Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

When I look at North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough - I can't help but think of of more athletic Bryant "Big Country" Reeves... On this day in 1867 - the US purchased Alaska from Russia in a deal known as Seward's Folly. I prefer to remember the deal as proof of the importance of a single vote... Veterans Woody Williams and Trot Nixon both received some bad news yesterday. Williams was released by the Astros and plans on retiring. Nixon didn't make the Opening Day roster for the Diamondbacks and will accept a minor league assignment. Nixon has played 11 seasons (it seems like longer than that) and has made over $30 million in his career. Williams played 15 seasons and has the luxury of relaxing and collecting almost $7 million owed to him by the Astros for this season (having already made over $50 million in baseball). I'd "retire" too if I was in his shoes. Nixon was taken by the Red Sox with the 7th pick of the 1993 draft - that was the draft that saw Alex Rodriguez picked first overall.... It was 27 years ago today that President Reagan was shot by John Hinkley Jr. in Hinkley's attempt to get actress Jody Foster to notice him... Heh heh - "Nipplegate"