La Macchina in Italia

One of the first things I noticed while living in Italy was the difference in cars. (Since I spent a lot of my time walking or using mass transit, I noticed a lot of cars.) Cars in Italy are smaller – there are practically no SUVs or trucks. They are also much boxier. And European. (I know. Duh.)

I saw nice motorcycles. In Italy, the King of the Motorcycles was the Ducati. I got to the point where I could tell from the engine sound that a Ducati was on its way, and that I should probably dive for cover. I was never interested in motorcycles before the mission, and I’m really not into them now – but for those two years in Italy….I knew the sound of a Ducati.

I saw a lot of European sports cars. BMWs and Mercedes were more than common sights. A Porsche was an everyday occurrence. My personal sentimental favorite became anything Alfa Romeo. However, there were really three nice brands that were always special to see:

Maserati – I have a special place in my heart for the Maserati. Smooth, really nice, and just classy. My view is that if you see someone driving a Maserati

Lamborghini – I saw only two of these. Wow. That’s all I have to say.

Ferrari – The best. While less rare than the Lamborghini, there is just something uniquely Italian about these cars. Two quick Ferrari stories. I was talking to my dad on Mothers’ Day 2005 outside St. Peter’s Square when I heard the unmistakable sound of a Ferrari speeding past. I said to my dad, “hey, do you hear that noise? It’s an accelerating Ferrari.” We then just went quiet and appreciated the beauty.

Second story: I was walking in the hills between Florence and Fiesole in an attempt to find a local member of the church’s house. We had just descended from the bus and were walking on the shoulder uphill to the next cross-street. I then began to hear the typical Ferrari rumble and quickly jumped off the road just in time to see the red blur of a Ferrari speed past. Of all the ways to go, I think being hit by a zooming Ferrari in the Tuscan hills while on an LDS mission would have to be a pretty cool way to die.

Let me finish this blog entry with one more quick story. I had been in Italy about a year, fully immersed in the Italian automobile world, when one day I saw the most beautiful sight: A candy apple red Chevrolet Corvette. Some rich guy in Rome had spent his money bringing an American sports car over the Atlantic to Italy. I spent twenty minutes on the 90 Express autobus on the Via Nomentana in Rome watching that beautiful testament to American ingenuity battle traffic with a crowd of perhaps ten others, all of us in amazement. What a pretty, pretty car. It was a moment I remember every time a shiny Corvette passes by, such as this afternoon on the main street of the little town in Kentucky where I currently am.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get in my boring Honda Civic and enjoy the good gas mileage as I drive home. Sigh.

Best Song Ever

I like to think that I got a lot of my music taste from my Dad. He listened to a lot of Classic Rock while I was growing up, and so it was only natural that I learned to like a lot of the music that he liked. Queen. Eagles. Jackson Browne. That sort of thing. The classics.

So I have to say I was surprised when one day, a few years ago, we were in the car together. A song came on the radio: “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. A perfectly respectable song, one that I enjoy quite a bit. My dad turned up the volume way out loud and we rocked out to the song. After it was over, he turned to me and said: “Logan, that is the best song. Ever.”

Now again, I need to say that I like the song. But did it deserve the title, “Best Song Ever”? What about “Bohemian Rhapsody”? What about “Stairway to Heaven”? “Hotel California”? What about “Mambo #5”? (Just kidding about the last one.)

After I mentioned my concerns with his conclusion, he simply responded: “Smooth is the best song ever. Case closed.”

After many years I finally came to terms with my dad’s choice. It’s his “Best Song Ever” and it can be whatever he wants it to be.

I went for many years without a “Best Song Ever”. How could I pick a song with such a huge variety of songs that I like?

Well, a few months ago I figured it out. A recent vacation to the Florida Keys solidified it in my mind. The Best Song Ever is “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys. No better song has ever been made. Case Closed.

Feel free to contribute with your best song ever. Just know that, deep down, it doesn’t top the smooth harmonies of the Beach Boys (or, I guess, the Muppets, depending on the version.)

BYU Basketball, Continued

Good news, friends. I have officially drunk the kool-aid, and it tastes GOOD.

I'm speaking, of course, about BYU's chances in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

I know they have lost seven straight games in this tournament. I know we haven't made it out of the first round since I was 8 years old. (Look! I've already transitioned and used the word "we" and I didn't even mean to! I'm identifying myself with the team and that is a sign of too much emotional involvement.) I know we've never been to the Final Four. (Winning the NIT in the 50's doesn't count anymore.) I know the only reason we made it to the Elite Eight was Danny Ainge, and while I like Jimmer Fredette, I don't think he's the second coming of Danny Ainge.

I love the short shorts. Pure old-school basketball right there.

But you know what, I'm saying there's a chance. We have a great matchup with Florida in the first round. They look like a team that's beatable. They look like the perfect team to get the huge seven-losses-in-a-row-in-the-postseason monkey off our back. I was initially disappointed with the seven seed, but I would much rather be playing a big conference team who barely squeaked in than a mid-major like St. Mary's or Cornell or Siena that probably should be ranked higher than what they are.

Now, IF we make it there, (huge if, I know. But I'm only getting started.) the second round would be an incredibly tough game. Kansas State is a good team. They deserve to be a second seed. They play tough defense. They've beaten some great teams.

But I think we match up well against them. Their strength is their backcourt, like BYU. They like to run the ball, like BYU. I see a high-scoring game that probably won't go our way. But...it could go our way.

That would bring us to Salt Lake for the Sweet 16. Home court advantage. We could beat Pitt (who doesn't have a star player, a go-to guy, which you need in this tournament). We could beat Xavier. We could beat Minnesota. We could beat Oakland. Combined with the home-court advantage, we could win any of those games.

The Elite 8 game would be against Syracuse. A Syracuse team that lost one of their best players recently. I know he's trying to make it back, but I'm doubtful, and I don't think he would be 100%. Of all the #1 seeds to play, I would want to play Syracuse. (Or Duke.) Remember, this game would be basically at home as well.

That would put BYU in the Final Four. Which would be in Indianapolis. Which is only a three hour drive away.

I'm not going to even think about beating Kansas in that game. That would not happen. For the record, I have Kansas beating Kentucky in the final game. Similar to the Fab Five of Michigan, a freshman class with amazing talent, and I have the feeling that someone on the team will make some boneheaded move ala Chris Webber.

I know what you're thinking, because it's what I'm thinking. It's crazy, it's not going to happen, and BYU will lose in the first round AGAIN. Jimmer will probably have a mono relapse, Tyler Haws will come out wearing an eye patch and his shooting will be off, something will happen and we'll lose. But you know what..............there's a chance. It's March! Spring is in the air, and so is optimism. And in the end, March Madness is just that: It's mad.