Phil O'Reilly's Parrothead Blog

I went to see Trace Adkins & Martina McBride w/Sarah Buxton last night in Grand Rapids.  WOW!  Of course, if you know me, you realize what a big fan of Martina that I am.  What a gift God has given her.  I often wonder what she has to do to maintain that incredible voice.  In my opinion, Martina cannot be lumped into one musical genre like country music.  Some artists are in their very own category.  It's simply "Martina" music! Sarah Buxton opened the show with her guitar player.  It was an great way to start the show with a very cool acoustic set.  Trace rocked the house and then on to Martina. If you missed this show, try to make the next one if you can!  Congratulations to all of our WIN 98-5 ticket winners!

Phil O'Reilly

Thank you so much for your support for St. Jude kids.  This event ALWAYS puts life in perspective, just listening to the stories from patients and families touched by this amazing hospital.  Your support means so much to the kids as we continue the fight against childhood cancer.  If you haven't called to be a "Partner In Hope" for just $20 a month, the phone number for the WIN 98-5 Sunshine Toyota phone bank is 800-942-8712.  You will find St. Jude updates on our special St. Jude blog.  Thank you again!

Is it ok to say, I don't care about Tiger Woods and his troubles?  Is what he did, scummy?  Yes.  Do I care about his press conference?  Not really.  I understand it is press worthy, however, I'm just not interested in hearing more about it.  I don't even mind if he comes back and wins the Masters.  If he wants to golf, I say go ahead.  I'm moving on with my life.

Have you ever went to a concert and think, wow I haven't heard THAT song in ages?  Oh he or she does that one too?  I forgot about THAT one.  Lee Greenwood was fabulous last night at Kellogg Auditorium.  Of course "God Bless The U.S.A" was a very emotional moment for all the veterans and their families in attendence.  A big thank you goes out to all the great sponsers of this free event.  Most importantly, thank you to all the hard working men and women of our armed forces.  We couldn't work and play in this great country without you and of course many have paid the ultimate sacrifice.  On behalf of all of us here at WIN 98.5, God bless you!!

Ok, we went through this once before last year and thanks to Feingold in Wisconsin, the issue is back.  For more than 80 years, radio and the recording industry have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship: free play for free promotion. And it works. The recording industry now wants to impose a fee – a performance tax – on local radio stations.  Do you enjoy hearing your favorite music on the radio?  This new proposal will threaten your ability to do that.  We have enough talk radio stations.  I contacted my congressman, Mark Schauer, and let him no how I feel.  I encourage you to do the same.

Well both of my teams ended up on the losing end.  First the Vikings, then the Colts. I'm always sorta bummed when football season is over.  On the bright side, it also means that warmer weather will be here before we knokw it.  I guess it's on to Nascar.  Go Danica and Jr!  And why do I always make more Chili on Superbowl Sunday than I need to?  I always end up with way too much and I'm stuck with it for 3 days.  Do you want some?  I have extra.  Have a great day and we will keep you posted on the next snowstorm to hit our area.  Be safe!

I wish I lived closer to Sturgis so I could buy cheap gas.  I guess 29 stations are coming in under $2.50 now.  We had a call from a gentleman who paid $2.38 in Sturgis.  Doesn't regular unleaded 87 in Sturgis come in the same batch as up north?

You know after living up in North Dakota, you would think I would be a Curling Champion, however, I had my very first lesson last night at Wings Stadium.  I failed miserably.  It was a fun time with the WIN 98.5 crew on the ice!  You MUST go take part in this activity.  A big thanks to the Kalamazoo Curling Club for their fine instruction. Don't miss the 2010 U.S.A. Curling Nationals at Wings Stadium March 6th - 13th. Check out all the fun of open curling on Monday nights. I was the first and only one to wipe out on the ice of course! Oops!!!

I am so upset with myself.  Normally, I have no interest in award shows, especially the Grammy's, however, because of great artists like Zac Brown & Lady A, I didn't want to miss it this year.  I knew it was on last night.  We talked about it all week, but what did I do instead?  I watched the silly Pro Bowl and did my taxes.  As Dierks Bentley would say, "What was I thinking"?  Also, one of my all time favorites opened this year's Grammy show (Elton John) and I didn't even set the DVR.  Congratulations to Taylor Swift!  She is going to have to buy new shelves at her house in the future to house all these statues!  Have a great Monday and I will talk to you tomorrow morning!

Rascal Flatts joined Ellen yesterday.  Here they are singing "Here Comes Goodbye"

Well, here it is, the day after my team fell short of going to the Superbowl - AGAIN.  It feels like 1998 all over again for me.  The Minnesota Vikings lost by a field goal back then after a great football season.  I made it in to work this morning to take grief from Jim Whelan, Scott Wagner (Bears Fan), Lions fans and former Brett Farve Cheesheads.  I hope Brett comes back, but if he doesn't the Vikings will be back with another great season in 2010 and I will rally behind them again as I always have since I was 5 years old.  For now, Go Colts!!

Do you ever have one of those days and someone comes through just at the right time to brighten your day?  Sometimes the mail carrier brings something other than bills.  I actually received a package from a listener in Kalamazoo that made my day on Wednesday.  As many know, I am a huge Minnesota Vikings fan.  I was in Memphis last weekend and was flying home so I missed the first half of the Vikings - Cowboys match up.  Well, I opened a package at our Kalamazoo office to find a recording of the first half of the game with a note "I thought maybe you would like to watch the first half since you missed the first part of the game on Sunday"  Martha, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!