I was wrong about Moneyball.  I thought it unlikely that anyone who’s not a baseball fan would be very interested in stats, on-base percentage and the Oakland As.  But sure enough, it’s scoring big box office numbers… and as baseball movies go, it’s got plenty of mainstream appeal.    But Moneyball is not just about baseball is it?  It’s for anybody who’s ever dreamed of taking on the big guys, of challenging the way things are…  and it’s about believing in yourself.  I loved this movie.  Finding undervalued players is at the core of the story.  And I was wondering if there’s a sabermetrics for offensive linemen?  I mean the 49ers could use some help there…

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By Russell Hall

Roger Daltrey says contemporary music is suffering from a lack of great lead singers, and TV shows such as American Idol are partly to blame. Speaking to the Associated Press, the veteran frontman said, “A lot of the new people they choose on shows like American Idol and things like that — I don’t ever hear lead singers. They always seem to pick people that are great singers, fabulous singers, but they’ve never got the voice that makes a great lead singer.”

Daltrey went on to cite several examples of lead vocalists he considers top-tier. “You hear ten seconds of Rod Stewart, you know it’s Rod Stewart,” he said. “Ten-seconds of Mick Jagger, that’s Mick Jagger. Ten-seconds of Eddie Vedder, you know that’s Eddie.”

As regards the younger crowd, he did name one exception to what he considers the dearth of great vocalists. “I love Adele,” he said, referring to the British soul singer whose sophomore disc,21, is the top-selling album in both the U.S. and the U.K. this year. “That’s a lead singer, [she’s] the real deal.”

Brought to you by ThisDayinMusic.com.

Born on this day:

1917, Buddy Rich, drummer
1935, Johnny Mathis, singer
1942, Frankie Lymon, vocals, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
1947, Marc Bolan, guitar, vocals, T. Rex
1958, Marty Stuart, country musician
1963, David Barbe, bass, Sugar; producer
1963, Reb Beach, guitar, Winger, Whitesnake
1964, Trey Anastasio, vocals, guitar, Phish
1964, Robby Takac, bass, Goo Goo Dolls
1985, T-Pain, singer, rapper

1974, Police were called to a Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blue Oyster Cult concert after a fight broke out between two sound engineers. The Skynyrd roadie claimed that the sound had been deliberately turned off during the band’s set.

1977, Mary Ford died from cancer after being in a diabetic coma for 54 days. She was one half of the husband-and-wife musical team, Les Paul and Mary Ford. Between 1950 and 1954, the couple had 16 Top 10 hits; in 1951 alone, they sold 6 million records. For more on Ford, see This Day in Music Spotlight.

1993, Kate Pierson from The B-52’s was charged with criminal mischief and trespassing during an anti-fur protest at Vogue’s New York City offices.

1994, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince launched music channel VH1 in the U.K., which gave the first airing of his new video “Dolphin.”

2003, An auction of the contents of Sir Elton John’s London home raised more than £1.4 million. An oil painting, entitled Madison Square Park, sold for £67,200, and a 19th Century portrait of Lieutenant George Dyer, painted by James Northcote in 1817, fetched £55,200. Sir Elton sold off the items so he could redecorate his home in a more modern style.

By Bryan Wawzenek

Despite being famed teetotalers, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have announced official KISS wine and KISS beer. The legendary band has partnered with Rewine to bring the alcoholic beverages to Europe. No U.S. release has been revealed yet, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.

KISS Zin Fire is a 2010 California Zinfandel that combines blackberry and pepper. KISS Destroyer Beer is a German beer with “balanced flavor” that will be available in cans and bottles.

“This isn’t just something we put a label on,” Stanley said in a statement. “We wanted wine and beer unique to KISS and we got it. This stuff will set your taste buds on fire.”

Simmons added: “If you love beer and wine, this one is for you!”

The wine is hitting Sweden, Norway and Finland first, then coming to Denmark, The Netherlands and the U.K. The wine is available now, but the beer won’t be available until next month.

More KISS:

KISS Cremation Urn Unveiled

Three Different KISS Memoirs Coming Soon

New KISS Album Sounds Bigger than a Sonic Boom

By Anne Erickson

Who would have marked Mick Jagger a Facebook junkie? It’s true. It seems Jagger has moved passed his initial distaste for micro-blogging and social networking sites, confessing he now spends “way too much time” online looking up old chums.

“I spend way too much time on the computer and not enough time playing the guitar,” Jagger told Britain’s Daily Express. “There’s an underlying problem of this screen life taking over all of your life,” he added. “It’s easy to keep in touch with people, some of whom I wish I’d never kept in touch with. But there they are on Facebook.”

The Rolling Stones frontman had previously stated he needed to hire a personal assistant to update his online blogs, because he couldn’t stay current enough keep up with modern technology. So, apparently, those days are over.

Aside from updating his Facebook status, Mick Jagger is taking on his first starring film role in more than a decade, playing a media mogul in the movie Tabloid Jagged Films. , which he is creating with his own production company.

And I thought the Giants Faithful were a little down.  They’re downright giddy compared to what Boston Red Sox fans must be feeling today.  What happened last night, the culmination of a horrendous free fall… was cruelty personified.  They went into September with a nine game lead.. and squandered it away.  No matter how you try and explain it… injuries, weariness, bad karma, the moon not in alignment… you can’t go 7-20 down the stretch and expect a parade.  And the Atlanta Braves, who had a ten game lead over the Cardinals in late August… couldn’t gather any momentum, and lost their final five games.  Goodnight.  The offseason can be a long, cold stretch.  It’s especially lonely when you can’t help but feel.. that you choked.

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Brought to you by ThisDayinMusic.com.

Born on this day:

1935, Jerry Lee Lewis, singer, pianist
1939, Tommy Boyce, songwriter
1948, Mark Farner, gutiar, vocals, Grand Funk Railroad
1960, Alan McGee, music mogul, Creation Records
1963, Les Claypool, bass, Primus

1956, Bill Haley had five songs in the U.K. Top 30: “Rockin Through the Rye,” “Saints Rock n’ Roll,” “Rock Around the Clock,” “Razzle Dazzle” and “See You Later Alligator.”

1973, Grand Funk Railroad went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “We’re an American Band,” the group’s first of two U.S. chart toppers.

1976, Enjoying his own birthday celebrations, singer Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player Norman Owens in the chest. Lewis had been blasting holes in an office door. Owens survived but sued his boss.

1984, Prince and the Revolution started a two-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Let’s Go Crazy,” Prince’s second U.S. #1.

1989, While travelling on his motorbike from Los Angeles, Bruce Springsteen stopped in Matt’s Saloon in Prescott, Arizona, and jammed with the house band for an hour. He also donated $100,000 to a barmaid’s hospital bill. For more on this story, see This Day in Music Spotlight.

1991, Metallica kicked off their 138-date Wherever We May Roam world tour at the Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois.

2004, Keith Moon’s five-piece drum kit, custom-made for The Who drummer in 1968, sold for £120,000 pounds ($215,772) in London to an American collector, setting a world auction record for a set of drums.

2007, 50 Cent was beaten by rival rap star Kanye West in the stand-off to claim the best-selling album in the U.S. West’s Graduation shifted 957,000 copies in its first week of sales while 50 Cent’s album, Curtis, only sold 691,000. Before the albums went on sale, 50 Cent vowed he would retire from making solo albums if he was outsold by West. He changed his mind after he lost.

By Bryan Wawzenek

Not too long ago, we told you that The Rolling Stones have plans to revisit 1978’s Some Girlslater this fall with a deluxe re-release. Now, it’s been revealed that the release of a concert film on DVD and Blu-ray will be part of the Stones’ plans, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.

The movie, titled Some Girls Live in Texas, was filmed in Fort Worth in 1978 and will be available for purchase on November 21. But, for those eager to see the film (which has never been shown to the public), there will also be special screenings in movie theaters on October 18. The theatrical event also will include a new interview with Mick Jagger.

“Fort Worth was an amazing night in a blistering hot July,” Jagger said in a statement. “Watching it now, the band was really intense and focused, but we were also having a blast with the fans who were really getting into the show and the new tracks from Some Girls.”

The concert runs about 85 minutes and includes Some Girls material, along with earlier Stones tunes such as “Tumbling Dice” and “Brown Sugar” and some Chuck Berry covers for good measure.

By Michael Leonard

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason says he is disappointed that his former bandmates are mostly unwilling to reunite. The band – David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Mason – last played together in 2005 at Live 8. Wright has since died.

Asked by Rolling Stone whether Pink Floyd still “exists,” Mason says:

“I think it’s one of those things where I’m not quite ready to say it doesn’t exist anymore. And, you know, it might be I’m a sad person and just can’t let go of something, but it’s just that feeling that, you know, who knows? I suppose I live in hope that their might be another Live Aid or something like that. I don’t seriously expect anyone to suddenly announce that we should get back into studios and knock out an album.

“I’m quite keen on not saying it’s all over. It’s partly to do with me hating the idea of conceding any sort of retirement. I’ve always held the door open. I absolutely know that David [Gilmour] wouldn’t want to do anything at present but, you know, people change. In a year’s time, a few years’ time, whatever.”

Pink Floyd’s back catalog is now out, fully remastered. Roger Waters played Jimmy Fallon’s TV show on September 27 with Foo Fighters as his backing band. But he has not said anything about reuniting with Mason and Gilmour.

More Pink Floyd:

Pink Floyd Week With Jimmy Fallon

Gibson Classic Tone Tips: David Gilmour

Hangin’ last year at BarktoberFest..with Jiggy the Bulldog & pet parents Tracy & Mike. This year’s Barktoberfest happens this Sunday 10/2 at the same location (new name)..the grounds of Telefunken, in Roseville at Pleasant Grove and Foothills.  Free admission!…and LOTS o’ dogs.  The doggie parade happens at 10 a.m.–basically just a short stroll around the grounds with your pooch, in costume (or not)…on a leash.  Then there will be lots of canine demonstrations…the Roseville PD K9 team is always amazing.  Vendors on hand, including wine & beer this year.  Come out & join the Eagle & the Placer SPCA for a dog-gone good time (ouch).