Let's mind some particulars.
Here's today's A2 on some of the giveaways, including the millions in Ohio lotteries, for folks to get the vaccine.
Rushmore of knives: Well, in terms of actually using the word, Swiss Army Knife, "That's not a knife," Knife in the back Jack knife; in terms of the suggested cousin 'blade' is would be the classic "Sling Blade," Blades of Steel (the great old-school Nintendo hockey game), Blade Runner and switchblade.
Rushmore of cartoon characters' catchphrases: Scooby-Dooby-Doo (and bonus points for those stoners getting 'Dooby' into a kids' show), D'Oh, and What's Up Doc seem like three pretty clear ones. From there, well, there are a bunch that compete and you guys listed a lot of them. I think I'll take "Good Grief" narrowly over Yabba-Dabba-Do and a slew of other great ones.
Rushmore of sports stars with the biggest egos: Deion Sanders, Rickey Henderson, Ali, Dale Earnhardt (and yes, my list is more of the enjoyable egos rather than the egomaniacs).
Rushmore of shrimp: Bubba Gump, Jumbo Shrimp, as someone who has battled a bulging belly for most of my life, "All you can eat shrimp" and of course Shrimp from the Three Stooges. Wait strike that last one. Being told it's slightly different. We'll go off the board here with a personal fav and say shrimp and grits.
From Alex
So the 5-at-10's going sports only?
THANK GOD!
Alex-
Sorry to disappoint you my friend, but the answer to that is no.
It's impossible in this day and age to be one-thing-specific. It's not doable, besides, if we just did sports and only sports, think how many non-sports items - race, six, crime, taxes, etc. - bleed into sports already.
Plus, this has always been sports-based and will remain that way. There will be a lot of days that it's pretty much all sports, but that's not by design any more than the random few days that it leans on more non-sports topics.
That's my view, and I'll explain it even deeper.
First, I love the exchange of ideas here. Sure, the written word can be a difficult vehicle to communicate differing viewpoints, especially when emotion and passion are involved, because there is no context, timing or tone. That's a valuable lesson to grasp, friends.
Second, the back-and-forth has opened my eyes to different ways to look at things, and I hope it has done the same for a lot of you.
Third, and this is not a shot Alex, it's just an observation: I don't think anyone wants the entire "stick to sports" mantra at its core. Because I don't believe it's a view of "I didn't come here for political talk" as much as it's a "I didn't come here for THAT political talk." And, again, the exchange of ideas is a good thing. You and I may not agree on something - or we may - but I hope that you - like everyone else - feel comfortable discussing it.
Vader and Chas going back-and-forth, and doing it respectively, is a fine example of this.
Fourth, if I truly were to stick to sports, how many of the above Rushmores would make it? How many movie conversations do we have a week? What about TV? Or personal life stuff?
Fifth, in truth, it pushes me as a writer, especially in my narrow morning windows, to expand into all genres.
I greatly appreciate the time you guys and gals give me each morning. It's your greatest asset and my greatest joy professionally. And this platform belongs to all, be them the writer, regulars or a first-timer.
But, and opinions on this are welcomed, the never-know-what-tomorrow-may-hold aspect of this family-oriented, interweb-based daily chat is a big part of its charm in my mind.
From a slew of you
What did you make of the CDC reversing course and saying vaccinated people do not need a mask in most cases?
Gang-
I am tickled by it. TICK-eled.
The CDC reported Thursday that if you got the shot(s) and are removed through the wait period, you do not need a mask indoors.
And if the New York Times is writing that fully vaccinated people do not need masks, then heck Jason Voorhies and Mike Meyers are taking off their face coverings.
Please do not confuse my joy for any sort of victory lap. I'm simply happy that vaccinated family can visit - looking at you Andrew; softball in full swing next week - we can go eat somewhere and not think about racing up Whiskey Hill before it gets cold, and we can get back to ballparks and soon enough movie theaters.
Well, that last one may be a little sketchy for the foreseeable future because of the still, way-too-large number of folks not vaccinated. And that's my choice, just like it was my choice to get vaccinated.
Because this story should make us all stop and notice. The Yankees had eight organization members including shortstop Gleyber Torres - should we have gone with Gleyber Greeson if we had a third? - have COVID. Torres, though, has been fully vaccinated.
One, that's going to sadly start the band of, "See, why get vaccinated if it ain't gonna work" from the anti-vaxx crowd, which is sad and the worst case of focusing on the tree rather than the forest.
More importantly, though, he clearly got, which means we still need to be mindful, especially here in Hamilton County, where roughly only a third of folks have received a full dose.
Side note: I also agree with what the Hamilton County School Board decided Thursday, as they voted to continue to require masks until June 1. The reason I like that is because the vaccine options for kids 12-and-older started Thursday and kids younger than that will be later this summer. And really, considering the fight of the last 14-plus months, what's two more weeks of masks in schools?
From PD
So ESPN offered Kenny Mayne, who's informative and entertaining, a pay cut but is keeping Berman, who's schtick has worn thin as 10-year-old underwear, at the same price for the same workload? What's he done lately anyway? Anything? Seriously, I haven't seen this guy on ESPN - I guess he's doing some stuff on their streaming - in ages. And that's just as well.
But, ESPN is keeping Marty Smith around. Now, he's good. And while the SEC Network doesn't hold my interest that much, I do like Marty and McGee.
PD-
Fair point, and Mayne will be missed. He was one of those throwback SportsCenter dudes that I always enjoyed because his commentary was dry and sly compared to the Champ Kind from Anchorman "Whammy" version of the soundbites of the vast majority of on-air talent.
(Side note: The weekend morning SportsCenter tandem of Nicole Briscoe and Matt Barrie is great. Like in the conversation in terms of chemistry with the all-timers. It's fun, especially on Saturdays in the fall. And I'd watch them more frequently, but Sundance has black-and-white Andy Griffith on Saturday mornings. Turn down that loud rock-n-roll.)
In fact, Mayne is up there with the mental humor of what Olbermann and Patrick did, you know, before Olbermann became a social-media, stick-swinging nutcase, and the eternally underrated Craig Kilborn.
As for Chris Berman, well, I think he does do some NFL stuff on the ESPN+ service, but his schtick is beyond predictable.
Still, though, if anyone in sports media has earned a lifetime contract, Berman at the mothership would have to be atop the list no?
Does it stink when ESPN loses folks like Le Batard and his crew or Mayne or any of the dozens of others?
Of course, but, in a business that is full of bottom-line-based harsh realities, Berman getting to write his final chapters with his own pen is kind of cool. (Even if, by all reports and videos, dude is a world-class jack wagon.)
And you are so spot on about Marty and McGee, another Saturday morning option that is almost always fun and has been long-since praised by Jules around these parts.
(Side note: Having had a cocktail or several with McGee, he's an all-around good dude. Which is always cool when you hear the guys you like on TV are likable in real-life, too.)
From Craig
When can someone just write an article proclaiming (the Braves) as not good?
Craig-
We can write right now that they are not playing good.
We can write right now that the bullpen is not good.
We can write right now that the front office did not do a good enough job of bargain-hunting to fill the rotation.
But I am not ready to write that these Braves are not good yet.
Because they are.
Again, go back to line one and they are scuffling. The Blue Jays took all six from the Braves in the season series, it's not like Toronto is the 127 Yankees. Toronto is 14-16 against the rest of baseball and 6-0 against Atlanta.
And, as for line two, the Braves announcing crew on the radio yesterday was gushing about how the Jay's bats come alive in the later innings. Uh, guys, our 10U softball team's bats would come alive if they got to hit off the Braves bullpen. What a dumpster fire.
Still, if they are healthy, Atlanta has five legit Silver Slugger candidates in that lineup. Yes, other than Ronald Acuña, that Action 5 is scuffling. Yes, Dansby Swanson is on pace for 192 strikeouts in 162 games, which is less than good. Yes, Cristian Pache would have a hard time making hard contact against my 10-year-old right-hander.
But the bones are here and the season is long. You have to trust. Plus, it's not like anyone in the East looks poised to run away and hide.
Am I frustrated watching this bunch? Absolutely.
Am I prepared to write them off? Absolutely not.
From Ted
Why aren't you doing more picks these days?
Ted-
Fair point. Completely fair.
It's an especially fair question since today is the three-year anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that said federal laws against sports betting were unconstitutional and it should be a state-by-state call.
As for the picks I'm not sure, but I will try to remember to keep those rolling next week in the This and That. Deal? Deal.
In fact, let's start here:
My pick for the Preakness this weekend is, well I have two.
I'll take Crowded Trade at 10-to-1 to win. (And I'll also put a taste on whatever NBC political/betting guru Steve Kornacki says Saturday afternoon.)
And, if I can find odds on it on the interwebs, Bob Baffert will cheat. At something.
Thanks for a great week friends, and enjoy the weekend.
Jay Greeson