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Short story long
OK, folks around my age remember three channels on TV.
Folks who are intern Scott’s age remember basic cable and praying for a late night Shannon Tweed option on Cinemax.
Folks who are Spy’s age remember Walter Winchell coming over the Wilco and sitting by for the other radio updates.
Well, back to my age, I am sure we can remember going to the grandparents over random weekends, and the only two true viewing options were “Hee Haw” or “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
Who’s with me?
Anyway, I remember fondly the segment on “Hee Haw” with the song, “If It Weren’t for Bad Luck, I’d Have No Luck at All.”
Ladies and gentlemen, that’s the slogan for the 2024 Atlanta Braves.
A bunch with true World Series aspirations has been devastated by injuries.
The latest: Austin Riley will miss six-to-eight weeks with a broken wrist. And yes, the season likely only has six-to-eight weeks left, and seven of the club’s next 13 games are against NL East-leading Philadelphia.
And yes, the Dodgers have been ravaged too, and every club has ailments that cost stars games or weeks.
But the Braves’ landslide of laments is legendary and likely will end the run of postseason appearances powered by six consecutive division titles.
And these are not depth issues or fringe guys. These are the core guys on whom the club counted. Check this medical chart:
Catcher Sean Murphy, Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider, OF and reigning MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., 2B Ozzie Albies, CF and reigning rookie of the year Michael Harris II, starting pitchers Max Fried and All-Star Reynaldo Lopez, and reliever AJ Minter.
Now Riley.
Rules, schmules
OK, three quick thoughts on some rule issues.
First, the NFL is open to even more rule tweaks after the reported positive returns or the new — and still very weird — kickoff format.
And while we are here, here’s the best explainer I have seen on the new NFL kickoff rules with some tweaks I was unaware of, such as penalties on TDs will only be enforced on the PAT and more.
Now, let’s chip the forward progress completely and do away with “half the distance” penalties on the defense close to the goal line. (If a defense jumps offside on third-and-goal at the 5, enforce the penalty and move that ball to the inch line.)
I’m all for the NFL continuing to explore rule changes. It has worked for MLB, which brings us to this: Baseball needs to allow the batter to appeal a check swing to the proper base up ASAP. If catchers can appeal — and it’s almost always granted — why can’t hitters get the same courtesy for the umps to work together?
And now, with college football starting this week — I am giddy — the major changes for the South’s favorite sport need to be re-covered.
> There will be two-minute warnings before the half and the final horn;
> In-helmet communication will be used — think the green-dot guys on NFL sides — this year. This could be called the Harbaugh Rule since it was implemented to limit sign stealing. I do wonder if this will take at least edge of home-field advantage;
> Head coaches are now forced to do in-game interviews after the first and third quarters. Maybe this is why Saban retired. Also, I would not want to be the guy strolling up to Kirby if the Dawgs are down 14 entering the fourth and offer, “Coach, how you feel about your chances?” You know?
Thoughts?
(And while we are discussing future rules that need to be addressed, the college football issue — other than also moving to the chipped ball and technological spotting of its progress — should be the spate of faux injuries defenses use to slow tempo offenses.)
Monday TV viewing
So for the most part, the 5-at-10 clan watched a lot of Monday’s Stage 1 Finals of American Ninja Warrior.
It’s a guilty pleasure made even more intriguing by the backstories. And no, it’s not going to be compared to acclaimed TV programming like “Game of Thrones” or “The Simpsons” anytime soon.
(Side question: Did you know GoT and the exploits of Homer and his crew are 2nd and 4th all-time in Emmys won? And without using the Google, could you name the top-five? I bet no stinking way. Answer in the This and That.)
That took up most of our time, and I have to believe with the Democratic National Convention being the primary option on almost every major channel, ANW did better than expected for those of us tired of the rhetoric.
Still, we could not help but flip over during commercials, and two takeaways:
Joe Biden puts party before person with his decision to walk away.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr spoke Monday night, which was hardly surprising since he’s forever been anti-Trump.
His speech was good — and his coach-to-coach criticism of VP candidate Tim Walz was funny.
Remember, his father was the president of American University in Beirut and was killed by terrorists in 1984.
This and That
— Top-five TV shows in Emmys won: “SNL” with 84 (of 331 nominations); “GoT” with 59 (of 159 nominations); “Frasier” with 37 (of 110 nominations); “The Simpsons” (of 102 nominations); and tied for fifth is “RuPaul’s Drag Race” with 29 (of 71 nominations) and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” with 29 (of 67 nominations). How many of the top 5 (or 6) did you get?
— Off the sports trail for another second, I have been in the 423 since May 2002, and if there was a story that was not politics or football that has gotten more words through the years, my guess would be the funding of the Chick Lock. Thoughts?
— We mentioned in the comments Monday about the death of Phil Donahue. By all accounts a fine fellow, I must say. Here’s his obit.
— You know the rules. Here’s Paschall on UT’s left guard and more.
— Talk about a game-changer: Jeff Bezos may be in the mix to buy the Celtics. Remember, the NBA has just a “soft” salary cap, and money ain’t a thing to Mr. Bezos.
— This story deserves more, and we hope to get to it Wednesday, but Mike Gundy telling ESPN that he has told his players to stop asking for more NIL money is quite telling, no?
Today’s questions
› True or false, it’s Tuesday. Morning, Ernie.
› True or false — for the final time — the Braves are cooked.
› True or false, AA looks pretty smart this morning for not moving tons of pieces at the deadline.
› True or false, you watched the DNC last night.
› True or false, you like the new NFL kickoff rule.
› True or false, you got more than one of the remaining four top-Emmy winners listed above. (Remember, two were listed in the main bar. Which ones did you get?)
You know the drill, answer some T or Fs, ask some T or Fs.
As for today, Aug. 20, let’s review:
› Isaac Hayes would have been 82 today. Talking ’bout Shaft.
› Amy Adams is 50.
What’s her Rushmore? Go, and enjoy the day.