CAPE SAN BLAS, Fla. - Well, beach blanket ballgames are in the books. Headed back to the 423 and be back in the saddle proper-like next week.
Another excellent eatery we visited while in the area was Krazy Fish in Port St. Joe for lunch Thursday. Sweet buckets, had the best shrimp and grits this side of New Orleans I've ever had. Truly. (Yes, it was quite heavy for lunch, and yes, I napped liked an old man- hi Chas and Spy - later in the day. So what. I'm on vacation.)
Emotional day, friends. No, we're not that attached to this place that we're misty about leaving.
On this day 16 years ago, we got hitched on a unseasonably mild August day in mid-Alabama at Church in the Pines off Lake Martin. Best of times.
On this day two years, my dad died after a smidge less than a five-month fight with brain cancer. Worst of times.Both extremes are made better by the daily interactions with the people who make you think, who make you laugh and who make you feel.
People like you guys and gals. Thanks for that.
I don't really feel like sharing my hate mail today. Let's have some fun today. Deal? Deal. Instead, here's a sunset picture from last night on the Gulf from the Mrs. 5-at-10.
Like they say in the bakery after their done with the bagels, let's roll.
From Tommy
This is a fine addition to the Auburn faculty...
Tommy -
The link Tommy attached was a bio about Jesse A. Goldberg, Ph.D., who recently accepted a position as a lecturer of African American and American Lit and Composition in the English department at my alma mater.
Well, before class even starts ol' Dr. Jesse took to the Twitter machine and said he could never say "War Eagle" because, and we quote: "I can't bring myself to enthusiastically and sincerely use a slogan/greeting/cultural signal with 'war' as a primary descriptor. Yeah I know I'm being a party pooper but it's the kind of language thing that sticks with me."
OK. Certainly isn't interesting way to introduce yourself, but hardly anything to get into much a twist about.
Those English folks truly value words and hey, people can hate war. Is what it is.
Then the story gets to a later Tweet. This one is troubling, especially for someone who has a hand in influencing young minds, and I don't care if he's teaching in Auburn or on Uranus. (Or Spy's either.)
Dr. Jesse's social media salvo: "Bleep every single cop. Every single one. The only ethical choice for any cop to make at this point is to refuse to do their job and quit. The police do not protest people. They protect capital. They are instruments of violence on behalf of capital."
The Tweet was deleted and his Twitter account was switched to private.His rants against police continued on Facebook and included a reference of ACAB - "All Cops are (Bleep, a name for a fatherless child)" - and drew consternation from formal statements from Auburn.
His thoughts and messages are simply unacceptable when talking about any group. The assumption that all of any group is bad is the most form of bigotry.
Googling ol' Dr. Jesse turned up this detail this morning Tommy.
It appears Auburn has transferred Goldberg to a research-only fellowship. He was originally scheduled to be a lecturer in four online classes this fall.
From Peachy
Why do all the media types like you want Tiger Woods to win every tournament? Seriously, the bias is sickening - you can't turn on a tournament without seeing every Eldrick swing whether he's winning or he's missing the cut.
You don't seriously think he can win another major or catch Jack do you?
Peachy -
Not sure why so many hate the pub Tiger gets.
Yeah, there are a lot of reasons not to like Tiger. But it has to be pretty clear why the networks and the reporters follow Woods - dude garners as much attention as any athlete in any sport, and when did golf ever have that and when will golf ever have that again?
It's clear, honestly.
Bigger question is can he? Sure I want him to win and make a late charge at Nicklaus' 18. We all want to see sports history in real time, at least in part.
I don't think there is enough time or chances left for Tiger to get there.Hope he does though.
From Chas
Would having a football season be worth it if it leads to 20,000 extra deaths? What about 2,000? 200? 20? 2?
Chas -
This is the question I have wondered from the very beginning.
If Rudy Gobert testing positive shut down the whole ball of wax, what will a death do.
A player. A coach. Heck, what about a 62-year-old dugout attendant? And have you seen who referees these college games? Yes, most are in good shape, but most also are well north of 50.
I don't have an answer because I'm not sure anyone does.In truth, while we all keep an insanely interested eye on college football, my mind wonders to the threshold of acceptability of any school system in general and individual school buildings in particular.
How many cases will it take? Ten? One? And never mind deaths, dear Lord. (Speaking of that, well, Clay Bennett's cartoon from earlier this week is getting KER-rushed on the FaceSpace. I'm not on FaceSpace, but the Mrs. is and she has said it's salty over there.)
In truth, Chas, about your question, the optics are already so shaky that a death of any participating athlete in any sport who caught the Corona while competing or preparing to compete will shut everything down in my opinion. Everything. And it will likely remain closed until a vaccine is found.
From Spy
That's m-a-i-l bagger. And this one could be a wayhomer.
The PGA Championship is this week. It is all Jordan Spieth lacks for the career Grand Slam. Phil Mickelson needs a U.S. Open to complete the career Slam. Rory needs the Masters for the same.
What is the likelihood of all three occurring, or perhaps even one or combo thereof? Is there a 1-10 scale of likelihood, with 1 being the chance for snow in Smyrna in July and 10 being call the bookie?
Spy -
War golf majors.
I think Rory is the best bet to complete the career Grand Slam. By a wide margin - like 7.5 out of 10. Spieth is next, and I give him a slightly better than 50-50 chance, even though the PGA is a sneaky tough field every year.
The likelihood of all three doing it is right there around the number of a July 4 cookout at Doc's in Smyrna being called off for a blizzard.And it's because Philly Mick has no chance to win our Open. Zero. Zip. Bagel. Nada. None.
I think the better question - other than Chas' astute Mill Fickelson is a great first letter swap name that could easily be very good at his current job - is Mickelson's rank all-time.
The top two are clear and distinct. Jack then Tiger. Moving and shaking among the Alexian faithful of the Hogans, Palmers, Sneads, Players, Watsons, et al, can be greatly debated and those discussions have merit.But where does Mickelson fit? I think he's a top-10 guy, but not entirely sold? I think he's more Ebby Calvin LaLoosh - million-dollar game, five-cent head - and could very well fall into a category of the Faldo and Miller - guys who were great champions and elite players but who are better known by most as announcers.
This week's Rushmores:
Rushmore of showers - Shower after a day at the beach (which narrowly edged shower after day of yard work), April Showers (that bring May flowers), "To the showers" and the historic shower scene in Pyscho, which narrowly edged the historic shower scene in Porky's.
Rushmore of magicians - Houdini, David Copperfield, Magic Johnson, Harry Potter
Rushmore of Billy Bob Thornton movies - Sling Blade, Friday Night Lights - he was aces in that one friends - Bad Santa and Monster's Ball
Rushmore of Martin Sheen movies - Apocalypse Now, Wall Street, Departed, American President.
A sunset is seen at Cape San Blas, Florida, on August 6, 2020. / Staff photo by Jay Greeson