The JB Random Report End of the Year Awards 2021

“Well kids, it’s that time of year again, I must say this decade flew by in a flash, and just how the fuck are we still alive?”

If you remember, this was actually the headline of LAST year’s JB Random Report End of the Year Awards. I used it almost tongue in cheek-ly. Now it really is a question that needs to be asked seriously, even if this has always been a somewhat lighthearted look at the events of the past year…

NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR – Democracy being under attack and Republicans not seeming to care

So…January 6^th huh? 

Next week, it would have been a year since democracy in the United States, the country that once symbolized its modern form, almost really came to an end. What is worse, is that Republican lawmakers who historically attacked anyone who they didn’t feel were patriotic enough, seemed to turn a blind eye when their country was attacked by insurgents.

What infuriates me the most about this is the indifference that Republicans, other than Liz Cheney seem to have over the matter. So let’s not forget their lies and cowardice, shall we? Here are but a few gems that will hopefully resonate throughout history when needed:

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) say “You know, if you didn’t know the TV footage was a video from Jan. 6, you’d think it was a normal tourist visit.”

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said Ashli Babbitt, a rioter shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer as she tried to jump through a window smashed by the mob right outside the House chamber was a “veteran wrapped in an American flag” who was “executed.”

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) “I don't know who did a poll to say that they were Trump supporters,” Norman said of the mob, many of whom were carrying signs or wearing clothing indicating their support for Trump.

Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) “In fact, it was Trump supporters who lost their lives that day, not Trump supporters who were taking the lives of others.”

As of today, five Capitol Police officers have died by either stroke or suicide, and there is no arguing that the riot of January 6^th did not exasperate the causes which lead them there, so fuck these assholes. Mind you, these are actually fucking lawmakers. Senators and congressmen. Saying that this was some sort of innocuous event. Cowering so pathetically to the popularity that Donald Trump has with their ignorant racist base, that they are willing to look past an insurrection that cost lives, and has to date lead to 700 arrests in 45 states.

Is this the country you want to live in?

 PERSON OF THE YEAR – Alexei Navalny, Russian Lawyer and Activist

Well yeah, it’s not gonna be Elon Musk. What were you thinking Time Magazine? I know he is friends with the owner, but come on. You can do so much better than a billionaire playing astronaut. You know who won their readers poll? Brazilian President and Trump wanna-be Jair Bolsonaro. Damn. 

I seriously thought of Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, but someone on the internet beat me to it. 

I went with Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, because he has bigger balls than anyone and I hate Vladimir Putin. For those of you who don’t know, he was the guy that Putin tried to have killed in Germany using his old KGB method of radiation poisoning. Navalny not only recovered, but decided to go back to fucking Russia. Proving that nothing scares a gutless bully more than a single man without fear, Putin promptly had him arrested and suppressed all protests calling for his release. He still sits in prison now, a symbol of how fragile and corrupt Putin’s dictatorship is. 

TV SHOW OF THE YEAR – The “Peaky FOOKIN’ Blinders” – Netflix

For me? Well that’s the beauty of streaming combined with a pandemic. I can be so late to the party but still appreciate a great show. So this program started years ago, and given the fact that one of the actors has died, its future is uncertain, but I did not enjoy watching a show more this year than this one. and all the memes it inspired too. 

Yes I know it is not technically “this years” show, but who cares, now is when I appreciated it and it’s my list.

ASSHOLE OF THE YEAR – Sen. Joe Manchin (D?-WV)

The one asshole that is holding back one of the most important pieces of legislation since the Affordable Care Act is this asshole from West Virginia, and all of us should be baffled as to why. A great question for another time is “when was the last time Republicans passed any significant legislation, much less a bill that actually helped Americans and made their lives better? So here is President Joe Biden, with a narrow majority in the Senate actually doing the job he was elected to do, and this asshole holding it up like a true loyal Republican.

"I have always said, 'If I can't go back home and explain it, I can't vote for it.' Despite my best efforts, I cannot explain the sweeping Build Back Better Act in West Virginia and I cannot vote to move forward on this mammoth piece of legislation." This is a quote from Manchin. This legislation will improve our crumbling 3^rd world infrastructure, provide for child health care and address climate change, so of course he should be against it, right? 

OK so then explain this: On December 22, 2021, The United Mine Workers of America rallied in support of the Build Back Better Act, and they asked Manchin to support it. Manchin was named an honorary member of the same union last year. I am serious. The Union that supports the biggest industry in his state, that he has made millions off of, is asking him to reassess his position and support the bill. This fucking asshole’s own constituents want him to stop cockblocking Build Back Better. One is compelled to ask, why be against it, other than to play both sides of an extremely divisive political atmosphere and try to insinuate yourself into a greater position of power?  

 MOVIE OF THE YEAR – “Summer of Soul”

 

Now of course I am so into documentary films I can watch a documentary about paint drying, so it is easy to see why I am so biased towards them. Not that there were no good non-doc movies, it’s just that the documentaries I saw were better, and it’s my list. Qwestlove is a great musician, but not someone who I would think I would want to produce a movie for me. But then he finds hours of nearly forgotten footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Mind you, this was the same summer that another certain little music festival was held on a farm close to Woodstock, a few miles north in the same state. 

I sat through this thing not even thinking about when there would be a break in the action and I could look at my phone or go to the kitchen. Every minute of this film was mesmerizing, probably because we had never seen this footage before, or some of these artists in this context (Wait till you hear some of Nina Simone’s remarks).

And then of course, there’s the music…

 DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR – “Rompan Todo. The History of Rock in Latin America” - Netflix

I remember television that was not geared towards a specific person, and you watched shit when It came on, not when you wanted to. Now we live in an Orwellian digital world that knows exactly what you like and will give it to you when you want it because its algorithm watches your every move. So thanks for that Netflix. This was the best documentary I saw all year. What I loved the most about it was its thoroughness and how they gave every band their due time and respect, based on (and rightfully so) a combination of musical credibility, with popularity and their influence on other bands. Netflix seems to have someone on the inside who loves Rock en Espanol, because there are a few docs made about these bands on their service. I hope one on Soda Stereo is next.

I’ll talk about “Get Back” some other time

ALBUM OF THE YEAR – Leon Bridges - “Gold-Diggers Sound” and Nas – “Kings Disease II”.  

For the first time in the history of the JB Random Report, it’s a tie…

Both these records were constant play for me this year. Now usually this is where I rant about how public radio is now the only radio that matters, but no one really listens to radio anymore so fuck it. So Leon Bridges has been on my radar for years, he is an awesome neo soul artist that gets no airplay on black radio for some reason. This record was absolutely magnificent, masterfully blending old and new with a unique, original sound. 

And Nas, well, Nas is Nas and always will be. He is the greatest word to word rapper this side of Rakim (Really Jay-Z, chill with your billions and don’t poke this bear, my dude…). The rhymes on this record are all good, and the collaborations flow so smoothly and evenly, not forced or contrived like so many others in hip hop.

COOLEST SONG BY A MAJOR ACT THAT WASN’T A BIG HIT – “The Bandit” – Kings of Leon

I have no idea why this didn’t catch on. It was a cool song that showed that they are growing with their audience. 

Honorable mention goes to “Charming Mess” - The Black Crowes. This wasn’t actually recorded this year, but 30 years ago for their breakthrough debut album “Shake Your Moneymaker” but for inexplicable fucking reason, it didn’t make the cut. So they decided to release some songs from those sessions and this gem was one of them. 

COOLEST SONG OF THE YEAR – “Valentine” – Snail Mail

Yes I know it seems like I’m bandwagon jumping, but other than the constant Facebook ad bombardment, did you even actually listen to this, bro? It really is catchy.

COOLEST SONG OF THE YEAR BY A BAND YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF – “Across That Fine Line” – Nation of Language 

On an album full of resurrected 80’s drum machine bits, this one stands out for some reason.

COOLEST ACT OF THE YEAR – Leon Bridges

I have been singing (no pun intended) this guy’s praises for years, and I always felt ignored. Ever since I first heard him, I knew he was gonna be great. Neo Soul is quickly becoming a constant on every playlist of mine, and I am totally here for it.I also predict that he is gonna have one of those big Grammy years where people go “who is this dude, why haven’t I heard of him and why is he winning so many Grammys?”

SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR – The Milwaukee Bucks NBA

OK so maybe Tom Brady did win his 7^th Super Bowl a feat that will probably never be duplicated, but it’s my list so fuck Tom Brady. And while I’m at it, fuck New England too, just in case Bill Belichick has one more in him.

You know why The Bucks were the team of the year? Because they won their championship the right way. By drafting, being patient, and developing players. Their biggest star, 2 time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was drafted by the team and chose to stay in Milwaukee even when more money and a bigger market became available to him. He refused to workout with other big superstars in the offseason, and wouldn’t even think to be a part of a LeBron-esque “Super Team.”

This is what made them such a joy to watch. Admittedly, I had not watched an entire NBA Finals in a while, but thanks to the myriad of new and deadlier COVID variants combined with this team’s story, I did just that. Their story made this series so compelling, that you find yourself rooting for the team, the town, and how they did it.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Stephen Curry, The Golden State Warriors, NBA

Maybe it is a bit premature to crown him MVP just yet. But to come back after such a devastating injury in your thirties, and have the year he is having is nothing short of remarkable. This year he is only breaking the all-time 3 point record, 2^nd in the NBA in scoring, and has his team in 1^st place in their Conference. And that is all without Klay Thomson coming back yet.    

OVERRATED ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA.

This one hurts because I love watching this guy do what he does. But he is the ground equivalent to this era what the great Dominique Wilkins was in the air in the 1980’s. Awesome to behold, but just can’t seem to win.

Westbrook was part a team in Oklahoma City that was built the right way (see more below) and along with perennial all-stars James Harden and Kevin Durant they had some great years and were on their way to being an excellent team but for some inexplicable reason, they decided to break the team up. Durant being the only one who has won a Championship. Westbrook is a walking triple-double, and even that doesn’t translate to his teams winning.

This year, he moved to his now 4^th NBA team, to be part of yet another LeBron James “Super Team” (more on that later, too) and that team is barely over .500, and as tough as the Western Conference is, they may not even make the playoffs, much less get out of the first round. Is it Westbrook’s fault? Certainly not, but it’s time to stop calling him a savior. In every team he has been on, a game plan has been tried where he can thrive and win, yet still only one of those things have happened so far.

BELOVED ATHLETE WHO REALLY SHOULD RETIRE –Ummm…I Dunno

So last year I mentioned Drew Breese of the New Orleans Saints just because. For the record, I did not call for him to retire, I just mentioned that everyone else seemed to think he should, and he promptly did. He is great as a broadcaster, btw.

So this year, I am still at odds, but if you force me to pick one, I think I might have to go with Carmelo Anthony. He is currently playing for The Los Angeles Lakers as part of that afore mentioned LeBron-esque super team that isn’t getting it together at all for some reason. Now don’t get it twisted, just because Carmelo may be ring chasing now, that does not take away what an accomplished basketball player he has been. He has been an NCAA Champion, a great player in the league, but what I love most has been his commitment to the USA Men’s National Team and the Olympics.  Carmelo has been a part of USA Basketball since 2004 and continued to play until 2016, something that many professionals cannot claim. 4 medals, 3 Gold and a FIBA Americas title, he wasn’t just there “Dream Team-ing” it, he was dedicated to his country’s team. He will always have my respect for that.  

BIGOTED ASSHOLE OF THE YEAR – Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA.

This is an easy one. So let’s start with a quote, shall we?

 "America is a nation with a border, and a culture, strengthened by a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions.”

 Ohh it gets better…

 ”…societal trust and political unity are threatened when foreign citizens are imported en-masse into a country, particularly without institutional support for assimilation and an expansive welfare state to bail them out should they fail to contribute positively to the country."

 This is a direct quote from a charter attempting to organize an “America First” Congressional caucus. A. Direct. Quote. In 2021. This was actually presented to Congress for consideration…in 2021. The founder? Ms. Taylor Greene. If this really needs further explanation, delete your account.

 DEAD PERSON OF THE YEAR – There just can’t be only one…

 We always lose some good ones every year, and lately I have mentioned more than one significant loss in any given year, and I’m afraid this year is no different. But this year’s choices made me realize something that may make me sound like a Boomer but, here it goes…We are losing folks that we genuinely cannot replace because they just don’t make them like that anymore. And by that I mean, totally original, accomplished individuals who were pioneers of their chosen profession. At press time, there are unconfirmed reports that TV icon Betty White is dead, I hope that’s not true…

Let’s start with the most recent ones first. Can anyone replace what John Madden meant, not just to football as a Super Bowl winning coach and a lively broadcaster, but to pop culture in general? Here is a man who re-introduced himself to future generations just by allowing Electronic Arts to use his name to sell a video game. That game is now the most popular sports video game of all time.

Has the world produced another fearless activist to take the place of Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu?

For me personally, the loss of Charlie Watts, drummer of my all-time favorite band The Rolling Stones, was difficult. I saw him play with the band so many times. His steady yet versatile when needed style is something that I do not think the band can find in anyone else.

And while we are on the topic of musicians, why did they still let an 81 year old Vicente Fernandez bring his gun to the stage until his death this year? What if he shot the maracas player?

 

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year