Many Happy Returns
Club Congress celebrated two decades of musical mayhem with a glorious Labor Day lollapalooza that was absolutely B-A-N-A-N-A-S! All our childhood favorites came back for three days that totally kicked ass over Jerry Lewis' MDA telethon, even if it did keep us out past our bedtime. Chick Cashman was back in his wig; Brian Smith was prancing out in front of the Pills (or was it Gentlemen Afterdark?); and Al Perry hosted a three-hour all-star barbecue that included onstage appearances from, well, just about everybody in the crowd. We're still reeling from Gila Bend's cover of "They Call the Wind Mariah!" At least we think it was Gila Bend. And that's just a teeny-tiny sliver of all the fun on three stages between the Hotel Congress and the Rialto Theatre. Check out the snapshots in this week's Music section.You know it's a big event when you find the Weird Lovemakers' Greg Petix dressed in a tuxedo--and no, we didn't ask what the stains were. And was that Mayor Bob Walkup who joined the Lovemakers onstage for their blistering punk set? Probably not, although Walkup did join Gov. Janet Napolitano in declaring the weekend of Sept. 2-5 as "Club Congress Weekend." Who woulda thunk Al Perry's name would turn up in a gubernatorial proclamation?
Our elected officials declared, in part, that "Club Congress has made, and continues to make, a critical contribution to the cultural and economic development of Tucson, as well as the state of Arizona." We'll drink to that: A hearty toast to Hotel Congress owners Richard and Shana Oseran, manager Dave Slutes and the rest of the crew at Congress and the Rialto. Rock on, guys!
They Shoot Dogs, Don't They?
Rural Cochise County residents say animal-control officers, accompanied by sheriff's deputies and a federal official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have been entering their communities, handing out citations and shooting their dogs.Al Tomlinson of the Cochise County Sheriff's Office said at a Bowie town meeting that officials were responding to complaints about vicious animals loose in the area, according to reporter Carol Broeder of the Arizona Range News, a paper which--like the Weekly--is a member of the global network of Wick Communications. Tomlinson told the crowd that "the dog problem in the county has reached epidemic proportions."
Broeder reports that Cochise County officials say that in recent weeks, nine dogs have been captured, and 26 dogs were shot.
There Goes the Judge
Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist died last Saturday, Sept. 3, at age 80. Rehnquist, who was appointed to the court in 1972 by President Richard Nixon, cut his teeth on politics as legal counsel to the Arizona Republican Party after working on legendary Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater's presidential run back in '64.President George Bush wasted no time in suggesting that John Roberts--his nominee to replace Arizona's other Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O'Connor--instead be elevated to chief justice. Hey, who needs experience? It's only the Supreme Court.
While Bush tries to figure out his next appointee, O'Connor could end up serving on the court's next session. Every time she tries to get out, they pull her back in!
Season's Greetings
UA football coach Mike Stoops took the Wildcats to Salt Lake City for a 27-24 loss to Utah. (Hey, but they covered a seven-point spread!) The Utes scored 17 points in the third quarter, including a touchdown and field goal that came after two more of those cursed Wildcat turnovers.The Wildcats hope to redeem themselves at the home opener this Saturday, Sept. 10 against Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona University.
Redemption might be out of reach for the Pima Community College Aztecs, who were beaten to within an inch of their lives by Blinn College. Final score in the Aztecs season debut: 83-0. Ouch! Now that's an ass-whipping.
Elsewhere, the Tucson Sidewinders wrapped up the season over the Labor Day weekend, finishing 68-76 and 12 games behind the first-place Sacramento River Cats. Sidewinders second baseman Andy Green was named the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player. PCL stat fiends tell us that as of last week, Green was hitting .343 and was leading the league in five batting categories with 182 hits, 125 runs scored, 78 extra-base hits, 46 doubles, and 13 triples.
