Happy Independence Day everyone.
And thanks for sharing your time here. Let's make it quick so we can get to the pool, the grill, the lake or wherever you're going to spend the holdaiy.
Weekend winners
America. Admit it Independence Day is awesome. Hooray 'Merica. I list it as my No. 2 non-religious holiday, right behind Thanksgiving.
Chick-Fil-A. Not that anyone from the South is surprised by this - and I believe that my family eats more CFA that all other fast food options combined - but being America's favorite restaurant eight years running is awesome in its awesomeness.
Max Scherzer. The Mets ace was on his final rehab start for Double-A Binghamton and not only did he buy all his minor league teammates Air Pods, he picked up the $7,000 dinner bill for lobster and filets after his last rehab pitching effort. Good on you Max.
The Lookouts. Hey, I know there are still some hurdles and yes votes from the County Commission and the City Council still out there, but man oh man, with each passing story, the new stadium sure feels more and more like a done deal.
Weekend losers
Everything golf this weekend. The PGA event was a snooze fest - and I hope Trevor Immelmann will be good as the lead analyst, but without Nantz or Faldo, the broadcast was as forgettable as the names on the leaderboard - and I had no idea what was happening with the LIV. Then details come out proving Sergio Garcia is little more than a Spanish Patrick Reed. Is there a likable star on the LIV series?
Joey Chestnutt's tummy. The over/under is set at 74.5 hot dogs and buns today for Chestnutt in the Nathan's Hot Dog contest. That's in 10 minutes people. I ask if you will consume over/under 74.5 hot dogs in all of 2022?
The Guns N' Roses concert effort in London. Wow, what a disaster by this report.
Nick Kyrgios. Yes, he pulled a huge upset on Saturday over Wimbledon No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas - pronounced really close to "Sissy Pants" - but Kyrgios acted like an overgrown toddler. It was a terrible look at one of the all-time classiest venues in sports.
Miles Bridges. The Hornets forward was going to be an interesting name on the free agent market, then pictures of his alleged domestic assault on his wife surfaced.
Braves
Side note: Because of staffing issues, the 5-at-10 today had to be wrapped on Saturday evening. It happens.
But the Braves had already secured the series in Cincinnati with a 4-1 win.
Beating the Reds is not news. Spencer Strider, though, is news.
(Side note: Now feels like the best time to tip the visor to Max Fried, JTC and Jules' fav lefty, who was aces Friday night too.)
But Strider has shut-down, lock-down, could-be-a-no-hitter-in-any-start stuff. And he has arguably the most rare pitch out there.
He has a triple-digit fastball that seems unhittable even when hitters know its coming.
And if his 86-mph slider is anywhere close to the plate, dude is as salty as anyone in the NL.
That's excellent news for a team that heading into Sunday's games had trimmed the Mets' lead to 2.5 games and started July like it did in a near-historic June.
This and that
- Here's Saturday's A2 column from some round-faced fella.
- Speaking of golf, here's an interesting look at the appealing parts of attending the LIV this weekend.
- Speaking of LIV, now Paul Casey has flipped. So there's that.
Today's questions
Weekend winners and losers. Go.
Feel free to fire away, and yes, I am curious if you will consume more or less than 74.5 hot dogs in this calendar year.
Rushmore of 'Independence' and have a little fun.
Enjoy the holiday friends.
Jay Greeson