Beta Pi:
IS BETA PI BLOG WITHOUT ANY REDEEMING SOCIAL OR ARTISTIC MERIT?:
YEA . . . . OR
NAY?
Beta Pi Blog exists for one reason: to bring ATO, Beta Pi Chapter Brothers together. The blog does not take itself very seriously - it is meant for
fun, and therefore is non-political. It includes
pictures, links, Archives of previous issues, and
other time-wasters. To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com .
REPORT FROM BLOG CORRESPONDENT TOM SOUDAN tls@soudanmetals.com :
Larry-
I got in touch with Randy. Thanks for that. It was great to catch up with him. His daughter had a field hockey game the weekend of the reunion so he could not make it. He is thinking about coming down to a basketball game. If he gets a date, I may try to make it too. My goal is to make it back for the next reunion in the fall. Once again, thanks for the work on the blog. It is fun to hear about (the great Jimmy) Grisset and the rest of the cast.
I'll keep you posted if we are going to come down for a bball game.
Tom
TO TOM: Nice work. These are the first actual facts to surface on Randy in years. I have every faith that Randy is a fine father. Ann and I love to go to Vandy Basketball (mens and womens). Smart move to make certain Jam has a date (kidding). You guys should call me (615-512-1448) and give me a heads-up and we’ll join you. Larry
* * * *
INTRIGUED by the mystery of how Randy Martin
rkmartin57@gmail.com got his nick-name -
Bum-Jam -
and propelled by the fact that he failed to show for Reunion in 2009, I sent out another Blog Poll to several ne’er-do-wells . . .
THE ORIGINS OF BUM-JAM:
Here is the latest Blog Poll I sent:
Gentlemen:
A little surprise I'm cooking up for that All-time-great,
Randy Martin. All in fun. (Its just that I think his nick-name is one of the funniest in Tick-a-lo-dom, apart from Rod Yanker - which is Rod's real name).
After a preliminary failure at a straw poll, your names came up, and you have been selected as Respondents in this Blog Poll.
The question has come up, and it bears investigation for Tick-a-lor historical purposes.
Q: How did Randy Martin, a.k.a. Bum-Jam come to be known as Bum-jam?
Q: Was the nick-name originally Bun-Jam (as Vinnie thinks) - or was it in fact Bum-Jam? (I know of no significant difference between Bum and Bun - you hear people refer to their buns or their bum. Same difference.)
Q: How and when did the nick-name morph from Bun-jam into Bum-Jam?
Q: We all know guys who were peeved at their nick-name, for example Ted Fi-fi Stephany. Was Randy peeved at his, or was he just sort of peeved at everything? (I recall his older brother Doug Martin being a fairly laid-back guy, but Randy was intense, serious and always slightly peeved.)
If you choose to respond, efforts will be made to quote your responses in the next Blog issue article . . . THE ORIGINS OF BUM-JAM.
Bozino
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RESPONSE FROM DAVID HAINES haines.david08@comcast.net :
Other than the fact that he was small and perhaps easily overpowered, I defer to the owner of the moniker. I trust him to tell you the truth. Also, I either never knew or have destroyed the brain cells that held that data.
And lest it be lost in the discussion, is this an attempt to minimize your eternal, and at least equally derogatory, designation as BOZO? I recall a fairly desperate and sincere effort by you to convince me not to call you that (BOZO) when you and I met up in the early 90's after having not seen each other for a while.
My good friend Bum is perfectly willing to own his nickname. Can you say the same BOZO?
Oh, and by the way, I love all my ATO brothers- even you, BOZO.
TO DAVID: Excellent work. I think you will acknowledge that over the course of the Blog’s existence (since August, 2006) I have used my nick-name (and it’s various morphisms) with pride,
self-deprecation and humor, never attempting to minimize or eradicate it. And since you brought up the incident from the early 90's, I should add that at the time, I was standing on the 3rd Floor of the Metro Courthouse, talking with a client, trying to make a LIVING as a self-employed attorney (while you - a
kept lawyer - were working for the government). After the surprise of hearing someone shout out BOZO in the Courthouse hallway, I politely excused myself from my client, took you aside, and asked you to respect the fact that I was working, there were other lawyers present with whom I practice, and my client. Looking back, I confess it was humorous, but at the time I was only in practice several years, and it felt embarrassing. I might just make a trip up to YOUR workplace, the Tennessee Supreme Court, and holler out a few of your nick-names, and see how you like it (kidding). Bravo, Sir Haines.
* * * *
RESPONSE FROM STEVE STARR starr2456@comcast.net :
Hey! Larry!
Q: How did Randy Martin, a.k.a. Bum-Jam come to be known as Bum-jam?
A: He never got to be known as Bum-Jam. He did get to be known as Bun-Jam. I have absolutely no idea how he got that name. I assume Matt Hart left a folder of possible ATO nicknames and Art Landry or some other nefarious Worthy Master went into the file and randomly pulled out Bun-Jam when it came to Randy's turn to get a nickname.
Q: Was the nick-name originally Bun-Jam (as Vinnie thinks) - or was it in fact Bum-Jam? (I know of no significant difference between Bum and Bun - you hear people refer to their buns or their bum. Same difference.)
A: See answer above.
Q: How and when did the nick-name morph from Bun-jam into Bum-Jam?
A: At the risk of repeating myself, see first answer above. I.e., it NEVER morphed into anything, it was always Bun-jam.
Q: We all know guys who were peeved at their nick-name, for example Ted Fi-fi Stephany. Was Randy peeved at his, or was he just sort of peeved at everything? (I recall his older brother Doug Martin being a fairly laid-back guy, but Randy was intense, serious and always slightly peeved.)
A: Randy went through an abbreviated version of the stages of death with his nickname: Anger, Denial, Acceptance. (I totally made this answer up but it sounds good with the Martini I am currently drinking).
P.S. I notice you did not send this poll to the one man who (I guarantee) knows all the answers to this deep and eternally fascinating subject: Arthur Landry.
Disrespectfully submitted,
Vinnie
TO VINNIE: Very funny! - especially the creative part about
abbreviated version of the stages of death . . . - are you having
Philosophy 100 flashbacks? And hey - I’d have sent the thing to Art, just didn’t think to. Your bringing up Art’s name came too late.
Coincidence that Art - like Bum-Jam - has utterly failed to come to Reunion? I think not!
* * * * *
RESPONSE FROM BUCK SGT. SCHULTZ BILLER fbiller1@msn.com :
I know nothing about this matter.
TO BUCK: Well said!
* * * * *
RESPONSE FROM CHUCK WHARTON crwharton@aol.com :
Larry -
My memory is too alcohol addled - Randy was Bum Jam - I'm in the Bum Jam camp here - how he got there I don't remember!
Chuck
TO CHUCK: Outstanding. You and David Haines have now corroborated
the fact that Randy went by
Bum-Jam. This fact, when taken with Vinnie’s testimony that Randy once went by
Bun-Jam confirms that the nick-name did, in fact, morph (contrary to The Gospel of Vinnie). This is indeed a
joyous day, because we can now say, with gleeful
certainty, that Vinnie is WRONG!
Those 3 words -
VINNIE IS WRONG - have a nice ring to them, no? Were it physically possible, and were those words a foul substance - I would take immense pleasure in smearing them all over the vindictive and sarcastic-mug-o-Starr.
* * * *
RESPONSE FROM CHIP HEARTFIELD cheartfield@verizon.net :
Being a transfer to VU, I probably was not present for the creation of this nickname. In fact, I do not think I learned that the guy’s actual given name is Randy for a year or so. And since Randy is a boring and pedestrian name, it is understandable that . . .
I think if your ancestors are from England,
Bum comes more naturally off the tongue. If you are
Slovenian, like
Vinnie, perhaps
Bun is easier. The key part of the name is the
Jam though.
Randy once told me he was experimented on with
smart drugs at an early age, as his natural IQ was very low. These apparently did not work, but did cause the edginess which he exhibits to this day. And honestly, I am not sure he even understands the significance or meaning of his nickname, whichever way you say it.
TO CHIP: Highly amusing.
VINNIE THE SLOVENIAN!
You are an artist, my friend.
And I agree, the
thrust of the name is Jam.
* * * *
TO POLL CORRESPONDENTS who didn’t get your responses in before publication: You can still post your response in the COMMENTS section (see below).
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THE ED SHOW: At Ed Oppenhiemer’s
esopp@bellsouth.net request, his e-mail address will be removed from the Beta-Pi-Blog e-mail list, effective next mailing. Ed gave no explanation. It couldn’t be something I said (or could it?), because I haven’t written about Ed in quite some time. Ed is a Brother and we love him - and honor his request to be removed from the e-mail list. I know several of you are very close friends with Ed - I hope you will check up on him, and please keep us posted on him.
I love all my ATO Brothers. Truly.
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HOW TO POST, OR READ COMMENTS: Click the button - Comments - just below VTL, . . If you’re having trouble, send me an e-mail and I’ll post your comment.
BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of January 14, 2010, the Blog roster stands at 91 Tick-a-lo men online who have e-mail addresses (plus 8 Brothers who do not have e-mail), and 10 ATO Girlfriends-o-Yore. The blog needs e-mail addresses, please share!
VTL,
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72
NAY? 
