An arbitration buyout, a new bandbox, Arte's pipe dream, a new MLBPA logo, an odious Florida book-banning, Joe West's retirement, the Birds, a Dystopia Watch entry, Hopper, Charlie Cale, and Columbo
Happy "Knicks Fans Laugh at the Nets" Day. Seems to happen as often now as "Mets Fans Celebrate the Yankees Losing in the Playoffs" Day.
Speaking of sports unions, the current Sec. of Labor, Marty Flynn, is leaving Washington to run the NHL Players Association. He's replacing Don Fehr, who long ago left the MLBPA for hockey, and whose track record there is very mixed. Flynn, prior to being mayor of Boston, was a deep union man, and he's getting this job for that reason. In short, he's more Marvin Miller than Tony Clark, the sort of person I wish were running things for the baseball union. But as I am not a ballplayer, that is not my call to make. (One key difference between Flynn and Miller, though: Flynn is a big hockey fan, as opposed to Miller's indifference to the sport he challenged.)
I would reserve judgment on Walsh’s prospects for being a Miller type, as it seems one of his main advocates for getting the gig is a former financier of his political campaigns who will now be across from him at the table.
Knicks and Yankees fan here, and I couldn't care less about the Nets or the Mets. I really don't understand the desire of NY fans to hate each other especially the Mets and Yankees. They don't even play in the same league, much less the same division. I can sort of understand the Knicks Nets "rivalry" but really the Knicks are so ass-backward dysfunctional with their douchebag of an owner, that they are already the laughingstock punching bag of the league. Even if the Nets suffer some indignity, I would much rather prefer that at least one team in our division present even a modicum of a challenge to the Celtics supremacy.
But schools *are* where the social contract, and the ‘truths’ that make up the social contract are if not taught, at least reinforced.
In banning the experiences of Black people from the public schools, Black people are being removed, at least partially, from the social contract. Again.
I think the Dems should turn this on its head. You know, criticize the GOP for being so eggshell weak that they cannot accept the reality that (straw men args go here):
- Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs despite dealing with racism
- Rosa Parks was in fact told to go to the back of the bus
- Roberto Clemente was a great baseball player who helped earthquake victims
Why the straw men? It makes it seem like the GOP is incapable of accepting basic facts, which is true.
I wish instead of always playing defense against absurd GOP claims, they played more offense. Good on Joe for playing a little offense the other night.
I think they could turn the GOP's buzzwords against them by saying, "Sanders and Desantis want a safe space from acknowledging baseball's most famous record was held by a black man, because they are oversensitive snowflakes who are triggered by Hank Aaron's legendary status as a hero who overcame racism."
Fortunately we can still teach our kids anti-racism, but what a shame that the kids who need it most will not get exposed to it in schools in Florida. I hope Rhonda Santis loses so hard in the race to the White House.
The idea of plexiglass walls in the Skydome does remind me of the hotel windows in the outfield and their then interior visibility. Attractive is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. But certainly caught one’s eye.
Don’t know if it qualifies as a hiking trail, but I highly recommend Fort Funston in San Francisco… Gorgeous vistas and an amazing place to see the sunset. Enjoy.
Like Hirschfeld with "Nina" or Dali with insects, Hopper could've made it a thing to have a cat somewhere in every piece he created, whether hidden or overt.
I spent my teenage years living in Mobile and went to high school a couple of miles from Henry Aaron’s childhood home. A loop that encircled what used to be the core commercial downtown area near the Bay was renamed for Aaron. And years after I moved, his home itself was moved to the site of the then new AA stadium and turned into a mini museum. The loop is mostly four lane surface streets that are busy but not overly so.
The AA stadium was built against an interstate and in the midst of a series of mid tier hotels and outlet shopping. But for our story, it is notable for its address on Satchel Paige Road.
These days, I live in the ATL suburbs. My last office commute had me traveling along John Smoltz Highway. It is a road in Alpharetta that runs alongside a new, upscale mall and no where near any ballpark. I guess that he either was an investor in the mall construction or plays golf in the area.
When I go to the Lake during the warmer months, I sometimes go through Flowery Brach and along Phil Niekro Road. Short two lane that is, unfortunately, far too straight.
And my house sits just a mile or so from Bill Russell Road. Unfortunately it was named for a small time local politician rather than the Dodgers shortstop of my youth or that tall guy who played a game with a big orange ball.
They play high school games but the pro club left town.
The best stadium in town is probably Stanky Field on the University of South Alabama campus. Eddie Stanky is the guy seen in the footage following Bobby Thomson’s ‘Shot Heard Round the World’ who ran and leapt into Leo Durocher’s arms by the third base coaches box. He later coached USA’s baseball teams for a couple of decades.
Hey Craig, NE Ohio raised, SF resident and big hiker. If you’re looking for a Monday option I love Tomales Point as a coastal hike to take visitors. It is a bit of a drive.
Columbo Face: The Columbo/Poker Face graphic is, as you say, a riff on the poster for The Sting, but the latter itself looks back to the classic Saturday Evening Post cover-page template that the magazine used in the first half of the 20th century, the heyday of the great cover illustrators Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker, and others.
God bless the folks in the community relations depts in Florida’s pro team FOs… as if those jobs didn’t suck like a Hoover to begin with, now you have to worry about stepping on Gov. NumbNuts’ hate campaign.
Yes, I was reading about that. One item said that with stunts like that and not having DC residents have full representation that the average black citizen of the US has only 75% of the representation of a white citizen.
Yeah, this is new right?
Happy "Knicks Fans Laugh at the Nets" Day. Seems to happen as often now as "Mets Fans Celebrate the Yankees Losing in the Playoffs" Day.
Speaking of sports unions, the current Sec. of Labor, Marty Flynn, is leaving Washington to run the NHL Players Association. He's replacing Don Fehr, who long ago left the MLBPA for hockey, and whose track record there is very mixed. Flynn, prior to being mayor of Boston, was a deep union man, and he's getting this job for that reason. In short, he's more Marvin Miller than Tony Clark, the sort of person I wish were running things for the baseball union. But as I am not a ballplayer, that is not my call to make. (One key difference between Flynn and Miller, though: Flynn is a big hockey fan, as opposed to Miller's indifference to the sport he challenged.)
Flynn? Wait, you mean Mickey Finn?
I would reserve judgment on Walsh’s prospects for being a Miller type, as it seems one of his main advocates for getting the gig is a former financier of his political campaigns who will now be across from him at the table.
Could be nothing, but worth keeping an eye on.
https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2023-02-08-labor-secretary-marty-walsh/
Knicks and Yankees fan here, and I couldn't care less about the Nets or the Mets. I really don't understand the desire of NY fans to hate each other especially the Mets and Yankees. They don't even play in the same league, much less the same division. I can sort of understand the Knicks Nets "rivalry" but really the Knicks are so ass-backward dysfunctional with their douchebag of an owner, that they are already the laughingstock punching bag of the league. Even if the Nets suffer some indignity, I would much rather prefer that at least one team in our division present even a modicum of a challenge to the Celtics supremacy.
I really wish that we could, you know, teach children things that are true (racism exists, reading is fun) without someone throwing a hissy.
Certainly a shame that the only way to teach basic morality, common decency or a joy of reading is through public schools.
Is that what Sarah is saying? I don't think it is.
Such a shame that schools in Florida can no longer teach those things.
But schools *are* where the social contract, and the ‘truths’ that make up the social contract are if not taught, at least reinforced.
In banning the experiences of Black people from the public schools, Black people are being removed, at least partially, from the social contract. Again.
You actually see the benefits of truth? Humbug!
I think the Dems should turn this on its head. You know, criticize the GOP for being so eggshell weak that they cannot accept the reality that (straw men args go here):
- Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs despite dealing with racism
- Rosa Parks was in fact told to go to the back of the bus
- Roberto Clemente was a great baseball player who helped earthquake victims
Why the straw men? It makes it seem like the GOP is incapable of accepting basic facts, which is true.
I wish instead of always playing defense against absurd GOP claims, they played more offense. Good on Joe for playing a little offense the other night.
I wish the Dems would play more offensive as well.
I think they could turn the GOP's buzzwords against them by saying, "Sanders and Desantis want a safe space from acknowledging baseball's most famous record was held by a black man, because they are oversensitive snowflakes who are triggered by Hank Aaron's legendary status as a hero who overcame racism."
Love for the next few days to be photo recaps of your previous days hiking
Fortunately we can still teach our kids anti-racism, but what a shame that the kids who need it most will not get exposed to it in schools in Florida. I hope Rhonda Santis loses so hard in the race to the White House.
The SkyDome now has a more attractive right field wall? Brandon Belt says "Hi".
The idea of plexiglass walls in the Skydome does remind me of the hotel windows in the outfield and their then interior visibility. Attractive is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. But certainly caught one’s eye.
Don’t know if it qualifies as a hiking trail, but I highly recommend Fort Funston in San Francisco… Gorgeous vistas and an amazing place to see the sunset. Enjoy.
Excellent call. I like the Batteries Bluff trail in the Presidio also. Great for vistas and sunsets, and some history.
Now I’m pissed there’s not a cat pictured somewhere in Nighthawks
Like Hirschfeld with "Nina" or Dali with insects, Hopper could've made it a thing to have a cat somewhere in every piece he created, whether hidden or overt.
Yes!
Even more convinced your editor is your daughter.
That extended editor’s almost made me LOLchoke on my coffee. See what a good night’s sleep can do?
Yeah, gotta say your editor really nailed you this time Craig
I spent my teenage years living in Mobile and went to high school a couple of miles from Henry Aaron’s childhood home. A loop that encircled what used to be the core commercial downtown area near the Bay was renamed for Aaron. And years after I moved, his home itself was moved to the site of the then new AA stadium and turned into a mini museum. The loop is mostly four lane surface streets that are busy but not overly so.
The AA stadium was built against an interstate and in the midst of a series of mid tier hotels and outlet shopping. But for our story, it is notable for its address on Satchel Paige Road.
These days, I live in the ATL suburbs. My last office commute had me traveling along John Smoltz Highway. It is a road in Alpharetta that runs alongside a new, upscale mall and no where near any ballpark. I guess that he either was an investor in the mall construction or plays golf in the area.
When I go to the Lake during the warmer months, I sometimes go through Flowery Brach and along Phil Niekro Road. Short two lane that is, unfortunately, far too straight.
And my house sits just a mile or so from Bill Russell Road. Unfortunately it was named for a small time local politician rather than the Dodgers shortstop of my youth or that tall guy who played a game with a big orange ball.
That stadium in Mobile is abandoned now, right?
They play high school games but the pro club left town.
The best stadium in town is probably Stanky Field on the University of South Alabama campus. Eddie Stanky is the guy seen in the footage following Bobby Thomson’s ‘Shot Heard Round the World’ who ran and leapt into Leo Durocher’s arms by the third base coaches box. He later coached USA’s baseball teams for a couple of decades.
Smoltz lived in County Club of the South when he was playing. He might still be there. My brother delivered pizzas to him, Glavine, Deon Sanders, etc.
Glavine was, about five years ago, still in that area. One of his kids played youth hockey with the child of a friend of ours.
Hey Craig, NE Ohio raised, SF resident and big hiker. If you’re looking for a Monday option I love Tomales Point as a coastal hike to take visitors. It is a bit of a drive.
Tomales Point Trail on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/tomales-point-trail
Columbo Face: The Columbo/Poker Face graphic is, as you say, a riff on the poster for The Sting, but the latter itself looks back to the classic Saturday Evening Post cover-page template that the magazine used in the first half of the 20th century, the heyday of the great cover illustrators Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker, and others.
Happy trails….Im jealous
God bless the folks in the community relations depts in Florida’s pro team FOs… as if those jobs didn’t suck like a Hoover to begin with, now you have to worry about stepping on Gov. NumbNuts’ hate campaign.
And I’m from the epicenter of corruption Ohio…
Banning books is one thing, odious to be sure, but that pales in comparison to the unelected kangaroo court Mississippi is poised to implement to target a specific demographic: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/08/jackson-mississippi-republicans-unelected-court-system
Yes, I was reading about that. One item said that with stunts like that and not having DC residents have full representation that the average black citizen of the US has only 75% of the representation of a white citizen.
Better than 3/5ths but not by much. 😠
Every citizen of a larger state has ‘less’ representation in the Federal government than citizens of the Dakotas or Wyoming regardless of skin color.
Expand the House!
Gerrymandering might knock it down to 3/5.
Happy trails, Craig. I’m sure you’ll ease each day’s exertions with a fine whiskey afterwards.
I find that there are a couple of distilleries located in San Francisco.... One could presumably make a "hiking trail" based around them.