Gang, remember the Alamo. And the mailbag.
From the "Talks too much" studios, charge.
Atlanta Braves' Jason Heyward scores on a Justin Upton base hit in their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 13, 2014, in Atlanta.Braves survive
Well, that was a pleasant surprise.
Who figured the Braves to pull out a rare tight-fisted one-run game against a team as good as the Dodgers?
Well, the Braves' 3-2 win over L.A. breathes a modicum of hope into the semi-corpse that is their playoffs hopes.
The good: Having Andrelton Simmons back in the lineup. He had two RBIs and is the best defensive shortstop in baseball. Quick Rushmore of Simmons? Andrelton, Gene, Richard and Ted, maybe.
The bad: Not much, but this win shows that the Braves have a small margin of error.
The Uggla: If two Dan Strugglas leave the train station in Chicago at the exact same time heading in opposite directions, with one Struggla going 60 miles per hour and the other going 90, how many strikeouts should we expect? Yes. We're there.
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SEC monopoly
Today kicks offs the SEC Network. This is a landmark day in the future of college sports from the bottom up.
There are a litany of things to discuss - and we feel certain they will come up on Press Row today, but we'll offer a follow to Paschall's interesting story in today's TFP:
What's the biggest days in SEC history and where does today rank?
This could be the launch of the biggest ATM in college sports, a game-changer that makes the uber-strong all-powerful.
We know Jomo believes the college sports bubble will burst, and we can see that line of thinking, but the SEC Network - with ad sales and cable subscription fees - could extend this bubble for decades.
And it starts today.
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Tiger WoodsTiger being a man
Since 2008, Tiger Woods has been major-less.
Not so ironically, that's the same year his life of lies was brought to the ground.
Debate the injuries or the competition all you want, the first crack in Tiger's facade was the martial scandal that showed everyone the Super golfer was a normal dude.
It was the biggest public sin of Tiger's career - and the one that changed his persona - and since, Tiger has hardly been Tiger.
Well, it has no where near the cosmic presence, but Tiger Woods made a stand-up decision Wednesday night and did something that would have made Earl Woods proud. Tiger withdrew his name from Ryder Cup consideration.
Yes, the injuries that have plagued him in the last five years have been part of the mortalization process, too, and they were listed as the primary reason for his decision to pull out of Ryder Cup consideration.
Either way, it was the right decision for everyone involved and here's hoping that Tiger gets healthy and returns to a place where he can compete at major championships again. The sport is more fun with him involved, and the thought of an aged Tiger fist-pumping and awkward high-fiving as Rory hits his prime is awesome in its awesomeness.
Still, in a year, filled with poor shots by Woods, this was a good one. Well-played Tiger.
You know you're not healthy and/or not playing well, and you plucked the pressure from Tom Watson.
Wow, maybe there is a Santa Claus, Virginia.
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Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling, right, sits with his wife, Rochelle, during a Clippers NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Los Angeles in this 2010 file photo.This and that
- Donald Sterling's appeal of the sale of the Clippers was denied. It's time to let the old racist ride off into his velvety sweatsuit sunset. Who is on the Rushmore of if we never hear their name again that's OK? Sterling, Armstrong, A-Rod (man how little did we miss that soap opera this baseball season), and who?
- Kevin Ward Sr. is understandably upset about the accident that ended his son's life. But at the very baseline of all of this - as we said Monday - if Ward Jr. had stayed in his car, this does not happen. Period.
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Today's question
Consider Aug. 14 one of those days that is the birthday of greatness. Consider the following:
Tim Tebow's 27 today;
Magic Johnson's 55 today;
Steve Martin's 69 today;
Cindy Brady (aka Cindy Olsen) is 53 today for crying out loud;
Gary Larson's 64 today;
Doc Holliday would be 163 today;
Danielle Steele's 67 today.
OK, nevermind that last one, but wowser.
OK, there are a slew of Rushmores from the above list. While we will trend more toward the sports side on Press Row today, let's go with Rushmore of cartoonists, because Larson - the father of The Far Side - is definitely on there.
Go.
And remember the mailbag.