Reminder

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Jonathan Turley on why the jurors in Trump's trial should rule 'not guilty.' Trump's only crime is the fact he was elected President.

- What happens when Charter Schools are so successful that public schools could shut down? "Public schools are in trouble because their product is inferior to that of private and Charter schools."

- Archeologists find never evidence of prehistoric comet

- When I heard that MLB was including the stats from Negro League players my first thought was of Ted Williams HoF induction speech

Ted Williams

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Ted Williams

On this day back in 1941 Ted Williams finished the season with a .406 batting average becoming perhaps the last major league batter to ever reach .400 for a season. Amazingly Williams did not win the MVP that season despite hitting with 37 HR, 120 RBI and 135 runs scored. The voters just liked Joe DiMaggio and his 56-game hitting streak better.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Congrats to the Buccaneers. Let the debate between Michael Jordan, Lebron, Gretzky and Tom Brady begin... With Trump out of office cable news ratings are cratering. This makes my idea of having Strong Bad read the news a viable ratings bonanza... The Dodgers have signed reigning NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. This make the team very hard to beat and also very hard to root for (except for Mookie Betts)...  Have to think that every single offensive player prop for the Chiefs came in under last night. Wonder if you bet the under on all player props if you'd make money every year...  February 14th really could easily be renamed National Shave Your Legs and Pubes Day sponsored by Lady Gillette instead of Valentine's Day... In 1,000 years if archaeologists find Ted Williams severed head - will they think that's what we worshiped?...  

Yaz and Ted

One of my favorite Carl Yastrzemski / Ted Williams stories from the great Stan Grossfeld: 

"'I remember Ted [Williams] asked me to go fishing with him once at Winter Haven," he says. ''It was one of those ponds that are stocked with fish. He told me not to bring any live bait. I got there and he was already waiting for me. He said, 'What's in the cooler?' and I said, 'I brought a couple of beers.' He said, 'No beer on this boat,' and I said, 'No fishing for me on this boat. See ya.' "

Ted Williams

68-years ago today, Ted Williams reported for duty in the Korean War as a Marine Corps fighter pilot.

It would be Williams second tour of military duty after serving his country in WWII as well.

Williams is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Marine Corps Hall of Fame and the Fishing Hall of Fame.

Where do we find such men?

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Just as a reminder 15-years ago CNN's Eason Jordan made allegations that the military under George W. Bush was targeting journalists in war zones. Targeting as in trying to kill. Neither CNN nor Eason Jordan were ever held accountable for their wild accusations. Sure Eason had to resign from CNN but he still makes a pretty penny from leftist organizations and NGO's... Half a century ago the Red Sox signed their young superstar to an extension making him the highest paid player in baseball... I wonder who started the rumor that Mike Bloomberg was considering Hillary Clinton as a running mate? Was it someone from Hillary Clinton's camp? Or maybe somebody from Donald Trump's camp?... Today the owner of the Red Sox says trading away his great young superstar had nothing to do with money. Basically pissing down Boston fans' backs while telling us its raining... Illegal Catfish Noodlers would be a good name for a band... John Henry Williams basically had his dad decapitated then froze his head and yet today Ted Williams' son would probably be the second most detested John Henry in Boston sports history...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

"Epstein didn't kill himself" might just become the real-world version of Ayn Rand's fictional "Who is John Gault"... Marine fighter pilot Ted Williams describes crash-landing his jet during a combat mission in the Korean War (1953)...  Little known fact - Sweden once invaded the Americas landing in what is now Delaware Bay in 1638... It still bothers me that Joe Thornton was traded from the Bruins. And that all Boston got back in exchange for Jumbo Joe from the Sharks was Brad Stewart, Marco Strum and Wayne Primeau was just salt in the wound... In the 17th century hat makers used mercury to separate fur from felt which often led to mental illness and also to the phrase "mad as a hatter"...  If I owned a bar or restaurant I'd post pictures of Greta Thunberg scowling on the inside door of all bathroom stalls. Maybe that's just funny to me... 

Ted Williams

Today is the anniversary of the final games of the 1941 season which saw Ted Williams go 6 for 8 in a double-header to raise his season batting average to .406. Williams went into the day will a batting average of exactly .400 and was given the option to sit out the day to protect the mark. Instead Ted Williams played both games - because he was Ted freaking Williams.

Ted Williams may perhaps be the last man to ever hit .400 in MLB history. It should also be noted that Williams didn't even win the MVP for his historic 1941 season (.406 BA, 135 R, 37 HR, 120 RBI). Williams' batting average, runs scored and home runs all led the league but 1941 was the season that Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak caught the imagination of the nation so the MVP went to the Yankee Clipper. Even though Williams actually had a higher batting average than DiMaggio during those very same 56-games.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

So what if that Russian app company sells all those photos and personal data to an Asian company that makes sex dolls? They could create a whole line of "Mouth F*ck a Stupid American" line of  life-like dolls and it would serve you right!... I hope the next big movie is an It and Top Gun crossover like what they did with Alien vs Predator... I laughed way too much at this... It would be cool if TV shows could trade actors the way MLB and NBA teams trade players... Cool stat from Tim Kurkjian, "Ted Williams' career OPS (1.116) is higher than the best single season OPS of any active player." That's how great Ted Williams was!... I laughed way too much at this too... Imagine doing business with someone on the other side of world and while they may seem so obsequious on the phone but at the same time they could be doing unspeakable things to a sex doll with your specific likeness. That's the future!.. George R.R. Martin says that Game of Thrones backlash won't influence his writing. But it will influence his book sales because there are many like me who are just done with the series. I read each book twice but I won't touch his new book. To paraphrase the words of Eric Cartman "Screw that guy!"... How soon before the nickname "the Squad" morphs into the nickname "the Useful Idiots"?...

Ted Williams

67-years ago today, Ted Williams reported for duty in the Korean War as a Marine Corps fighter pilot.

It would be Williams second tour of military duty after serving his country in WWII as well.

Williams is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Marine Corps Hall of Fame and the Fishing Hall of Fame.

Where do we find such men?

George Roy Hill

George Roy Hill is remembered most for being one of the great directors of the past 60-years but what sparked interest in me was a little known fact about the man. Hill flew planes for the US Marines in both World War II and in Korea - just like the great Ted Williams.

Unlike Williams who flew fighter planes in both conflicts - Hill first flew transport planes in WWII and then fighters in Korea. Still that's an accomplishment that's worthy of a little bragging. However, self promotion was never something George Roy Hill was interested in which in itself is another reason to admire the man.

And I still say that Slap Shot is the best sports movie ever made. Here's what I consider the Top 5 Movies by George Roy Hill.

Top 5 - Miscellaneous Nuggets from the Baseball Hall of Fame

Went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown last week and there were a few things I want to make note of. Here's the Top 5 of those things:

1. The Hall has these little circular emblems under the plaques of Hall of Famers who served in the military. I feel strongly that Ted Williams should have had two emblems under his plaque not just the one noting that he served in both WWII and Korea. There should have been one for WWII and one for Korea.

2. Carlton Fisk has his numbers, deservedly so, retired by both the Red Sox and the White Sox. Wade Boggs also has his number retired by two teams, the Devil Rays and Red Sox. I don't think either team should have retired Boggs' number.

3. The Yankees have retired the number 8 twice - once for Yogi Berra and also for Bill Dickey.

4. Buck O'Neil never made it to the Hall as a player but I was pleased to see the Hall recognized his special place in history with a statue.

5. Steve Garvey had his number retired but by the San Diego Padres not the Los Angeles Dodgers. I thought that interesting because when I think of Garvey it is always as a Dodger. Garvey has not been elected to the Hall but if he was I'm pretty sure it would be a as a Dodger.

This might only amuse me but I chuckled when I saw a bobblehead of Jerry Garcia in the SF Giants exhibit. What does not amuse me is the fact that the Washington Nationals do not recognize the retired numbers of the Montreal Expos. Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Rusty Staub and Tim Raines deserve better that that.

Bob Feller

Hall of Famer Bob Feller would have turned 100-years old today. He won 266 games and struck out over 2,500 batters but that's not the impressive thing about this hero.

Just 2 days after Pearl Harbor Bob Feller volunteered for active duty in the Navy. He was the first professional athlete to do so. Ted Williams always said that it was Feller's patriotism that he always admired most about the man and Williams admiration of Feller was great. 

Rest in peace to a hero who did Cleveland and America proud..

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Lawyers, Suns, and money... I keep waiting for those Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton "are in the best shape of their lives" stories to come out. Those are always the best indicators that the end is near... These pictures were probably released just so the Israelis would have "Before" photos for after they bomb the hell out of this place... "If the able and good withdraw themselves from Society [Government], the venal and ignorant will succeed." John Tyler in 1783 predicting the 2018 mid-term elections... 9 stats about the greatest hitter to ever live... I guess the MSM's role to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted doesn't really apply when it comes to the Catholic Church pedophile abuse story... "I said lick my erection - not wreck my election" better be one of the lines of dialogue in this movie...

Ted Williams

Ted Williams would have turned 100-years old today. He was a complete bad-ass fighting for the Marines in both World War II and in Korea.

He is a member of both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the International Game Fish Hall of Fame.

Williams is the last man to hit .400 in MLB and is wildly regarded as the greatest hitter who ever lived. Williams was so great that during Joe DiMaggio's historic 56-game hitting streak - Williams actually had a better batting average over those same 56 games.

I was too young to ever see him play but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate both his baseball career and his service to his country.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Congratulations to the USA Women's Hockey Team on their Gold Medal victory last night over Canada. I could watch the game-winning shootout goal over and over (in fact I have)... I think the crisis of faith in the Catholic Church stems from the fact such a big deal is made over First Communion, But second communion not so much. That's when things start to go off the rails... You might think you've had a cool conversation with a friend but you'll never be as cool as Major John Glenn and Captain Ted Williams discussing flying tactics in Korea cool... If you raped Peter Pan could you be charged with statutory rape? Or could you be charged with elder abuse? How old is Peter Pan? Asking for a friend... Heh heh - no lollipop for you Ray Bourque (I bet Ray is a fantastic grandpa)... Red Sox are paying Pablo Sandoval $18 million not to play in Boston this year. The Yankees are paying Jacoby Ellsbury $21 million each year for the next three years to be a pinch runner. Advantage Boston...  So cool - after last night's game someone changed Maddie Rooney's position from Goalie to US Secretary of Defense...

Bob Feller

Bob Feller would have turned 99-years old today.

Just 2 days after Pearl Harbor Bob Feller volunteered for active duty in the Navy. He was the first professional athlete to do so. Ted Williams always said that it was Feller's patriotism that he always admired most about the man and Williams admiration of Feller was great.

Ted Williams

Yesterday was the anniversary of the final games of the 1941 season which saw Ted Williams go 6 for 8 in a double-header to raise his season batting average to .406. Williams went into the day will a batting average of exactly .400 and was given the option to sit out the day to protect the mark. Instead Ted Williams played both games - because he was Ted freaking Williams.

Ted Williams may perhaps be the last man to ever hit .400 in MLB history. It should also be noted that Williams didn't even win the MVP for his historic 1941 season (.406 BA, 135 R, 37 HR, 120 RBI). Williams' batting average, runs scored and home runs all led the league but 1941 was the season that Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak caught the imagination of the nation so the MVP went to the Yankee Clipper. Even though Williams actually had a higher batting average than DiMaggio during those very same 56-games.