Let’s handle our business.
John Goodman’s Rushmore — “Raising Arizona,” “Revenge of the Nerds” (because Vader was right, “Blank, we forgot to practice” is on the shortlist of all time quotes all time — all time), “Big Lebowski” and while it hurts my heart to leave “O Brother” off, his turn as Dan Conner in “Roseanne” has to be included.
As for a Rushmore, in honor of Mays, Rushmore of the most famous baseball plays ever — Mays’ “Catch,” Gibson homering off Eckersley, Buckner’s misplay in 1986 and Bobby Thompson’s shot heard round the world to beat the Dodgers in 1951.
What’s Paul McCartney’s Rushmore of songs — “Yesterday,” “Let it Be,” “Hey Jude” and “Live and Let Die.”
Rushmore of all-time sports greats who were not even the best of their family’s kids — Venus Williams, Eli Manning, Reggie Miller and Jason Kelce.
Yikes, just saw that Donald Sutherland has died. I know we have done father/son acting teams and Donald and Keifer are there. But other than “M*A*S*H” and “Animal House,” what rounds out Donald’s career Rushmore?
Also of note: Gang, the TFP is sending the star-studded crew of Paschall and Hargis to Omaha as the Vols chase a CWS title. Support local journalism, friends, and click and read their reports from the Big Orange onslaught. Here’s Paschall’s latest.
From a slew of you
Are you watching this baseball game in Birmingham?
Gang,
I taped it. Or DVR’ed it. Does anyone even have a VCR anymore?
The Youngest 5-at-10 had travel softball practice in Middle Valley. (Side note: I love living on Signal. But it’s a down right chore to get anywhere in less than 30 minutes.)
Anywell, the game was everything MLB could have wanted. Fun action. A chance to present the first all-Black umpiring crew. (Yes, that surprised me, too, initially.) Fox going black and white for a part of the broadcast for the old-school feel. The lingering sadness of Willie Mays’ death earlier this week, and his undeniable presence in these festivities.
But maybe the moment of the night was Reggie Jackson’s interview and his eloquent and poignant recollections of being a minor-leaguer in Birmingham in the late 1960s and what he dealt with as a Black player.
Wow. Here’s a link to the clips, and it’s powerful stuff.
It also should be required viewing for all athletes these 57 years later, because while there are still racism hurdles we need to clear and hills we need to climb, what Jackie dealt with, and with what Mays dealt with and with what Reggie detailed, well, holy cow.
From Scott
Jay, I love the 5@10 — read every day.
I liked what you said about Mays and started to wonder if you have ever done a Rushmore of best baseball nicknames?
Thanks and I would love this to be in Friday’s mailbag so my friends can read it, too.
Scott,
You bet my man, and thanks for the kind words.
Got a lot of response this week on the death of Willie Mays. Not sure why our childhood sports icons elicit such a powerful reaction when they die, but they do.
Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s the memories of the joy they generated. I never saw Mays play, but I was saddened by his death.
(Side question for the group: Which athlete’s death hit you the hardest? Mine is an easy choice. Len Bias.)
But Scott, your question has merit and is assuredly mailbag-worthy. I know we have done the best overall sports nicknames, and if memory serves, Babe, Magic and Sweetness were three of the four spots.
Baseball only could be every bit as tough since clearly Babe is there. Mays’ moniker as the “Say Hey Kid” is certainly a contender. Nolan Ryan as “The Express” maybe? Walter Johnson’s “Big Train” deserves consideration. The Iron Horse, Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, The Splendid Splinter, The Georgia Peach, Charlie Hustle, The Kid, The Captain, Oil Can, Catfish, The Big Hurt and the Big Unit and here’s hoping no one gets a big hurt on their big unit, Crime Dog, the Wizard of Oz, Big Papi — the list is impressive.
But, since we’re tasked with making these tough and multi-million dollar decisions, here’s the Rushmore of best baseball nicknames:
Babe Ruth (come on, it became his name to the point that the vast majority of folks will not be able to tell you who George Ruth was, but by golly they are well aware of the Babe), Mr. October, which is so money and so earned and such a credit to Mr. Jackson. (Side question: I have shared my meeting with Reggie here before, right?) Satchel Paige, who got that nickname allegedly for either carrying people’s bags at a train station as a youth or trying to steal someone’s bag, but either way it’s a great one. And finally, and this is tough because we leave so many off, but Shoeless Joe Jackson.
Say it ain’t so, Joe.
From Tom
Was reading Cameron McKeon’s article on what some Lookouts catchers (and others) think of the automated ball-strike system. I didn’t realize that the computerized strike zone is different than the defined strike zone. The ABS zone is a two-dimensional zone about middle of plate, whereas the defined strike zone per rules is a three-dimensional space. Having a 2D zone means sneaking a pitch over the front or back corner of the plate would no longer be called a strike like it is (when called correctly) today. Seems more work is needed on this technology if that’s the case. Jay, you’ve been calling a lot for ABS, did you know this? If so, the fact that MLB umps get it right north of 92% of the time and some 97% of the time, is this ABS ready for the big leagues?
Tom,
Your opposition to the ABS zone has been consistent. My support of automated strike zones has, I hope, been equally as steady.
But Cameron’s thoughtful piece last Sunday in the local fish wrapper had me thinking more about my position.
That said, the percentage of pitches that nip a front or back corner of the plate and are still called correctly feels rather minuscule.
I am still in favor of automation, but it’s clear the current version needs more tweaks and twists.
I’m also in favor of automation because of the growing presence of gambling in all sports, and being as technically correct — and eliminating the human error/temptation — whenever possible is the best of things.
But the way we’re slow walking this thing seems silly to me.
Either do it or can it. But these middling efforts seem like either a waste of time or an attempt to appease those of us who want laser strike zones without working to get laser strike zones, if that makes sense.
From DD
I’m out of town so won’t have time for 5 at 10, but now with no Mays or Aaron, who is the greatest living player? Rose? Bonds? Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Mike Schmidt? Felix Millan? Who am I missing ?
DD,
Felíx Millán had a great ‘stache. Not a great player, but I am sure he appreciates your support.
We kicked this around a bit earlier this week, but it’s worth an extended discussion.
Bonds is the 100% answer for me, but I think the PED era should be viewed like the rest of the tainted eras through the history of MLB, especially with the way the game’s powers that were knowingly looked the other way as McGwire and Sosa revived the sport in 1998.
And if you concur with the above assessment, if it’s not Bonds, it’s likely Clemens or A-Rod. Or Pete Rose, but if the cloud of controversy keeps you out of this conversation, then Charlie can Hustle his way to the sideline.
But if we are going with the non-tainted crew, other than Felíx Millán of course, I would list them accordingly, and there has to be some proper respect to the tag in my view, from 5 to 1:
5. Ken Griffey Jr. — Career was launched with a 7,000-foot-homer off a 15-year-old right-hander in a travel tournament in Lexington and he never looked back. You’re welcome, Junior.
4. Johnny Bench — Arguably the best catcher to ever put on shin guards.
3. Greg Maddux — Amazing career that will age like fine wine.
2. Mike Schmidt — Best third baseman ever. That’s saying something.
1. Rickey Henderson — Check the numbers. Dude did things we’ll never see again.
From John
Jay, let us reflect as we pause today on our rich new federal holiday, Juneteenth, with its Texas roots…
Willie Mays was greatest ever all around. W. Coast portion of his career may have been slight discount on his aura?
(Brandel) Chamblee doesn’t bother me much with his opinions and riffs on LIV Tour because I seldom listen to him for long anyway. Or to Rich Lerner, either … maybe the real story on Chamblee is that he doesn’t have the career bona fides that Johnny Miller had as a comparison/contrast? Johnny’s candor and commentary were legendary after all.
John,
I think Chamblee got got by the easily offended crowd and NBC caved. Whatever. It just means I will mute the golf coverage while folding laundry on Sundays, and that’s OK.
It is sad however when powerful bodies like NBC will cave to the criticism and purposefully move to mediocrity rather than face even a ripple of blowback. But I digress.
Side question for the group: Does a commentator’s bona fides matter all things considered? Jim Murray and Lewis Grizzard were the two best columnists I’ve ever read and I’m not sure either could play dead in a Western. For every Johnny Miller we also get variations of someone being a meh pro like Kirk Herbstreit to not being a pro at all like Doris Burke.
I don’t know, but I enjoy the back and forth. And John, when you figure out which of these two candidates to vote against, please pass that along.
Enjoy the weekend, friends.