Wow, that escalated in a hurry. Somewhere Frank Wren just spit up in his mouth.
From the "Talks too much" studios, enter the contests; don't cost nothin' and you could win stuff.
Oh Danny Boy
Atlanta Braves' Dan Uggla, left, gestures as he passes Philadelphia Phillies catcher Erik Kratz after scoring on a home run in the second inning of an opening day baseball game in Atlanta.Wow. Simply wow.
Dan Uggla - yes, good ol' Danny Struggla - capped a historic Nationals comeback with a three-run homer in the ninth as Washington rallied from eight runs down to beat the Braves 13-12.
Nevermind the fact that the Braves gave their ace a 9-1 cushion after two innings.
Nevermind the fact that the homer was against the closer who was brought in to replace Craig Kimbrel.
Nevermind the fact that, according to ESPN Stats, team with an eight-run lead were 1,031-5 over the last five seasons.
Nevermind the fact that Nationals, the overwhelming favorite in the NL East, were on a six-game losing streak.
Nope, this is about the simple fact that Uggla was the highest paid guy on the Atlanta payroll last night and he delivered a three-run jack. It was his first big-league homer in a year and two weeks and he entered the game hitting .135 in 37 at-bats.
Wow. This morning every Braves fan has the right to merge Seinfeld's angst-ridden "Newman" into Kirk's passioned "Khaaaannn."
All together: "Stupid Struggla."
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Heartbreaker
The Spurs took a commanding 3-2 lead over the Clippers in their first-round playoff series late Tuesday night. More than 80 percent of the time, when a series is tied at 2, the winner of Game 5 wins the series.
It was marred by a controversial call. DeAndre Jordan was ruled to have illegally touched the ball above the cylinder on a tip-in that would have given the Clippers a 109-108 lead with less than five seconds left in the SPurs' 111-107 win.
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, from right, Tony Parker, of France, and Manu Ginobili, of Argentina, watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Manu Ginobili said the ball was going in without Jordan's assistance and that turned the game. Well that, and the Spurs hacking Jordan at every turn. Jordan finished 7-of-9 from the floor and 7-of-16 from the line.
The Spurs will try to complete the series Thursday.
Here's an NBA update:
Hawks and Nets are even at 2; next game tonight in Atlanta.
Cavs beat Celtics in four.
Bulls lead Bucks 3-2; next game Thursday in Milwaukee.
Wizards beat Raptors in four.
Warriors beat Pelicans in four
Rockets beat Mavericks 4-1.
Spurs lead Clippers 3-2; next game Thursday in San Antonio.
Grizzles lead Blazers 3-1; next game tonight in Memphis.
Sports converge
This is arguably the single busiest sports convergence in our memory.
Yes that week in April when the Final Four, Opening Day and the Masters happen is awesome. The late October stretch of playoff baseball, football getting great and the NBA starting is cool too.
But this is May, when things are supposed to be be spaced.
Now, starting Thursday with the NFL draft and rolling into the weekend with the Derby, the fight and the NBA playoffs, it's a little overwhelming.
That said, have you entered the free 5-at-10 contests? We will post the NFL entries on Thursday.
Feeling the Draft while drinking a Draught Draft Contest (Each correct guess is worth 1 point)
Who is the Titans' first pick (if they pick Marcus Mariota and then trade him, he would technically be the first pick; if they trade the pick and someone else picks him, well, that's different)?
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2013, file photo, Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Kentucky cornerback Jaleel Hytchye, left, defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Athens, Ga. Georgia coach Mark Richt says junior running back Gurley has informed him that he plans to enter the NFL draft. Richt made the announcement after practice Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, for the Belk Bowl. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) Who is the Falcons' first pick?
How many SEC players go in round one?
Where is Todd Gurley picked?
Which round does former UTC player Davis Tull get picked?
As for the Derby, here's the First In/Last in Derby Day (last-place finisher is worth 2 points, winner worth 1 point; if needed we'll have a tie-breaker after the fact).
Whatcha got?
As for the fight, well, we thought this was exceedingly interesting. Yes, every fighter everywhere thinks they are going to win. Heck, even Peter McNeeley before getting in the ring with Tyson - yes, the same Peter McNeeley who was KOed by a slice of pizza in a commercial - said he was going to win.
But Manny Pacquiao seems very confident.
Interesting.
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This and that
- The director of the USGA says they may put tee boxes on downhill or sidehill lies for the U.S. Open. Here's saying that will go over like mandatory insurance seminars. But as golf looks for ways to make the courses harder for the game's best players - they can only lengthen the courses so much and golf refuses to challenge the powerful lobby that is the equipment companies - who knows what else could out there. Hey, how about a windmill spinning over the hole and it could deflect a badly timed putt?
- McDonald's is cutting more than a half-dozen sandwiches from its menu. Wow, some great did you knows in that story. Did you know there are 121 items on the McDonald's menu? Did you know that the average drive-thru wait time at Mickey D's is 3 minutes, 9.5 seconds, and that's the longest it's been in 15 years.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, left, speaks at a news conference about the situation in Baltimore with Baltimore's Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, center, Tuesday, April 28, 2015. Baltimore was a city on edge as hundreds of National Guardsmen patrolled the streets against unrest for the first time since 1968, hoping to prevent another outbreak of rioting. (AP Photo/Jessica Gresko) - In the Baltimore riots, the story of Toya Graham, the mom that saw her son rioting went down there pulled him out of the crowded, scolded him and slapped him, is awesome. Oh the days when kids were more worried about what their parents would do or think rather than whether they can get away with something from the police.
- And Bill Belichick's girlfriend has his back on the hubbub about the photo of Bill checking out Chrissy Tiegen. Belichick's chick Linda Holliday posted on Twitter: "I mean, honestly, who didn't check her out in this photo?!? I think I even looked! #prettylady."
- Don't know if you heard the interview, but new UTC coach Matt McCall was excellent on Press Row on Tuesday. Dude gets it and will be another home run on David Blackburn's ledger.
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Today's question
Jerry SeinfeldWow, big-time list of birthdays today. Willie Nelson (82), Jerry Seinfeld (61), Daniel Day-Lewis (58), Jan Brady (57), and Michelle Pfeiffer (57). Little crazy that Michelle Pfeiffer and Eve Plumb, the actress that played Jan Brady, are the same age right?
Plus Duke Ellington would have been 116 and Dale Earnahrdt would have been 64.
Also, 70 years ago today, Hitler and Eva Braun got hitched. Wonder where they were registered? It's also the fourth wedding anniversary of Prince William and Kate Middleton. And on this day in 1992, the L.A. riots after the Rodney King verdict started.
Basically we're dealing with a lot of stuff.
So, of the above list of names - and let's stick to birthdays since, unless you're Mel Brooks, Hitler is never funny - give us a Rushmore involving any of the above. Rushmore of Dukes. Go nuts. Rushmore of TV comics. You bet.
Let's stay classy Chattanooga, and remember the contests and the mailbag.