October 11, 2024

Briefly.

In my next life I am coming back with money and looks instead of this sparkling personality bullshit.

Trivia #1: On October 11, 1911, Ty Cobb (AL) and Frank Schulte (NL) are named inaugural MLB MVPs. What did they each receive as a prize? – Cash, a watch, a car, a trophy, a bag of rocks
Trivia #2: Who was Rogers Nelson?

Hurricane Milton. I honestly feel for anyone and everyone affected by this past/present hurricane season. God speed!

On this date: October 11, 1972, World Hockey Association officially debuts as the Alberta Oilers defeat the Ottawa Nationals, 7-4 at the Ottawa Civic Centre
October 11, 1975, “Saturday Night Live” created by Lorne Michaels premieres on NBC with George Carlin as host
October 11, 1983, Last hand-cranked telephones in the US went out of service as 440 telephone customers in Bryant Pond, Maine, were switched over to direct-dial
October 11, 1995, John Bobbitt has plastic surgery to increase his penis 3 inches (Hey, I’m just reporting history here!)

Do you live in the New England area? Did you get a glimpse of the Northern Lights last night? Wicked cool!

Speaking of class, good-bye to longtime Red Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione. One of Colgate’s best! (Ya, I know…)

Go away: Diddy

Go away, part deux: Deshaun Watson. Cleveland Browns’ quarterback and womanizing thug, is washed up.

I’ve recently paid attention to the MLB playoffs more than most years that the Red Sox didn’t play. Not bad.

Don’t be that guy.

And just like that, the NHL season is underway.

The Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy now has as many power play goals as he did all of last year – one.

Once an up-and-coming NFL quarterback, Seattle’s Geno Smith stinks. Period.

Evacuating, you’re doing it wrong. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) St. Pete is searching for two boaters who were last seen leaving Charlotte Harbor in southwest Florida on Tuesday to avoid Hurricane Milton making landfall. Andreas Gabriel Kirchberger and Kenneth Thomas Reutzel were heading for Tarpon Springs in a vessel called the Helderberg/Queen Milania. USCG Southeast posted to X several pictures of their white-colored vessel which appeared to be a catamaran, a type of sailing yacht with two hulls. 

You only live once.

My favorite of last weekend?? Watching Alabama football get upset by Vanderbilt. It only would have been better had Nick Saban been coaching, but I’ll take it.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Phone scams have been around for a while, but recent advancements in artificial intelligence technology is making it easier for bad actors to convince people they have kidnapped their loved ones. Scammers are using AI to replicate the voices of people’s family members in fake kidnapping schemes that convince victims to send money to the scammers in exchange for their loved ones’ safety.

Speaking of the Bruins… they lost on opening night to the Florida Panthers. It was the first time the Bruins have had a losing record (0-1) since October 3, 2018!

Great Little Ceasar’s commercial with the 49ers’ George Kittle: “…everybody but you… Kittle!” Funny.

R.I.P. Luis Tiant (83) – Former Red Sox pitcher, Cuban legend. 19-year MLB pitching career, Tiant went 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA. “Three times an all-star…”, he led the AL in WAR in 1968 with a 1.60 ERA and was in the top 10 7 other seasons. Luis won all three games for the Red Sox in the 1975 World Series including a 155-pitch effort in game 4.

They said it: “At least people still remember me and remember what I did all those years. I know what I’ve had to do with my life, and I’m lucky. I’m lucky I played all those years. God gave me the opportunity to play. What more can you ask? You can’t ask for more than that.” – The late, great Luis Taint in a 2017 interview.

“Looie, Looie, Looie!”

Put Luis Tiant in the Hall!!!!

See above, incorrect. You only die once. You live every day!

Trivia #1 answer: On October 11, 1911, Ty Cobb (AL) and Frank Schulte (NL) are named inaugural MLB MVPs. What did they each receive as a prize? – Cash, a watch, a car, a trophy, a bag of rocks – They each received a car
Trivia #2: Who was Rogers Nelson? – He was the musician better known as Prince

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Happy National Sausage Pizza Day!

“Take a little trip, take a little trip
Take a little trip and see
Take a little trip, take a little trip
Take a little trip with me”

War (Low Rider)

Bonus:

Friday, June 7, 2024

Briefly.

I told my suitcases no vacation this year. Now I’m dealing with emotional baggage.

Trivia #1: Who was the 1st US President to appear on color TV? What year?
Trivia #2: When the last time a team was swept in the Stanley Cup Final?
Trivia #3: The Boston Celtics ran off eight consecutive NBA championships until which team ended their streak in 1966-67?

Nachos are just tacos that don’t have their life together.

Good night for Boston fans as the Celtics took game 1 while thrashing the Mavericks 107-89 and the Red Sox punded the White Sox 14-2.

On this date: June 7, 1942, the Battle of Midway ends: Admiral Chester Nimitz wins 1st World War II naval defeat of Japan
June 7, 1970 – British rock band The Who’s perform their rock opera “Tommy” at the Metropolitan Opera House at NYC’s Lincoln Center 
June 7, 1989 – Wayne Gretzky wins his 9th NHL Hart (MVP) Trophy in 10 years

Well, the Red Sox were 9-0 on Sundays. You’re welcome.

Are you one of the lucky ones who have invested in Nvidia, a world leader in AI computing? The stock is u over 140% this year, shares have gained more than 3,300% in the last five years and the company announced a 10-for-1 stock split today!

Go away: Hunter Biden. Really, get off of my television and get out of my news feeds.

Life ain’t nothin’ but a funny, funny riddle.

Stop complaining: More than half of U.S. workers cannot afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment while only working one full-time job.

Hey, did you hear? A SpaceX Starship launched and landed without blowing up!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Some 14,000 student-athletes who played and learned from 1026 to now will divvy up $2.8 billion in damages from the name, image and likeness money they were denied and, going forward, schools will figure out how to divide around $20 million a year in historic revenue-sharing arrangement.

Look, I get it. The land looks beautiful after a good snowstorm, a blanket of white against a clear blue sky but, let me tell you. I like a blanket of fresh green grass, pastures, beautifully manicured golf courses too. Plus, it ain’t so cold outside!

Article I’ll skip: What Lakers could possibly expect from Dan Hurley-led team

Good news: The Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis is back! (20 points in 21 minutes last night off the bench)

R.I.P. Larry Allen (52) – One the NFL’s the greatest offensive lineman (Dallas Cowboys) with All-Decade honors in the 1990s and 2000s and 11 Pro Bowls. His six consecutive First-Team All-Pro nods solidified him as one of the game’s nearly unstoppable forces — as did his average of 3.2 sacks allowed per season and only 13 holding penalties in 207 starts.

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the 1st US President to appear on color TV? What year? – Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1955
Trivia #2 answer: When the last time a team was swept in the Stanley Cup Final? – The Red Wings swept the Washington Capitals in 1988
Trivia #3 answer: The Boston Celtics ran off eight consecutive NBA championships until which team ended their streak in 1966-67? – The Philadelphia 76ers

Fitness is 20% exercise and 80% nutrition. You can’t outrun your fork.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Donut Day!

“Did you pay your dues?
Did you read the news
This morning when the paper landed in your yard?
Do you know their names?
Can you play their games
Without losin’ track
And coming down a bit too hard?”

– The Guess Who (Share the Land)

Friday, April 12, 2024

Briefly. (Not!)

I love you all. Except you. You know who you are. Douchebag.

Trivia #1: Who is the oldest first-time winner of the Masters golf tournament, and who is the oldest second-time winner, pick two: Jack Nicklaus, Mark O’Meara, Tiger Woods, Ben Crenshaw, Gary Player, Dane Hubbard
Trivia #2: How many players teed off in Masters for the first time yesterday? – 5, 10, 13, 15, 18, 20
Trivia #3: How many different lefties have won the Masters?
Trivia #4: What two players are tied for having made the most consecutive cuts at the Masters (23)? – Fred Couples, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Fuzzy Zoeller
Trivia #5: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson have been the starters at the Masters since 2022, the year Tom Watson joined them. Other than Lee Elder stepping in in 2021, Arnold Palmer was a starter from 2007-2016. Who was the starter from 1984-2002?

I have to give credit where credit is due. Outstanding job by the Red Sox organization on Tuesday honoring the 2004 championship team, Larry Lucchino, and Tim and Stacy Wakefield. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

By the way, did you realize the Red Sox honored #49, Tim Wakefield on April 9 (4/9)? Whoa…

On this date: April 12, 1811, the first U.S. colonists on the Pacific coast arrive at Cape Disappointment, Washington.
April 12, 1945, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office and Vice President Harry Truman is sworn in as the 33rd US President.
April 12, 1960, MLB Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck debuts “Exploding Scoreboard” at Chicago’s Comiskey Park
April 12, 1961, Douglas MacArthur declines offer to become baseball commissioner

Well, another solar eclipse, another event where I heard of zero people being blinded by the sun. (Pretty cool event, tough)

Go away: OJ… finally

This just in, the PGA’s Scottie Scheffler is pretty good.

April 2024 is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

Old School: A brazen Los Angeles cash heist on Easter weekend in which thieves cracked a safe and got away with as much as $30 million is believed to be one of the largest such heists in U.S. history.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Cape Disappointment, Washington, sees about 2,552 hours of fog each year, the equivalent of 106 days, making it one of the foggiest places in the U.S.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination, part deux: Bronny James, LeBron James’ son, will enter the NBA draft. Really, do people give a shit about Bronny?

The Celtics were spanked by the second place Bucks last night (2 games remain). The Bruins have a 1-point lead over the second place Panthers in the Atlantic Division with 3 games remaining.

Speaking of the Red Sox, here we go. After the aforementioned west coast swing, the Sox came back to friendly Fenway only to lose the first three games vs. Baltimore. We’ve been concerned about the Red Sox for a reason.

Last night, Sox’ pitcher Isaiah Campbell came on to pitch the 10th inning with the game tied at 4-4. Campbell proceeded to let up 4 hits and 5 runs in the 9-4 loss. U-G-L-Y.

Speaking of hockey, it does seem that we see many of the same schools in the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship and this year did not disappoint as BC, Michigan, Denver and BU entered the “Frozen Four” last night. Tomorrow BC will take on BU in the final.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: California GOP leaders are calling for more accountability after an audit released earlier this week indicated that the state spent around $24 billion to tackle the homeless crisis over the past five years but did not consistently track whether the huge outlay of public money did anything to actually improve the problem. The state auditor’s report found that despite roughly $24 billion spent on homeless and housing programs during the 2018-2023 fiscal years, the problem didn’t improve in many cities.

Good news: Would it be wrong to mention OJ here?

Article I’ll skip: Famed trial witness Kato Kaelin wonders if OJ Simpson ‘made peace with God’ on deathbed

The Red Sox Jaren “Duran” Duran finally listened to everyone and stopped dying his hair.

R.I.P. Paul Nissi (84) – Member of the Haverhill High School 1955 Massachusetts State football team, went on to play at Notre Dame (my uncle)
R.I.P. Donald “Donny” White (85) – Quarterback of the same 1955 Haverhill School state championship football team, went on to play quarterback at Notre Dame.
R.I.P. Larry Lucchino (78) – Died of congestive heart failure, was a three-time cancer survivor. The Boston Red Sox won three World Series championships under Lucchino’s time as the team’s president/CEO from 2002 through 2015. Lucchino is responsible for the construction or revamping of five stadiums: Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore when he was president of the Orioles; Petco Park in downtown San Diego when he was president and CEO of the Padres; Fenway Park; JetBlue Park at the Red Sox’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida; and Polar Park, home of the Worcester Red Sox in the city’s Canal District.

They said it: “The eclipse could be a further indication of climate change.” – Sonny Hostin of “The View”

Trivia #1 answer: Who is the oldest first-time winner of the Masters golf tournament, and who is the oldest second-time winner, pick two: Jack Nicklaus, Mark O’Meara, Tiger Woods, Ben Crenshaw, Gary Player – Mark O’Meara is the oldest first-time winner (41 years, 89 days) and Ben Crenshaw is the oldest second-time winner (43 years, 88 days)
Trivia #2 answer: How many players teed off in Masters for the first time yesterday? – 5, 10, 13, 15, 18, 20 – There were 20
Trivia #3 answer: How many different lefties have won the Masters? – 3 (Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson)
Trivia #4 answer: What two players are tied for having made the most consecutive cuts at the Masters (23)? – Fred Couples, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Fuzzy Zoeller – Fred Couples (1983-2007) and Gary Player (1959-1982)
Trivia #5: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson have been the starters at the Masters since 2022, the year Tom Watson joined the other two. Other than Lee Elder stepping in in 2021, Arnold Palmer was a starter from 2007-2016. Who was the starter from 1984-2002? – Sam Snead

Son: “Dad, I don’t like motorcycles as much as you do. Am I adopted?”
Father: “Not yet, we can’t find anyone that wants you.”

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day!

“Nobody left to run with anymore
Nobody left to do the crazy things we used to do before
Nobody left to run with anymore”

– The Allman Brothers Band (No One to Run With)

Friday, February 16, 2024

Briefly.

I may not be that good looking, or athletic, or funny, or talented, or smart… I forgot where I was going with this, but I do know that I love bacon.

Trivia #1: Which of the following did NOT sing at Stevie Ray Vaughn’s funeral in 1990? – Bonnie Raitt, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Prince
Trivia #2: Who is Gunnarwolfe Fountaine?
Trivia #3: The Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons with the Sox primarily in left field. He also played stints at centerfield, rightfield, first base, DH and 33 games at what other position?

On this date: February 16, 1838, Kentucky passes a law permitting women to attend school under conditions.
February 16, 1861, Abraham Lincoln stops his train in Westfield on his way to Washington to thank 11-year-old Grace Bedell in person for her advice to grow a beard to gain more votes.

Go away: The NFL. Now that the Super Bowl is over, can we just move on full-time to college hoops, hockey and spring training, please?

I have to mention, but can’t say much, about the KC parade shootings. It happens far too often. You have to feel for everyone directly, and indirectly, involved. What a shame.

The f*n Catalina Wine Mixer.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Alexander Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky with his 57th career empty net goal. He has now shot the puck passed no one more times than any player in NHL history.

Speaking of hockey, congratulations to the Northeastern men’s hockey team for winning this year’s Beanpot tournament 4-3 over BU, in OT!

Speaking of champions, after the championship game, Northeastern players immediately were seen wearing Beanpot Champion baseball hats. Why don’t baseball players, after winning a championship, put on hockey helmets? NBA players with championship football helmets on the court raising the trophy???

Stop complaining: There are two consecutive storms forecast for the California coast this weekend.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse:  USA Boxing rang in 2024 by codifying a new rule for female boxing; participants need not be female. According to them, “female” is a term merely equating a few surgeries and pills.  

Being nice people, doh! – With state shelters hitting capacity and migrant families sleeping overnight inside Boston Logan International Airport, Colin and Jessica Stokes of Brookline, Massachusetts, decided to step up and try to make a difference. The Massachusetts couple who volunteered to take in illegal migrants was surprised when a family of four showed up at the doorstep less than an hour after signing up.

Congratulations to Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark who became the highest scoring women’s basketball player in D1 history last night with a 49-point effort. Back in my day, she would have been called a “gun” or a “hung.” That’s just the way it was.

Article I’ll skip: Harry, Meghan launch aggressive PR tour after ‘chilly reception’ from Harry.

A 30-second Super Bowl commercial costs $7M. Nobody’s paid that much for 30 seconds since the Jets signed Aaron Rodgers.

Good news: Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward was selected as the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service, as well as his playing excellence. Heyward, who was nominated for the sixth time this year, is a standout in both areas.

Trivia #1 answer: Which of the following did NOT sing at Stevie Ray Vaughn’ funeral in 1990? – Bonnie Raitt, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Prince – Prince did not perform
Trivia #2 answer: Who is Gunnarwolfe Fountaine? – Not only does Gunnarwolfe have an all-time sports person’s name, but he became the first player in the history of the Beanpot tournament to score an overtime winner in both the semifinals and the championship game in a single tournament. The Northeastern forward was named tournament MVP.
Trivia #3 answer: The Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons with the Sox primarily in left field. He also played centerfield, rightfield, first base, DH and 33 games at what other position? – Third base

Far better it is to have a stout heart always and suffer one’s share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National No One Eats Alone Day! (So, go ahead and find someone to eat that donut with!)

Just give me some screamin’ guitar!

“Well you’ve heard about love givin’ sight to the blind
My baby’s lovin’ cause the sun to shine
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boy”

– Stevie Ray Vaughn (Pride and Joy)