Let’s handle our business.
› Rushmore of top comebacks from retirement in sports history — Brady, MJ (although if you discount his first “retirement” because you believe he was suspended for gambling then returned from suspension for the second Bulls’ three-peat, OK), Michael Phelps and Mario Lemieux.
› Rushmore of “Dale” — Earnhardt, Murphy, Norman Dale, Chip’s chipmunk running partner.
› Rushmore of songs with “Happy” in the title — “Happy Birthday,” “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” Pharrell’s “Happy” and “If It Makes You Happy.”
› What is Jon Hamm’s Rushmore of roles — “Mad Men,” “Landman,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “The Town.” (Side question: Did anyone watch Hamm in the reboot of the classic “Fletch” recently? Can’t think it was close to the original.)
As for rules, here’s Paschall with some primer for the SEC tournament and how the Vols are rested.
To the bag.
From Chris
Jay, love the 5@10. I read every day and I have two questions.
One — how old is Spy, actually?
Two — I love the NCAA tournament and your Rushmores, so what is your Rushmore of the best March Madness moments?
Thanks, Jay, and keep up the good work.
Chris,
I will never reveal Spy’s actual age. It’s somewhere between the age of the original iPhone and the U.S. Constitution.
Wow, Rushmore of March Madness moments is a great question. First a parameter — it has to be among the ones I remember. I don’t recall Bill Walton going 21-for-22 in the title game.
OK, Bird-Magic in the title game is an easy choice. Laettner’s shot (Sorry, Chas) is an easy choice. Jimmy V and NC State is an easy choice. At least those three were easy for me.
The last one for me likely would be Villanova pulling every bit the upset in the title game Jimmy V did over Georgetown in 1985.
Thoughts?
From DPJ
Has there ever been a more disappointing career for an athlete than Tiger? I mean he’s at the top of professional golf, but he could have been so much more than he is. He should have blown past Nicklaus’ major wins record to the point that it would never be broken. As was said, the injuries and getting chased around at home with his clubs by his wife contributed to his coming up short. In my opinion, Nicklaus’ career was better than Tiger’s, and it shouldn’t have been.
DPJ,
Len Bias is 1 on that list, and I can’t help but pause and wonder not only how amazing Bias would have been at the next level — he was better than MJ in the glory days of the ACC, and he was the size of LeBron/Magic with the perimeter skills and was a better shooter — but how that would have lifted the already-great Boston teams of the 1980s to all-time status.
Bias would have been a plug-play guy on the defending NBA champ in 1987.
He would have been a much-needed relief for Larry Bird during the latter parts of the decade and saving valuable tread on Bird’s sneakers.
He would have been a versatile and athletic guy to lift an aging roster against the emerging Pistons, who dethroned the aging Celtics and ended Bird’s mini-dynasty.
But that’s one of the most frequently mentioned examples of that, DPJ.
A few of the others that always jump to my mind are:
> Dickie Thon, an Astros shortstop who had a dazzling start to his career before being hit in the eye with a Mike Torez’ fastball. He was never the same;
> J.R. Richard was a 6-foot-8 righty for Houston who was an absolute monster. Think a mix of Randy Johnson and Dave Stewart with a Nolan Ryan fastball. J.R. had a stroke in the apex of his prime;
> Derrick Rose and Grant Hill had good careers. They were going to be all-timers, though.
> Do we put Ken Griffey Jr. on this list?
> And maybe the most underrated one could be Davey Allison, who would have been a NASCAR all-timer in my view.
Great email, DPJ.
From Max
Jay, my friend and I wanted your opinion on a conversation we had (Tuesday). Steph Curry shooting is the best single sport skill out there that you can practice.
Agree or disagree, Jay?
Max
With the caveat of taking out Deion’s speed or Aaron Donald’s quickness out of the equation. Same with Nolan Ryan’s fastball because I’m not sure those are “skills” that can be practiced.
Need a ruling on that from the crew.
And Steph’s shooting is high on the list.
A couple of the others out there on my list.
Tiger Woods’ putting stroke from 10 feet at the apex of his powers. He was so money.
But maybe my only true contender to Steph’s stroke is Greg Maddux’s ability to locate pitches.
It was truly uncanny.
And as great as Maddux was as a starting pitcher, and he’s likely the best non-cheating righty since Gibson, he would be Babe Ruth + MJ + TB12 + Jack + Ali all rolled into one in the all-time rankings of kid-league coach pitch.
Can you image how many bats he could hit on purpose of 8-year-olds anywhere?
He could locate it where an 8-year-old Ray Charles would make contact like Tony Gwynn in his prime.
Have a great weekend, friends.