End of an Era: Nesbitt

Posted by MTF at 7/9/2009 3:05 AM
Categories: uncategorized
Breezers,
   Hope everyone is well.  Yesterday brought some interesting weather to the Midwest, including two brief tornado touchdowns not far from Peoria in IL and some big naders in western North Dakotas.  These storms would eventually evolve and move into Minnesota early today.  Though they were pretty subdued by that point.  Some more storms today in MN, and Friday and Friday night in IA and northern IL.  Some of those on Friday night could be severe, so head's up Dotans and suburbians.
   As mentioned in my previous post, my good friend Jimmy is "retiring" from journalism.  Below is some info about him that I sent out to Ohio Valley folk that I then thought I should post in the Breeze too, to give a little insight on and appreciate to this madman.  This guy is a genius yet nothing shy of a nut, and he's going to hopefully make his presence known in the WGLC at SCF '09...



All,
   This week will bring "the end of an era" to not only the Evansville C&P, and not only to the lower Ohio Valley, but to expert journalism across this great country.  At the end of this week we say adieu to our favorite writer, the modest one who at times has referred to himself as "The Award Winning J", the ever-talented, never outspoken ... Jimmy Nesbitt.  He will leave the journalism world after captivating the hearts of millions across the Heartland for over six years.  The face of excellence:




   After surviving childhood in eastern Kentucky, where life expectancy is 17, Jimmy Nesbitt headed to the University of Kentucky to explore journalism.  This came after denial of entrance to prestigious Northern Illinois University, where Jimmy had longed to be a Huskie.  Instead settling for Wildcats (or is it pussycats?), Jimmy achieved his UK degree in journalism and marketing, with a minor in drinking.



   He then headed west to see the Paducah SUN set, and to head up the "Paducah Police Beat".  Now such a task may sound simple and comical (very comical actually), but oh no, the young Mr. Nesbitt discovered corruption and was not afraid to bring it to the attention of illiterate western Kentucky readers.  It was at the Sun where he met one of his mentors, the also illustrious and excellent author, an all too proud graduate of Southern Illinois ... a one Brian Peach.  Mr. Nesbitt and Mr. Peach never took off their writing caps and worked undercover at such established places as "Jeremiah's", the "Moss Rose", "Ernie's", and "KC's", the last of which was a bar you could have no more than two teeth to enter.  They defined the term "scrilla" and weren't afraid to get in a fight with said "scrillas" over a pool game to defend their journalism honor.



    In Jimmy's free time in Paducah he would frequent the basketball and tennis courts at Bob Noble Park, which was more like a south side of Chicago park.  It was there that I met Mr. Jimmy Nesbitt.  Now an odd thing about this meeting, and something I learned right away about Jimmy, was that despite his prestige of a front-page author, Jimmy was not shy of sporting very little clothing in public.  For the first time I saw Jimmy on the tennis court, he was wearing the shortest shorts you will have ever seen on a male.  Oh and there was no shirt either.  Still to this day, horrid visions of that hot June 2004 day run through my head.  The picture below is the most clothes I ever saw him wear on a summer day.



   For the remainder of 2004, Jimmy began covering more weather topics, as he uncovered a new appreciation for the science of meteorology.  I showed Jimmy that it was more than a throwing dart science, and in the process beat him many times in darts...and pool...and basketball....and tennis.  I also taught him a few things about how to dress ... namely how to WEAR CLOTHES.  As 2005 began though, Paducah said a teary-eyed good bye to Jimmy as he floated up the Ohio River (literally) to Evansville.  I would continue to use his log-in to read the full Paducah Sun on-line for two years plus afterwards!  Haha!
    The move to Evansville brought Jimmy to even higher levels...literally. Early in his tenure there he would have the honor of flying with the Blue Angels.  The front page of the C&P site would showcase him ... with vomit on himself ... and a green-colored face:



  Brian and I would still see Jimmy plenty.  In fact, late in 2005, Jimmy also gave us a 2 am tour of the worst part of Evansville and yelled drunken obscenities to show he was not afraid.  We also went to a UK and Indiana football game.  No offense Gavin, but this was like a junior tackle game.  Mind you Indiana won big.  Jimmy got a hotel room for us...and of course it had only one bed, to Jimmy's liking.  He made us strike these poses below...it was sick journalism.  Just sick...



  As my time in the lower Ohio Valley ended, Jimmy arranged a trip to Nashville for one last hurrah.  Below shows Jimmy on that trip, once again at 2 am, and this time attempting to do the simple function of pick up the hotel key off the floor. This would be useless anyway because Jimmy somehow chained the door from the outside before we left.  Classic Nesbitt.



   Up in Minneapolis I followed Jimmy's work at the C&P, occasionally sending in hate mail or violent comments directed towards him on the web site.  Soon after arrival here, Jimmy also arranged to send me "Details" magazine, as he thought I needed to learn a thing or two about dressing in the city.  The first copy I received had a male in his underwear on the cover.  How ironic, as that was Jimmy's dress code.  To return the favor, I sent Jimmy the less scandalous "Weatherwise" magazine.  You will find those copies on his coffee table...or in a southern Indiana landfill, one of the two.
    I have visited Jimmy three times since my move here and my liver is much worse off because of it.  But those were incredible times.  My most recent visit in March was one of the best trips anywhere I've had. Jimmy plans on paying a visit to my homeland in northern Illinois in August, where I will show him that he is dead wrong when he says I "grew up with sheep".  A classic comment from a classic writer!  The Courier and Press is losing a fantastic one.  On a serious note Jimmy, a reader from 750 miles away is going to miss your writing.  Please get blogging, tweeting, or whatever to put the good Nesbitt word out.  You are the man.  I love ya, but not in the way Dan Shaw does.



Good luck Jimmy with your new adventures at the United Way!!!


From the 'SOTA to the 'DOTA to the Lower Ohio Valley ...
MTF

 

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