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Declaration of April Fools Day: Special BobBattleLaw.com Newsletter
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Greetings!
Yes, it's been a long time between newsletters. I'll be honest, the responses to my last Newsletter- "My Colonoscopy" left me with some serious writers block. (Newsletter Newby? Click here to read the now infamous colonoscopy newsletter) I didn't actually expect so many of my faithful readers to tell me about their colonoscopy! First, came an email from a good buddy of mine from college who is a doctor telling me that he got his colonoscopy done at the same time as another one of his good friends. This was somewhat amusing as I could imagine these 2 knuckleheads chugging their MoviPrep the night before ("Gentlemen, start your engines!") and then getting out their iPhones and sending gross pictures and/or videos back and forth all night. (Note to all of our women readers- potty jokes are funny for guys from Age 3 until Age Depends Undergarments.) Next came an email from a former roommate who told me that he and his wife were getting their colonoscopies done on the same date. I'm sorry, this is not romantic. I also pity their high school age son, who will need years of therapy to deal with the "dueling banjos" in their bathrooms the night before. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE... Our tallest subscriber, all 6 feet 11 inches of him- once described by legendary Marquette basketball coach and color commentator Al McGuire as "the world's tallest Mexican," wrote to tell me that he was not given enough anesthesia and woke up hearing "Hurry he's waking up!" Having marveled at my friend's ability to drink tequila on many occasions, I don't think an elephant tranquilizer would be guaranteed to keep him down for long. Sadly none of these stories, including the last "very tall tale" are April Fools jokes and, as you can see, I needed to take a few months off- suffering from a bad case of "too much information." So since I have already started this Newsletter talking about responses from my readers, the theme of this month's Newsletter will be answering the Most Frequently Asked Questions from the old reader email bag. I would say the top 4 questions are 1) Are you still doing stand-up comedy?2) Are you still the Redskins' Press Box Announcer?3) What are your boys like? Are they funny? Smart?4) Have you been caught on tape impersonating a federal judge, stood up in front of hundreds of church goers on Passion Sunday and proclaimed ,"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," and been selected to receive a prestigious award from your high school's athletic department? (OK, no one has EVER asked this 4th question, but I'm going to answer it anyway!)
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"Freakin' Hilarious"- Bob Battle Outrageous Advertising Comedy Show
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Best Selling Author Bill Glazer with Bob & Bob-L I have moonlighted as a professional comedian for over 20 years. I assume that most people know this. However, when I was introduced at a comedy show last year as someone who has had Wanda Sykes and Dave Chappelle as my opening acts, the crowd laughed thinking the announcer was joking. Although true, both were just starting their careers; Chappelle was still in high school. I am almost certain that neither of them list this "credit" on their resume anymore!
The number 1 question I get asked is "Are you still doing comedy?" Yes, I have actually become well-known nationally for my "outrageous advertising." (See, e.g., this Newsletter) In fact, my "In Bob We Trust" real stamp was featured in a national business best selling book by marketing guru Bill Glazer titled "Outrageous Advertising that is Outrageously Successful." Right there on Page 261 is my real U.S. stamp (at 39 cents, now a nickel short of getting your letter delivered.) In January, Bill Glazer had an "Outrageous Academy and Bootcamp" in Orlando in support of his book that had over 500 entrepreneurs from all over the world in attendance. I performed a PowerPoint comedy show I called "Outrageous Advertising that is Outrageously Awful" for the attendees. Bill's daughter, Mara Glazer, heads up the social networking for her father's company and, unbeknownst to me, was "tweeting" while I was up on stage. Think about it- a bad review in the New York Times the next morning could shut down a Broadway play after 1 performance. With Twitter, I could have been declared a flop across all of cyberspace seconds into my act. Luckily for me, Mara's Tweet was "Bob Battle is Freakin' Hilarious." Whew- thanks Mara. (Side note- I once was the guest comedian on DC area radio shock-jock The Greaseman's show. The appearance went great- he even invited me to stick around for another segment. Only after the show did I learn that if he didn't think that a comic was funny, he cut off their mike and played a toilet flushing sound effect.)
One of the attendees at the Outrageous Event was Bill Gough, another marketing heavyweight who specializes in teaching Allstate insurance agents how to successfully market their businesses. He invited me to do my show at his marketing event for Allstate agents in Atlanta last month. I'm not aware of any "tweets" but, yes, the Allstate folks stood up and put their "good hands" together for me at my show.
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Richmond Criminal Lawyer hauls in pass for Redskins
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Many readers may not know (or care) that I was the press box announcer for the Washington Redskins for 8 years. The journalists who sat right in front of me were Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon of "Pardon the Interruption" fame. Their banter in the Press Box was no different nor less entertaining than their popular ESPN show. I hung up my full-time mike 5 years ago when my son Conor, then 3 walked up to me as I was leaving to announce the first preseason game and said "Dad, I don't want you gone for all those games." I looked at him, smiled and said, "You're right, Big Man, that's a lot of weekend time we could be spending together" and informed the Skins that, as soon as they were comfortable with a replacement, I was done. I also informed them that I had a good friend who would be a great replacement. My recommended choice, Keith Burner, still has the gig.
I have sat in for Keith on a few occasions. 2 seasons ago, I worked the Thursday night Bears game. It was a little obvious that I have been working too hard on my law practice when, on the first series, Jason Campbell hit #47 Chris Cooley with a pass and I said "Campbell's pass complete to Craig Cooley." Craig Cooley is a prominent Richmond criminal defense lawyer with many talents, but he has never caught any passes for the Redskins. The new head of PR, who had just met me that night gave me a look like "Who is this clown that doesn't even know the name of our most popular player and Pro Bowl tight end?" I also worked the Saints game last year and got to announce when the Redskins were about to put the game out of reach with a chip shot field goal: "23 yard field goal attempt by Shaun Suisham is... wide right." I then expertly turned the mike off and muttered a long string of expletives under my breath. I wonder if Craig Cooley can kick?
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The Battle Brothers- Yes they are Funny and Smart (Hey 2 out of 3 letters correct on "cow" is a pass)
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A lot of my readers who don't live in Richmond want to know more about my 2 sons, Conor-turns 9 on April 11 & Emmett-turns 5 on May 3. (Please send these deprived urchins lots of Legos.) The big question- are they funny? Yes, but in different ways. Conor is more Jerry Seinfeld and Emmett is more Robin Williams/Curly.
Emmett proudly displays his "com" (I wonder if it goes "woo woo?") Conor is already getting much brighter than his old man. 3 years ago at the Roanoke Zoo, he saw a cage that read "Ordinary Owl" and he turned to me and quipped, "Now there's something you see every day." In December, I was watching a TV show and Conor walked by, saw the title and said correctly, "Hey that title is a double entendre." On February 1, one of his buddies from school lent him the first Harry Potter book. By March 10, he had finished all 7 books. That is 4,178 pages in 38 days. This was done in addition to going to school, doing all his homework, playing indoor soccer and taking kung fu classes twice a week. My 8 year old read more pages of fiction novels in 38 days than his old man has read in the last 3 years. This week, the school system officially informed us that Conor has been classified as "gifted." (As for credentials for passing on "gifted" genes to my offspring, well, let's see- I have "re-gifted" quite a few presents in my day. The running gag around my house at Christmas whenever my sister Meg or I opened up one of our presents was "Oh wow, just what I wanted... Say do you have that sales slip? Gift receipt?") Emmett has already informed my wife Ellen that, when he grows up he is going to marry our nanny, 21 year-old Emma. Hey, we love Emma and things seem to be working out swimmingly for Ashton and Demi... Emmett said he is going to live in our current house in Richmond (I thought the eviction notice was a little heavy handed on his part.) Ellen and I will be relegated to our new second home in Nellysford, Virginia. We had no idea when we were building our weekend getaway home that it was to make way for Mr. Emmett. Emmett also let Ellen know that we will get to return home to babysit their kids (the first boy will be named "Comet") while they go gallivanting off on vacations.
So, while Conor has shown some great book smarts and wit, Emmett has already shown that he plans to be a ruthless real estate mogul with a hot cougar wife and a jet setting lifestyle! I don't care if he can't spell "cow" if you spot him the "c" and the "o," game, set and match to Emmett!
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Finally, from the Bob gets a really big head Department
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OK, so what was that 4th run-on question again? Have you been caught on tape
impersonating a federal judge, stood up in front of hundreds of church
goers on Passion Sunday and proclaimed ,"Father, forgive them, they know
not what they do," and been selected to receive a prestigious award
from your high school's athletic department? OK, we're all ears (while Big Head Bob is all cranium.) As if all the famous names you dropped in this email weren't enough, please Bob tell us more about yourself! Why thank you Imaginary Italics Dude, I will. This year, Conor's 3rd Grade class had a creative project where they "immigrated" to the U.S. I emailed his teacher and said that, while clerking for a federal judge, I had seen several Naturalization ceremonies, so, if they ever wanted to make the class "citizens", I could offer some advice. Next thing I knew, "United States District Court Judge Bob" was leading the youngsters in their citizenship oaths. There is video somewhere on the Henrico County Public School website if you are ever suffering from insomnia and need something to help you get to sleep. On Passion Sunday, after a previous stint as Pilate (speaking of judges, I always love Pilate saying, "This man is innocent, let's flog him and send him on his way." Flog the innocent?! Is Jerusalem anywhere near Guantanamo Bay?) I was asked to play Jesus in the annual St. James's Passion reading. Yeah, I know, typecasting is a bitch! Overall, my stint as Jesus was a disappointment. Sure, I cured a few lepers, walked across the James River and replaced an ear that was hacked off in a moment of anger, but I just could not turn the water into wine. Even my best efforts would not have beaten "2 Buck Chuck" in a taste testing.
Speaking of federal judges and God, what is the difference between God and a federal judge? God doesn't think he's a federal judge! Ba da bum bum, tcchh!
On Friday evening, May 14, at the annual Bishop Ireton High School Athletics Award Banquet at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, I will be receiving the Bishop Ireton Distinguished Alumnus Award. Yes, back in 1977 I was captain of the Bishop Ireton basketball and baseball teams. The event is emceed by Ryan Fannon, BI grad and voice of the Villanova Wildcats basketball team (who I bet knows that the Redskins tight end is Chris Cooley.) Tickets are going like hot cakes and I promise to regale the standing room only crowd with "boring stories of... Glory Days." Seriously, I will definitely be spending the night at the Sheraton, so if you are anywhere nearby that night, stop by. Drinks are on Ryan Fannon and BI Assistant Athletic Director John Keller.
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Sincerely,
Bob Battle
Robert E. Battle, P.C. P.S. If you haven't heard enough irreverent comments on Good Friday of
all days, you can always click to my most viewed comedy video titled
"Lent."P.P.S. Trivia for our over 50 readers. The "Big Head Bob" picture reminds me of a famous episode of "The Outer Limits." First one to name the actor whose head got so big wins, of course, a Bob-L Head.
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