Braves
OK, we’re two games in and the Braves are right where we expected them to be. And we are still on board with trying to be the most optimistic Braves fan ever. So as we check the offensive numbers – 19 innings, four runs, and a .190 batting average – and turn this over to Positive Paul.
“Hey friends, and let’s go to the optimistic view of your Atlanta Braves.
Did you know that third baseman Adonis Garcia is on pace to hit .571 with 81 homers and 162 RBIs? Those are MVP-type numbers guys. And we know some folks – like that gasbag guy on Press Row – who have had their doubts about Bud Norris, but if not for a misplayed play at the plate, Norris kept the Nationals in check.
Speaking of pitching, John Gant’s delivery is uncanny. So what that the Braves are 0-2? The Nationals are really good. And remember, at least the teams finished the game before the rain started. (As little kids everywhere will tell you, it’s better to play and lose than to have a rainout.)
That’s all we have from the Optics of Optimism. Go Braves.”
Vijay Singh, of Fiji, waits to putt on the 16th hole during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Masters contest
It’s time. The tradition unlike any other.
Here’s what we have for entries into the Masterfully Mastering the Masters Challenge, and as always, if you see something wrong, please let me know:
Mrs. 5-at-10 – Rory, Bubba, Sergio, Spieth, Z. Johnson
5-at-10 – Jason Day, Phil, Bubba, Rory, Jordan Spieth
OK, we had daddy duty today, and got so far behind we were unable to update all the players, so we wanted to make sure we got the 5-at-10 clan entries on the ledger. We will post all of the entries either this afternoon or in Friday morning’s 5-at-10.
Deal? Deal. And good luck. (And an early luck at the leaderboard has journeyman Jim Herman with a fast start. That quite possibly would be the biggest golf upset since Bagger Vance got involved.)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media during a news conference Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Interesting flipping
OK, the NFL was very quick to insert its influence in the religious freedom bill that was being debated in Georgia. (There are a slew of bills under a similar umbrella in states across the South that would allow business and/or churches to refuse services for gay couples in the marriage process for religious reasons. This has been very contentious on each side for obvious reasons.)
Well, the NFL made it clear that the Super Bowl would not come to Atlanta if the bill was passed into law. That’s a billion-dollar bargaining chip for a city and state that is helping build a multi-billion-dollar stadium that is designed to lure events like the Super Bowl to town.
So Nathan Deal vetoed the bill, and we think he made the right decision. Government should be about fiscal responsibility. Spiritual decisions should not be in their focus, in our opinion.
We pointed out that the NFL calling for equality with its business partners is at the least hypocritical since the top levels of decision-makers are hardly a diverse bunch, and let’s be honest, the league has done an awful job in its appearances and fight to prevent crimes against women.
So, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised about this story that tells us the NFL is not going to cancel its owner’s meeting in Charlotte, despite North Carolina having passed a different version of the bill in the religious freedom discussion. (Yes, North Carolina’s bill is different, and it started because the city of Charlotte is obtusely worried about the gender decision making of people using public restrooms. And yes, that we have to have laws on the gender decision making of people using public restrooms is a sad commentary on where we are.)
Still, the North Carolina law is opposed by the same groups that opposed the Georgia law, and those similar to it across the state.Interesting that the NFL considers one more important than the other. So it goes.
FILE – In this June 28, 2015 file photo, singer-songwriter Merle Haggard performs at the 2015 Big Barrel Country Music Festival in Dover, Del. Haggard died of pneumonia, Wednesday, April 6, 2016, in Palo Cedro, Calif. He was 79. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File) This and that
– The PC police have made another company uncomfortable and apologize for virtually nothing. Here’s a story about GAP apologizing for something called “passive racism” because a white girl has her elbow on a black girl’s head. We wish we were making this up. GAP pulled the ad.
– Merle Haggard died Wednesday on his 79th birthday. Dude is an icon. He had a 20-plus-year run in which very single he released reached the top 10. It’s an impossible Rushmore to do, but Ol’ Hag makes a strong push to be on the Rushmore of country music. (For what it’s worth, we’ll take Hank Sr., Johnny Cash, Willie, George Strait, but if you wanted to sub in Merle for any of them – other than King George, who has more No. 1 hits than any artist ever – we understand.)
– Another NFL player retiring too early. Buffalo linebacker A.J. Tarpley retired after his rookie season in the league because his concussion count is up to four. This is a growing trend that will continue to grow.
Today’s question
Somehow, today is #WorldHealthDay and #NationalBeerDay. See, we knew beer was too tasty not to be good for you. How else could expelling the overlap? So on this day – and that it happens on the first day of the Masters, well, you know what time it is – we encourage you to kick back a cold Co-Cola or three and enjoy.
So for our National Beer Day Rushmore (and there’s no way we get a consensus on a beer Rushmore, so why try) we’re looking for the food that goes best with a ice-cold beer.
Whatcha’ got? And don’t forget the mailbag.