Rocking Out with the Orphans (Or Centralia, Sweet Heart O' Mine)

A drive through scenic Centralia, Illinois, nestled deep within southern Illinois, one thought comes consistently to mind: Wow, these people are all about orphans. Signs are posted at nearly every intersection in some neighborhoods, lauding the accomplishments of the orphans, heaping on the praise and adulation. It's enough to be confusing to a poor city boy until one learns that the mascot of the Centralia High School is the Orphans. How did they come by such a unusual moniker? Well, the story I was told was that long ago, the Centralia High School found themselves involved in a basketball play-off. The program lacked funding (but not spirit), and so the basketball team members showed up in whatever they usually played in, a mish-mash of shorts and shirts that one could barely recognize as a "branded team". Gazing upon the players of this rag-tag bunch of loveable misfits, legend has it the announcer uttered "These kids look like a bunch of orphans!" In true Mid-western fashion, that barbed insult was adopted as the delightful mascot for Centralia High School and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Empty Pockets were pleased as punch when the Centralia Orphans asked us to come rock out at the Tailgate party for their Homecoming Football game against the Wesclin Warriors. So we hopped in the van and headed down south, around five hours, to party the night away with the fine people of Centralia. And an awesome night it was! Not only was there a party, complete with delicious food, fun games and some sweet prizes, but the Centralia High School Rock 101 program made a rockin'-good appearance as well, putting the seal on Rocktober and pushin' it down, old-school. They even gave us some totally sweet Centralia Orphans football jerseys! (Photos to come, look for 'em!)

After rocking out for the fine Tailgaters and diving into some delicious food, we got to watch the Centralia Orphans pound the living daylights out of the Wesclin Warriors, 62 -21. How often do you get to say the phrase "We watched some Orphans beat the snot out of a bunch of Warriors?" At least once, my fine friend. At least once.

More? You want more?

We had a great time partying with the Orphans and fine folks of Centralia and we hope to be invited back next year. Special musical props go to CHS music director Kevin Devany for his awesome half-time show featuring the music of our much-loved hero, Micheal Jackson. We had a great time, Centralia, and thanks to Hannah for searching us out!

Peace, love and pancakes,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

An Empty Pockets Book Report (or The Blogg on the Dogg)

In my ramblings through the library, I often come across something that jumps off the shelves and into my hands, screaming to be checked out. Such a situation occurred when I came upon my latest hard-cover conquest, Tha Doggfather: The Times, Trials and Hardcore Truths of Snoop Dogg. I clutched it close as I checked out, filled with anticipation of the Hardcore Truths I would learn about Cordozar Calvin Broadus, the man and the legend.

These truths were pretty hardcore.

Snoop talks about his time in the Rollin' 20 Crips, his frequent interactions with the judicial system, and his famed 1993 murder trial, in which he was charged in connection with the murder of a man shot by Snoop's bodyguard. He also talks about his love for Long Beach and his mother, and his rapid rise from a music-loving young man to one of the most influential G-funk rappers ever. Snoop proves to be a effective street-philosopher, offering not only the facts of a situation as seen by Snoop, but also a the overall negatives and positives of the situation wrapped into a lesson. The book is written in the conversational tone of Snoop Dogg and can prove to be an awkward read at some points where the vernacular becomes unclear, but it proves to be a satisfyingly good stylistic decision throughout.

Having recently pulled "Doggystyle" out of the musical mothballs, Snoop's Doggy Dog's premier 1993 album bloomed with salient connections in the history provided by the book, especially tracks like "Murder Was The Case They Gave Me" and "Lodi Dodi". It will surely find itself back into my regular rotation for some G-funk enjoyment with the Doggfather.

If you're a fan of Snoop, this is a must read. It was published in 1999, so it is a bit dated, but it proves to be a fun read with the Snoop Dogg style we've all come to love. Co-author David Seay colors the book with a subtle brush that allows the flavor to be 100% Dogg.

"No one knows more of the truth about the life, and no one tells it more like it is, than Tha Doggfather, Snoop Dogg."

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Snoop Dog on Wikipedia: [link]

Doggystyle on Wikipedia: [link]

The Book!: [link]