Let's handle our BID-ness.
Rushmore of words that are clearly missing a letter: Colonel, weight (there truly needs to be an 'A' somewhere in there), beau, ewe.
Rushmore of talk show hosts: Oprah, Carson, Letterman and Phil Donahue over Mike Douglas and Ellen. (Side note: The stories about Ellen as a boss were rather shocking, no?)
Rushmore of Lee. First and last name divisions. Lee Greeson (c'mon, of course he makes it), Lee Majors, Lee Iacocca, Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith. (With a full visor tip to Lee Elia, and his classic postgame rant about the Cubs and their fans.) Suni Lee (War Eagle), Bruce Lee, Stan Lee and Harper Lee.
Rushmore of Bobby: Bobby Kennedy, Bobby Orr, Me and Bobbie McGee, Bobby Jones. And this one was more difficult than I expected because Bobby Dodd was aces.
Here's today's A2 on the impact of legalized gambling as the NFL starts.
We got more than 50 in the Eliminator pool. And we'll lose half of those if the 49ers fall this weekend.
From Chas
For the bag: Tomorrow it will have been 20 years since the 9/11 attacks. Our memorials often inscribe the words "Lest We Forget."
Have we forgotten? Have we moved on? How have we changed? On what should we reflect this weekend?
Chas -
You had several good ones this week.
But on this day before the 20th anniversary of the day we'll never forget, I thought this one was apropos.
I don't think we have forgotten, but I do think we have moved on. And not always in a good way.
In fact, the commitment to country and fellow Americans in the wake of the attack were awe-inspiring. And magnified by our division of the moment.
We were on board to fight the enemy. Now we debate the other side rather than fight the good fight.
Also, consider the love and respect we had for the first responders and how so many view police these days. Or how so many refuse to vaccinate as we wage a different war.
The unimaginable dread of those attacks killed 3,000 or so Americans, and think of the measures we went to avenge those deaths. And the unity that emerged from it.
I will reflect this weekend on the importance of normalcy - I can remember the return to sports being so important and so magnanimous.
I will reflect on the lives lost - on that day and in the 20-year war that followed.
I will reflect on trying to be a better American - whether it has an impact or not.
Because remembering really is the very least we can do. We should find ways to honor our great country.
From Bearddawg
So Ted Simmons is in the HOF and Dale Murphy isn't. Ted was an awesome guy from what I understand, but is he HOF worthy?
Bearddawg -
No way Simmons is HoF worthy. None.
Same with Harold Baines.
But, forgive me Braves fans everywhere, Murphy isn't worthy either. Especially if Andruw Jones is not getting closer to getting in.
Yes, I've forever banged the Andruw Jones drum - he, Schmidt, Griffey Jr., and Willie Mays are the only players with 10-or-more Gold Gloves and 400-or-more homers.
In truth, I'm 100% on board with being more exclusive than inclusive when it comes to the Hall.
It should be the Hall of Fame. Not the Hall of Really Good, which is where Simmons and Baines belong.
And Murph too.
From Pat
I'll stick with John Hannah. Though Reggie White wasn't too bad either.
Any thoughts on U.S. Ryder Cup team? Do you think there's going to be a "Running Man" scenario where they go "Lefty to the dressing room. Lefty to the dressing room" like they did with Jesse Ventura's "Captain Freedom"?
Oh, and fire Geoff Collins.
Pat -
Man, the Tech folks I know are hot. H-O-T, hot at Geoff Collins.
And man what a great image of Mickelson as Captain Freedom.
Side question: Is there a more goofy term in sports than Vice Captain, which the Ryder Cup teams have like 14 a side? Seriously, Vice Captain? Sounds like Dann Florek's role on the old-school Law&Order spin-offs right?
Also, thanks to everyone for playing along with the 5-at-10 Bracket Challenge. We will have the bracket for everyone to vote on starting Monday, and I'd be shocked if the two Pat mentioned do not face off in the finals.
I nominated Vonn Bell, actually. And the Bullochs kid from Hixson who led the nation in picks at Nebraska one year should be in there too. Same with Gerald Riggs Jr., who did run for more than 1,000 yards one year with the Vols.
There are a bunch of good ones.
From Jules
Something for the mailbag. I love baseball. You know this. And it seems we often discuss the unwritten rules of baseball that we don't like, but what about the rules or traditions that you do? What are things you like? Here's mine:
I love that the first time a batter comes to the plate in a game, he greets the umpire and the catcher.
I also love that if any of the aforementioned people (batter, ump, catcher) gets hit or takes a foul ball off their person, the other two do something to give them some time to shrug it off.
Also, throwing the home run back when the other team hits one. So cool. Unless of course, there is a young visiting fan sitting close that would love that ball.
And something that is so great - the TV announcers are for the home team (most of the time) and they love the team as much as you do!
Jules -
I had several folks comment on how classy Freddie Freeman handled the beaning the other night with the Nationals. Man, he seems like a class act, no?
The unwritten rules are what they are. Some of them are as dated as poodle skirts and some others have aged like sour milk.
The inability to show joy because it may or may not be an affront to a pitcher who just hung a slider that Ronald Acuña Jr. hit 500 feet is stupid. (Side note: Earlier this month when the Braves were losing to the Dodgers and Austin Riley got thrown out at second on a stupid base-running play, I meant to ask why Brian Snitker didn't push him into traffic the same way Snit did when Acuña was thrown out at third early in the season. Hmmmmmm.)
I also think bean balls are a) dangerous now that everyone throws 94-plus, and b) how is giving the opponent a free base smart.
But there are some truly great ones too, like the couple you mentioned. And the visiting team home run ball has the same basis as wearing a jersey: Any male under the age of 12 is clear to keep the ball - or wear a jersey. Once you get into the teens, well, man up.
A couple of others, and these may vary by teams more than actually Brian McCann-approved unwritten rules.
I love the silent treatment after a homer. I love the Kangaroo Court. I love bubble gum on hats and the old-school hot foot.
I love the superstitions of baseball, whether it's not stepping on the foul lines or wearing the same socks. Because as Crash told us, if you believe your playing well because you're wearing women's underwear, then you are. And you should know that.
Have a great weekend friends - and never forget.
Jay Greeson