And I Can't Stop Having These Visions

A look inside the madness of my mind--sports, politics or daily life--with humor and pop culture and music references embedded.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

I'm proud to be from Youngstown

"Where I know I can be me..."

As much as I joke about it, and make off-handed comments to everyone around here that loves Cleveland or Columbus, I truly love Youngstown. I mean hell, I bought a shirt that says I'm proud to be from there, and wear it often:



I'll be the first to admit that if after I graduate I wouldn't mind moving back to Youngstown and working for my high school or some company downtown or CHP (who has a major IT office just north of downtown). Possibly even trying to get a sports anchor job at one of the local tv stations (which if you're reading this, you should know that I'm more than capable).

(Big props to my co-host Mike D'Attoma. Can't wait to be the best show on Buckeye TV again this fall. P.S. Chiefs still suck)

Speaking of Buckeye TV, this starts my story for this blog. One day, I was getting ready to direct something or other at BTV, and I was wearing my Proud to be from Youngstown shirt. Two of the news reporters come up to me, and this conversation ensues...

Reporter: "Oh, you're from Youngstown? Where at?"
Me: "The South Side"
Reporter: "No, no no... like where at... You know, Boardman? Poland? Canfield?"
Me: "I'm from the south side of YOUNGSTOWN... the inner-city."
Reporter: *gasp* "And you haven't been shot yet???"
Me:

Well, it's a funny story to tell by itself, but as always Wikipedia made it better. So last week I was looking at the Youngstown page on Wiki, and decide to go to the discussion to see what people are arguing about over Youngstown, when I come across this gem:

They [The Warner Brothers] are by no means Youngstowners and I think too many of the people listed deserve to be removed since they in fact did not live, grow up in, or were born, in the city of Youngstown. Person 1: "Where are you from?" Person 2: "Youngstown." Person 1: "Ohh, you mean Boardman?"
Wow just wow.

As a post script, I would like to thank the SomethingAwful forums (which I'm not going to give a link to due to the Not Mind Safeness of them) for the excellent smileys used above, and DowntownYoungstown.com for updates and forums about the city itself, as well as numerous photo albums of the downtown area, which I suggest everyone check out.

"Because I'm proud to be from Youngstown
Where I know I can be me
And I won't forget the steel industy,
that's brought about poverty
And I'll gladly get shot...
by the mob.
Because they run it still today
But I sure as hell love this place
(echo: love this place)
God bless the G - het - to"

3 Comments:

  • At 9:54 AM, Blogger Paul C. Forsgren said…

    we joke, but I understand you loving Y-Town. Hell people still try to make jokes about the Cuyahoga River burning, something that happened 40 years ago, so that proves it takes a while for the public image of a city to improve.

    It was a great smaller city in the past, and it can be again, if the economy moves beyond steel... whether it does is kinda up to the residents. Looking forward to our trip up there later in the summer.

     
  • At 8:20 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Farva
    'have you penciled in any time for relaxation on your calendar?

    would like to hear about your trip to Cleveland. I love that city.

     
  • At 3:47 PM, Anonymous luann said…

    Youngstown, OH~ Home Sweet Home~
    before the steel mills closed, we
    had about 200.000 people living here. Yes~ things are bad now~ but it was a great city then.
    We have a dream~ for 2010~ things will get better.
    A lot of young people want to stay in Y~town. I hope your dream comes true.

     

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