is your most important life thought?
Final thought. Monday I got a cake from the UP Regional Blood Center for my 100th blood donation. I pointed out it isn't like I delivered all 12.5 gallons, I just showed up consistently and did my bit. Kind of like you do every day for us readers.
Kinsey:
What a great topic, Myron.
I'm thinking the Galens in Johnson City, TN and the Mike Ts in Idaho, the Jim Ts in San Diego and the Migs of Screencaps have a quick elevator pitch for 13-year-olds.
Fire away.
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com
Scheels in Arizona
– Hans in AZ, who was the first Screencaps reader to score the Kirkland Air BBQ 2024s, writes:
Just wanted to let any fellow Screencaps readers from Arizona that Scheels in Chandler is a freaking awesome place! Me and a buddy did the 2-hour drive from south of Tucson yesterday. 220 thousand square feet of every kind of sporting good items you could imagine. You can spend hours in there easily. Super-friendly staff and the selection and variety of items they carry is unbelievable. I'm kicking myself for not buying some of the jerky they make there. Definitely worth checking out. Swing by Helluva Brewery afterwards for lunch and beers.
Can your softball team beat this team for longevity? 48 years of softball in Minnesota
- Kirk B. writes:
2018 City Of Duluth MN & Tuesday Night Men's Slow Pitch Softball Championship
Players Sports Bar Beerhunters Men's Softball Team
The Beerhunters Men's Softball Team has been in the Duluth Men's Softball League since 1976
Three Championships since 2000
2002, 2012, 2018
They recently began there 48th Season Tuesday May 7th 2024
…
I was with the 2012 & 2018 Championship Teams
In the picture I am in the 2nd row last on on the right side
Kinsey:
Great softball team name. Someone beat that.
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com
Is Wallys better than Buc-ees?
– Bruce H. writes:
On the question about Wally's...
Buc-ees > Wally's, but Wally's is not as packed and has some better items. Example- I've never liked that The Beaver doesn't have Pepsi or Coke products on fountain, just their own creations. Wally's has everything, including retro 70s logos for their sodas. A little more chill stop than Buc-ees.
Also, mowed this afternoon to beat 2 days of rain, and these red-eyed bastards are out in Central Illinois. I bagged several thousand while mowing. Time to download the decibel meter!
Stories that dads will tell for decades to come
- Erick in Noblesville, IN writes:
Reading the list of things to do on the five day trip from Indiana to MO and it reminded me of a story you might like.
My kids told my wife that they don’t like Mother’s day because she always makes them work. This year was no different. After church we went to the garden center, bought some new bushes, pulled three bushes out, planted new bushes, and trimmed a bunch of limbs off of trees. In my wife’s defense, I work part-time at a soccer club and Mother’s day is the only day I have to do work in the spring because we don’t have games.
The kids than informed my wife that Father's Day is way better because we do something cool. They brought up the time we went to the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis for Father's Day and it was 90+ degrees outside and how I still put forth maximum effort to annihilate them in everyone of the outdoor events at the museum.
The story they liked the best is when I nearly fell off the pedal car Indy 500 racers(https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/racing) on a track because I took the turn pedaling like the kid out of ‘Breaking Away (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078902/)"
After this sports accomplishment, I got to spend like $20 on four Gatorades. A day and money well spent to show my children that their old man still has it! It has been a number of years and my kids are teenagers now, but I might have to relieve this glorious day!
Kinsey:
Dads, if you want to relive your athletic glory days, I can't overstate how great the outdoor athletic complex is at the Indy Children's Museum. Get it on your list. Take Erick's word for it. Take my word for it. You'll have a blast. Your wife will have a blast and your kids will have a blast.
Like Erick, I recommend a day when it's not 90. Trust us.
Additions to 5-day IN/MO/IL summer trip of a lifetime: St. Louis-style pizza (this is going to infuriate several readers…I've been down this road before)
- Allen suggests:
A couple of things to add to the STL portion of the trip:
- Expect lines at Pappy’s.
- +1 for the City Museum.
- +1 for the Arch - be sure to take a trip to the top.
- Ted Drewe’s for frozen custard (go to the one on Chippewa).
- Get some STL style pizza (IMOs, STL Pizza & Wings). It seems that this is either a love/hate thing. I know a lot of out of towners who dislike this type of pizza, I grew up with it and love it.
Be better at the grill this summer…how not to fake it!
- Dom Z. in Scottsdale, AZ writes:
My brother and I used to do a few BBQ competitions a few years ago. Took a course from Dr. BBQ and we were off. Regional comps in the southwest, we did get to compete against some teams you would see on the Pitmasters TV show. Fun stuff. Took home a few trophies and held our own, even though those guys were GOOD. Typical comp would be Pulled Pork, Ribs, Chicken and Brisket.
I agree the insta thermometer is a vital part of the BBQ kit. One thing I didn't see mentioned in the BBQ advice from some of your readers...
Always use a good dry rub. Especially on steaks and burgers on the grill. While I'll try different flavored rubs on the competition meats mentioned, the basic rub for steaks, chops and burgers is a good coating of Kosher salt and black pepper. Don't over do the salt and pepper, but put on more than a normal amount. I've taken to using that on Brisket and Pork Butts too. Let the salt and pepper coating set up a little while, even put them back in the Refrig. for an hour or so. The salt and pepper will form a nice crust on the outside of the meat and really seal in the juices. Steaks and burgers should start on the hot side of the fire and then move to the cooler side to finish. Let them rest 10 minutes or so after finishing and serve. You'll be amazed how juicy everything turns out.
PS. If someone wants Well Done or Medium Well, just say no. No point in killing the shit, c'mon! It's expensive.
- Caleb in PA writes:
I don’t use the grill that often, and I definitely don’t have any idea what I’m doing most of the time (see below).
But very glad to hear the Screencaps community has more skill at the grill than I do!
MEAT
- Lee D. in Tampa sends in some inspiration to those who are about to embark on a summer of grilling:
Sheesh!
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That's it. We're done for this mid-May Thursday with the sun shining, the birds are out in full-force and Mrs. Screencaps is down to just a few remaining plants that need to go into pots and the ground.
I can feel those quiet summer nights on the patio coming fast. We've earned them.
Go have a great day.
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com