Happy Friday, friends. We are going to get to the mailbag shortly, but we have more business to handle than normal.
First, we have already played a game on EA Sports College Football ’25 this morning. The graphics are amazing. And since the first two passes I threw with Auburn QB Payton Thorne were dropped and a pick six, well, God Bless America. (Here’s the TFP story on the beloved franchise returning.)
Second, as much as I love early morning major golf, it is quite distracting to the 5-at-10 preparation, most of which happened this morning as Shane Lowry took 20 minutes (seriously) on his third shot at 12 at Royal Troon.
Speaking of which, Tiger is cooked.
Also at the British Open, the commentators with British accents are way, Way, WAY better than the NBC regulars.
Let’s get to the Rushmores.
Rushmore of best dudes in MLB history who had very good-to-great careers as players and managers — Joe Torre, Don Mattingly, Frank Robinson and Lou Boudreau.
Rushmore of sports stars’ nicknames with a state included — Kansas Comet, Georgia Peach, The Texas Tornado and Georgia Wildfire Tommy Rich.
Rushmore of former SNL alums who became the biggest Hollywood A-listers — Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.
Rushmore of best MLB No. 1 overall picks — Junior, Chipper, A-Rod and Joe Mauer (for now over Bryce Harper).
God speed to Bob Newhart. He was 94. And he truly brought billions of smiles to millions of fans. And was part of the greatest series finale of all-time. RIP, Bob.
Rules being rules, here’s David Paschall on Auburn’s Hugh Freeze’s belief in the process. Yeah, OK. Win some games, Hugh.
To the bag:
From a lot of you
What did you think of Trump’s speech?
Gang, I am making a personal decision to not get into high-level American political quagmires. I did not watch Donald Trump’s speech.
I am informed. I vote in every election — in fact I have already early voted. If you want to know the hard truth, your vote in your school board race or state legislative race is way more impactful than voting for who is at the top of the ticket in November.
From Matthew
Jay, I love the 5@10 and your style. I really like when you tell us your recipes and your kitchen stuff.
What are you cooking now?
Matthew
Thanks for the kind words and for playing along.
Cooking a few things right now, and trying to perfect a couple of new things.
The 5-at-10 clan is trying to eat healthier. We ordered some Alaskan fish that comes in a box with dry ice. We get the farm box from Signal Mountain Farms. I quit eating bread months ago.
Monday for the lil’ 5-at-10’s band crew I made my ravioli lasagna. It was well-received.
But the three things I am working on are:
› Really good grilled fish. I am happy to marinate heavily the flesh I grilled that has legs, but less is more with fish, especially good fish. Yes, I could fry it, and it would be perfect, but that would violate the eating healthier goal. Light drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a hearty dose of salt and pepper. Key add: Lemon squeeze when you put them on the flame.
› Jalapeño popper chicken salad. Chunked chicken pies (I grill mine, but store-bought would work) diced to small pieces, diced jalapeños with a smidge of the juice from the jar (if you don’t like spice, find the mild peppers), bacon bits, cream cheese and a little mayo for consistency. I add shredded cheddar on top for looks and the extra pop. Yeah, the eating healthy thing is not an “always” thing, I guess.
› Vegetable soup. This is because of the box and my Nanny’s green beans, which I have mastered. But I am always looking for suggestions.
Or requests.
From Brad
Jay, why do you even talk about Tiger at this point? He’s not a factor in anything.
Brad,
You are right in terms of leader boards and rankings.
Tiger is cooked. He has played all four majors, and he will make one cut in those four. And that cut was at Augusta, where after the weekend he finished DFL.
It’s sad, but the end always ends. (Side note: Dying “suddenly” is redundant; death always comes suddenly, whether you are in a car crash or are six-month cancer victim. That’s death. It arrives in an instant.)
(Side note #2: Time is precious. Value your family and thank someone in your life today for what they mean to you.)
Yeah, Tiger the golfer is cooker, but Tiger the star is still shines.
He won’t make the weekend, but as someone who has watched a lot of early morning golf this wee, Tiger’s gallery is every bit as big as Scottie’s and Rory’s and whoever is atop the leader board.
Tiger was a winner on par with Jack and beloved even beyond Palmer.
From Steeler Fan
Hey Jay,
I was watching the “Receivers” series on Netflix and picked up on an interesting fact: The Lions’ sensational receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was snubbed by Pro Bowl voters (coaches, players, fans) last year but was named All-Pro by AP. (The better award, by far.) I’m sure it’s not the first time that has happened, but it reminded me how little it means to be called a “Pro Bowler” these days. If the NFL insists on adding a 18th regular season game, I say ditch what’s left of the Pro Bowl experience and add a second bye week to the season — not an original idea, but a good one. Then, ask AP to add a third team All-Pro to recognize some of the players who will no longer get to brag about being Pro Bowlers. What do you think?
Steeler Fan
One, thanks for always being a great source of interesting questions.
Second, only the MLB All-Star Game should be a thing anymore because the players in the NBA and the NFL assuredly do not care about the game.
And that’s understandable in a lot of ways because an injury in an exhibition could cost one of them seven, eight or even nine figures.
Ask Robert Edwards.
Your assertion is spot on, and I concur with the scheduling suggestion. I also believe 100% an 18-game schedule is coming.
But in that theory, I hope the league gets creative.
Something like every team but two gets a bye week on the week of the first round of the expanded college football playoff. The two teams get a bye the week before, and then they play in London or Madrid or at the Field of Dreams (is this Heaven? No it’s Iowa) in prime time for a national audience.
Then the league can sell this one-time product to Amazon or YouTube or you name it.
Man, my mind is racing. I sometimes wonder if I wasted a million-dollar memory on movie quotes and batting averages.
Have a great weekend, friends.