Tag: sports

Friday, May 10, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I did it! Yet another personal record for consecutive days alive!

You come from dust. You will return to dust. That’s why I don’t dust. It could be someone I know.

Trivia #1: Who was the only U.S. president to be an only child?
Trivia #2: UCLA has the most men’s NCAA championships in what two sports?
Trivia #3: Hank Aaron hit 755 career homeruns. How many inside-the-park homeruns did he have? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
Trivia #4: What is the nickname of Sacred Heart University?
Trivia #5: Which of the following is NOT an xfinity channel? – Destination Europe, FanDuel TV, Jewish Broadcasting Service, Freeform, ZeeTV, SundanceTV

On this date: May 10, 1877, U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes has the first White House telephone installed.
May 10, 1924, J. Edgar Hoover appointed first head of the FBI
May 10, 1970, Bobby Orr scores famous OT-winning goal as the Bruins beat St. Louis, 4-3 for the 4-0 series sweep.

Wow! Listening to sports talk radio, friends and family, the local optimism regarding the Celtics and Bruins has taken a swift 180. What have you done for me lately?

Go away: Stormy Daniels (Unless you’re naked, then by all means, stay)

So, Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark’s GPA is 3.64. Not too shabby.

Resisting arrest, you’re doing it wrong: A Florida man was arrested earlier this week after biting a chunk out of a deputy’s head at an EDM music festival on Sunday.

The sunscreen I use says that it is vegan. I’m not going to eat it! What the hell does that mean?

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: This is the first time in history that all four Boston and Dallas teams reached the elite eight (Bruins/Celtics, Stars/Mavericks)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: I recently sent a group email and one of the recipient’s was a guy who works for a local bank. He had an automatic reply set and the response email read: Jones, Joe (he/him/his) – name was changed to protect the innocent

So, of the protesters who are actually students, are we going to pay off their loans too?

Get this, 22-year-old Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds is on pace for an unfathomable 42 homers and 94 stolen bases this season. He finished April with 8 homeruns and 18 stolen bases, becoming the first player on record to hit both those marks in any calendar month.

Fans of sriracha sauce may find themselves scrambling — again — to get a hold of the spicy condiment. Huy Fong Foods, a leading sriracha maker in California, is warning that a shortage is on the horizon, and it’s placing the blame on jalapeño chili peppers. The company told wholesale buyers that it has to halt production because the peppers aren’t red enough.

They said it: “For all you punks, idiots and jackasses on other networks, who want to be media and who want all the players to like y’all, do your damn job. The Lakers suck and the Suns suck because of the players.” – Charles Barkley

Article I’ll skip: Family’s claim of alien sighting “can’t be denied” after noticing previously missed detail

Good news: In great news for the climate, the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest halved in 2023. This is the lowest rate of deforestation in 5 years for the world’s largest rainforest.

You remove your hat for the national anthem, good for you. Now do me a favor and remove it when you enter a funeral home. Really?

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the only U.S. president to be an only child? – No U.S. president has been an only child
Trivia #2 answer: UCLA has the most men’s NCAA championships in what two sports? – Basketball (11) and volleyball (21)
Trivia #3 answer: Hank Aaron hit 755 career homeruns. How many inside-the-park homeruns did he have? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 – He had one inside-the-park homerun on May 10, 1967
Trivia #4 answer: What is the nickname of Sacred Heart University? – The Pioneers
Trivia #5 answer: Which of the following is NOT an xfinity channel? – Destination Europe, FanDuel TV, Jewish Broadcasting Service, Freeform, ZeeTV, SundanceTV – Destination Europe is not a channel (although Destination America is)

I have a black eye in karate.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Lipid Day! (really)

“I’ve seen your picture
Your name in lights above it
This is your big debut
It’s like a dream come true
So you won’t you smile for the camera
I know you’re gonna love it, Peg.”

– Steely Dan (Peg)

Friday, May 3, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I’m getting some “likes”, feeling some love. Thanks to you…

Anyone interested in a ride in a helicopter? We need one person to accompany us. We leave early next Sunday morning from Burlington airport and will fly over the city and the lake, then fly to and have lunch in Plattsburgh. Then we’ll do a flight back to Burlington airport. If interested, please message me. Preferably someone with a helicopter, otherwise we can’t go.

Trivia #1: Who is Jaylen Key?
Trivia #2: Brad Marchand recently passed Cam Neely with his 56th playoff goal, the most in Boston Bruins’ history. Which two of the following do not round out the top 5? – Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron

On this date: May 3, 1938, Lefty Grove defeats Tigers 4-3 for 1st of record 20 consecutive wins at his home field Fenway Park; he doesn’t lose there until May 12 1941. Wowza!
May 3, 1967, African American students seize finance building at Northwestern University. Hmmm, sound familiar?
May 3, 1991, future NHL HOF right wing Cam Neely injures knee on cheap shot by Ulf Samuelssin Wales Conference Finals; injury limits him to only 162 games for the remainder of his NHL career, retires at 31.

There were an estimated 700,000+ in attendance at the NFL draft in Detroit. That’s quite a party, probably quite the experience, but Detroit???

Go away: Anti-Israel protesters. Seriously, cut the crap and get back to class.

So little Yaz homered at Fenway. That is pretty cool.

Speaking of the NBA, congratulations to the Celtics’ Brad Stevens, the 2023-24 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year. Now let’s go win banner #18!

Stop complaining: Multiple tornadoes were ongoing simultaneously in Tillman County, Oklahoma, when the weather got weird. At least two of the tornadoes exhibited very odd behavior: one powerful tornado looped backward and recrossed its previous path and another significant tornado spun in the “wrong” direction. Oklahoma has seen more than two dozen tornadoes this past week.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Toronto Maple Leafs are 2-9 in their last 11 Game 7’s on the road. (come on Bruins, don’t do it again!)

Speaking of the Celtics, the Red Sox have a two-game series at the Atlanta Braves next week, then a two-game series against Atlanta in June at Fenway. Those are the only scheduled two-game series for the Red Sox this season. Why does that bother me…?

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Anti-Israel protesters targeted the American flag on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s quad — which had been flying at half-mast after four Charlotte officers were killed in the line of duty. At one point, they replaced it with a Palestinian flag.

Good news: A student who held up her own American flag at a North Carolina campus Tuesday, after an anti-Israel mob desecrated an American flag flying on campus. Until the flag was restored, two students held up another American flag – so that there was always one waving on the campus quad despite the attempts from anti-Israel agitators to remove the symbol. 

They said it: “I would love to see Tyler O’Neil in the homerun derby.” – Dave Shea, Red Sox announcer. Dave, it’s April!!!

More good news… if you’re a Sox fan: The Red Sox finished April w/ their 6th shoutout – one more than the pitching staff recorded in all of 2023. They finish the month 4 games above .500 (17-13) matching their season high. The team ERA is 2.59, the lowest in baseball and the lowest Sox mark through 30 games since 1920.

Good news part deux: Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.! Well, we didn’t beat them but at least someone else did!

Article I’ll skip: Longtime rumor about Marilyn Monroe confirmed on wiretap, book claims.

Last Sunday was Noah Kahan night at Fenway Park. Apparently, he is somebody. He even has his own bobblehead!

Good news: Disney parks will issue lifetime bans for people who lie about disabilities. Well, good! They should!

R.I.P. Michael Woelfel (75) – Oldest of the 12-sibling Woelfel clan, all-around great guy. He will be missed.

Trivia #1 answer: Who is Jaylen Key? – Alabama safety Jaylen Key was the last selection in the NFL draft (NY Jets), this year’s Mr. Irrelevant.
Trivia #2 answer: Brad Marchand recently passed Cam Neely with his 56th playoff goal, the most in Boston Bruins’ history. Which two of the following do not round out the top 5? – Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron – Top 5 – Marchand (56), Neely (55), Patrice Bergeron (50), Phil Esposito (46), Rick Middleton (55)

Before I got married, I’d just smash into the back of cars because I didn’t have a wife to gasp, scream and hit the imaginary brake when someone else braked 3 miles ahead.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National School Lunch Hero Day! (And I hope everyone has a great Derby Day tomorrow!)

“Saturday night I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sittin’ in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high”

– The Hollies (Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress))

Friday, April 26, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

My wife and I started role playing in the bedroom. Her go-to is “sexy librarian” where I have to sit quietly in the corner while she reads a book.

Trivia #1: Who is Chase Garbers?
Trivia #2: Last Friday, the Red Sox had 3 different players <= 24 years-old hit a homerun in the same game since 1987: Ellis Burks, Mike Greenwell and who?
Trivia #3: On April 26, 1912, the first homerun was hit at Fenway Park. Who hit it? – Casey Hageman, Tris Speaker, Hugh Bradley, Duffy Lewis, Ray Collins
Trivia #4: What is the dirtiest river in the U.S.? – Mississippi, Ohio, Calcasieu, Tennessee, Cuyahoga, Red River

On this date: April 26, 1983, Stanford quarterback John Elway is the first pick in the NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts  
April 26, 1994, physicists announce first evidence of the top quark subatomic particle.

Speaking of the NFL draft last night, the biggest winner appears to be Bill Belichick. Why? Bill was not hired during the offseason by the Atlanta Falcons who pulled a big head-scratcher by selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix with the 8th overall pick. Not only had they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins a few months earlier to a $180M contract, but Penix has torn his right ACL twice, once in 2018 and once in 2020 with Indiana, and he had a clavicle fracture in 2019 and an A/C joint separation in 2021. What?!

Miami’s 1st round selection, Demeioun “Chop” Robinson, got his nickname as a child. He was 14 lbs at birth and his mother called him “Porkchop.” He didn’t like that so he cut it down to “Chop.”

Go away: Gisele. Oh, poor Gisele. Everyone wants to take her picture. Poor Gisele.

This just in, the PGA’s Scottie Scheffler is pretty good. After winning yet again last week, Scheffler now has 35 top 10 finishes in his last 51 PGA tournaments.

April 2024 is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

There is no shame in taking the senior discount. If you have to be older, use it to your advantage.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: On April 26, 1994, physicists announce first evidence of the top quark subatomic particle.

Playoff NBA still can’t hang with playoff NHL.

Speaking of the Celtics, here’s a fun fact. The Celtics had more 30-point leads during the regular season than they had 10-point deficits. (They trailed by 10+ points Wednesday night. DOH!)

We need home court/ice advantage this, we need home court/ice advantage that. In the last 16 playoff games at the Garden, the Celtics are 4-7 and the Bruins are 1-4.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Researchers are warning that facial recognition technologies are “more threatening than previously thought” and pose “serious challenges to privacy” after a study found that artificial intelligence can be successful in predicting a person’s political orientation based on images of expressionless faces. 

Heckling, you’re doing it right! Finn Turlington, who turned 18 in February, was heckled on the basketball court at his school. In an effort to taunt him, an opposing team passed around nude modeling photos of Turlington’s supermodel mother, Christy. (Hmmm, when’s the next game??)

Former Detroit Lions’ wide receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson got a bigger ovation at the draft last night than former Detroit running back Barry Sanders. If kids only knew…

Drake Maye. Meh

And Roger Godell was booed mercilessly every time he stepped to the podium. Ya, I grinned each time.

Shoot me. Bill Belichick has been tabbed to be a “a regular recurring part of” the “ManningCast,” where Peyton and Eli Manning dissect “Monday Night Football” in real time. I’d love to watch/listen to Belichick but those two make my skin crawl.

The United Football League (UFL) – 5 things to watch for in week 4. Oh, so I guess the season started??

Good news: By the time you read next Friday’s blog, Mel Kiper will have disappeared from our lives as he does every year after the NFL draft.

Many regions across the United States experienced “record-breaking high temperatures” in 2023 due to extreme heat, according to the CDC. Emergency room visits due to heat-related illness peaked in several regions in the U.S. and remained elevated for a prolonged duration compared to visits between 2018 and 2022.

Protesting, you’re doing it wrong. The man who set himself on fire outside the New York City courthouse where former President Trump’s hush money trial was being held has been pronounced dead. Maxwell Azzarello, 37, of St. Augustine, Florida, died Friday night from his severe burns after lighting himself on fire earlier in the day inside Collect Pond Park near the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse.

Article I’ll skip: Zac Brown Band founding member on technology that scares him to death.

Trivia #1 answer: Who is Chase Garbers? – Garbers is the starting quarterback for the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas
Trivia #2 answer: Last Friday, the Red Sox had 3 different players <= 24 years-old hit a homerun in the same game since 1987: Ellis Burks, Mike Greenwell and who? – Sam Horn
Trivia #3 answer: On April 26, 1912, the first homerun was hit at Fenway Park. Who hit it? – Casey Hageman, Tris Speaker, Hugh Bradley, Duffy Lewis, Ray Collins – Hugh Bradley
Trivia #4 answer: What is the dirtiest river in the U.S.? – Mississippi, Ohio, Calcasieu, Tennessee, Cuyahoga, Red River – The Ohio River (a lifeline for six states, the river battles a relentless foe: industrial pollution.)

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Help a Horse Day!

90% of a relationship is figuring out where to eat.

“Keep on smilin’ through the rain, laughin’ at the pain
Rollin’ with the changes til the sun comes out again
Keep on smilin’ through the rain, laughin’ at the pain
Rollin’ with the changes, singin’ this refrain”

– Wet Willie (Keep on Smilin’)

If you’re too busy to watch this nearly 12 minute video, turn it up, listen and go about your business. Otherwise, enjoy and keep on smilin’.

Friday, April 19, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Why do I bother…)

Wife: “I was talking to you and you yawned six times. Am I boring you?”
Husband: “Those weren’t yawns. Those were six unsuccessful attempts to speak.”

Trivia #1: Al Leiter made his major league debut in 1987 with the New York Yankees and ended his career with them also. What other team did Al throw a no-hitter for in 1993?
Trivia #2: The Atlanta Braves Greg Maddux’s personal record for fewest pitches thrown in a complete game victory was: 77, 79, 82, 83, 87, 89, 93, 95, 100

On this date: April 19, 607, Comet 1P/607 H1 (Halley) approaches within 0.0898 AUs of Earth
April 19, 1963, Johnny Cash releases single “Ring of Fire”
April 19, 1965, at a cost of $20,000, the outer Astrodome ceiling is painted because of sun’s glare, this causes the grass to die.
April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh sets a truck bomb at Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, killing 168, including 19 children and injuring 500.

Bacon makes everything better.

Go away: Anything/Anyone to do with Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick. That ship has sailed as far as I’m concerned.

What a gem of a game the Red Sox’ Tanner Houck threw Wednesday night beating the Cleveland Indians 3-0. The game lasted one hour and 49 minutes, the shortest game since 2010, as Houck threw only 94 pitches while walking none.

Speaking of golf, as a public service, watch for those guys who take on their hat and run their fingers (using their right hand!) threw their hair before shaking hands with you after the round. Gross! John Rahm, and many others, are notorious for such act. I suggest quickly shifting to the fist-pump.

Stop complaining: Late last Sunday through Thursday, one year’s worth of rain fell in Dubai where at least 20 people were killed in flood waters.

April 2024 is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

Of the many things we learned watching the Masters last weekend, LIV golfer Cameron Smith didn’t get any better looking during the past year.

Tweet of the week: Israel has intercepted 99% of Irans’ missiles and drones. Antonio Brown: “Iran is starting quarterback Kenny Pickett.”

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: On April 19, 607, Comet 1P/607 H1 (Halley) approaches within 0.0898 AUs of Earth

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination, part deux: NFL draft updates. Enough already! The draft begins next Thursday, let’s just get it done!

Wanna get away? How about whoever owned the car that had its alarm blaring during the Masters last weekend?

The Celtics begin their playoff run on Sunday versus… The Bruins take on the Toronto Maple Leafs (of the Original 6) in the first round beginning tomorrow night.

More useless information, supposed to spark my imagination: The Toronto Maple Leafs are part of the original 6.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Utah’s Nebo school district is pushing back on allegations from students about “furries” – people who identify as animals – in their middle school, with some rumors of animal-like “licking” and “biting.”

They said it: “I’ve had a speech problem coming on for the last year. There is nothing wrong with me physically and they can’t figure it out.” – Former Boston Bruins broadcaster Jack Edwards

Trivia #1 hint: It was the franchise’s first no-hitter.

On Wednesday, Jack Leiter made his major league debut with the Texas Rangers. He made Al & Mark Leiter the first MLB brothers to each have a son who made it to the show. Mark’s son Mark Jr. pitches for the Cubbies. (For the record, Jack got lit up for 3 2/3 innings, 8 hits, 7 earned runs, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.)

Good news: NFL draft rumors will end in one week

Article I’ll skip: Blake Shelton says he would return to “The Voice” on one condition. (Spare me, Blake)

R.I.P. Dorrel Norman Elvert “Whitey” Herzog (92) – MLB manager for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 1,281-1,125 while leading the St. Louis Cardinals to pennant-winning seasons in 1982, 1985 & 1987, and a World Series title in 1982. He also managed the Kansas City Royals to division titles in 1976-1978, had his number (24) retired by the Cardinals and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
R.I.P. Forrest Richard “Dickey” Betts (80) – Betts, whose country-inflected songwriting and blazing, lyrical guitar work opposite Duane Allman in the Allman Brothers Band helped define the Southern rock genre of the ‘60s and ‘70s. (One of my favorite guitarists/bands, just sayin’)

Congratulations to Jack Edwards who has announced his retirement after a 19-year career as the Boston Bruins broadcaster. “My dream job,” said Edwards. (Are any of you working your “dream job???”)

Speaking of the Celtics, stayed tuned as play-by-play announcer Mike Gorman calls his final playoff series call with the Celtics. A “class act” like no other!

Trivia #1 answer: Al Leiter made his major league debut in 1987 with the New York Yankees and ended his career with them also. What other team did Al throw a no-hitter for in 1993? – The Florida Marlins
Trivia #2: The Atlanta Braves Greg Maddux’s personal record for fewest pitches thrown in a complete game victory was: 79, 82, 83, 87, 89, 93, 95, 100 – 77

Wife to therapist: “I told him if anything happened to me, he should date other women.”
Husband: “So I did.”
Wife: “I meant if I died, Peter. I was stuck in traffic!”

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day!

“You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day
Lord, you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way,
Turn your love my way, yeah”

– The Allman Brothers Band (Blue Sky)

Bonus tune!

Friday, April 12, 2024

by fasted86

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, April 5, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Son: “Dad, why is my sister’s name Rose?
Dad: “Because your mother loves roses.”
Son: “Oh, thanks, Dad.”
Dad: “No problem, Opening Day.”

Trivia #1: Who is Ingrid Lindblad?
Trivia #2: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most Opening Day starts, how many?
Trivia #3: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most consecutive Opening Day starts, how many? (Yes, different answer than the previous question)
Trivia #4: David Pastrnak became just the 5th Boston Bruins player to have consecutive 100-point seasons. Which of the following is not one of the other four? – Barry Pederson, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, Adam Oates

On this date: April 5, 1923, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company starts producing inflatable tires
April 5, 2063, Earth’s 1st contact with the extraterrestrial Vulcan species in the Star Trek universe

Go away: Angel Reese. You lost, Caitlyn Clark is better than you, go home.

April 2024 is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

As a public service: Millennials are about twice as likely to develop colon cancer and four times as likely to develop rectal cancer compared to people born prior to 1950. From the mid-1980s through 2013, colon cancer rates found in those ages 20-29 rose up to 2.4 percent per year and has led the major professional medical societies including the American Cancer Society, the American College of Gastroenterology and the US Preventive Services Task Force to advise lowering screening from age 50 to age 45 for patients with no risk factors. As a friend preaches; “Get your butt checked!”

OK, I get it. Seven games against Seattle and Oakland but, if the Sox didn’t play well everyone would be all over them so let’s give some credit. Starting pitching has a 1.89 ERA and 0.79 WHIP, 46 K’s and 3 BB. Too early to give new pitching coach Andrew Bailey too much credit but so far, so not-bad.

Speaking of Oakland, the average attendance for the three-game series with the Red Sox was 6,055. How they survive is beyond me.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: April 5, 2063, Earth’s 1st contact with the extraterrestrial Vulcan species in the Star Trek universe

This beer tastes like I’m not going to work tomorrow.

The Celtics have a 13-game lead over the second place Bucks in the Eastern Conference (6 games remain). The Bruins have a 4 point lead over the second place Panthers in the Atlantic Division (5 games remain).

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: It’s April 5th and I’m looking at 6 inches of snow outside of my window while some of you are looking at more than two feet. Mingya!

Good news: This snow will melt in a couple/few days, right??

Article I’ll skip: Valerie Bertinelli shares the ‘three-week rule’ she has with new boyfriend

R.I.P. Lou Conter (102) – The last known survivor of the attack of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Shortly after the horrors in Hawaii, Conter was selected for flight training and became a Navy aviator. He flew some 200 combat missions in the Pacific throughout WWII. After WWII, Conter went on to serve in the Korean War. Later, he became the Navy’s first SERE officer — an acronym for survival, evasion, resistance and escape. For years, he helped establish the program, training Navy pilots and crew how to survive if they were shot down in the jungle and captured as prisoners of war. By the end of his 27-year career in the Navy, in 1967, he’d risen to the ranks of lieutenant commander. 

They said it: “Guys were coming out of the fire, and we were just grabbing them and laying them down, they were real bad. You would pick them up by the bodies, and the skin would come off in your hands.” – Lou Conter

DYK: In a 2021 Veterans Affairs release, it was stated that then, 80 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, up to 9 quarts of oil continued to spill from the USS Arizona into the harbor. Wowza!

Trivia #1 answer: Who is Ingrid Lindblad? – She is the number one ranked women’s amateur golfer.
Trivia #2 answer: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most Opening Day starts, how many? – Tom Seaver (16)
Trivia #3 answer: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most consecutive Opening Day starts, how many? (Yes, different answer than the previous question) – Jack Morris (14)
Trivia #4 answer: David Pastrnak became just the 5th Boston Bruins to have consecutive 100-point seasons. Which of the following is not one of the other four? – Barry Pederson, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, Adam Oates – Rick Middleton (He had two but not consecutive)

Bartending: Helping people feel good about bad choices.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Deep Dish Pizza Day! And… Happy Opening Day!!! (Fenway, next Tuesday) And again… Happy Birthday to Meatsy!

“The Rooters gave the other team a dreadful fright
Bobston’s tenth man could not be wrong
Up from “Third Base” to Huntington
They’d sing another victory song

Two! Three! Four!”

– Dropkick Murphys (Tessie)

Bonus!

Friday, March 15, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I had sex for an hour and 40 seconds last Saturday night. Thanks, daylight savings!

Trivia #1: What is “Tokophobia?”
Trivia #2: How many golf balls have been hit into the water surrounding the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, the site of THE PLAYERS (being played this weekend) since 2003, in THE PLAYERS tournament? – 602, 699, 723, 802, 868, 909, 973
Trivia #3: Longwood University punched their ticket to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. What state is the university located in and what is their nickname?

“She had twenty-three masts, and she stood several blasts, and they called her the Irish Rover.”

On this date: March 15, 44 BC, Julius Caesar is stabbed to death by Brutus, Cassius and several other Roman senators on the Ides of March in Rome.
March 15, 1968, LIFE magazine calls Jimi Hendrix “the most spectacular guitarist in the world”
March 15, 1972, “The Godfather”, based on the book by Mario Puzo, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlin Brando and Al Pacino, premiers in NYC (Academy Awards Best Picture 1973)

‘Tis the season, and what a great season it is as “Selection Sunday” is in a couple days, followed by the NCAA Basketball Tournament, Opening Day in MLB across the country and then the NFL Draft. All the while in the midst of the end of the NBA and NHL regular seasons. Bring it on!

But first, let’s enjoy Championship Week(end) and THE PLAYERS.

Go away: Aaron Rodgers. He’s been here before. You’re 40-years-old, go jump into politics and leave the NFL/Jets alone.

Speaking of the NFL, how about the movement with players during the past couple of days?! The upcoming draft prospects just got juicier!

They said it: “You know, I was once named Minor League Player of the Year… unfortunately, I had been in the majors for two years at the time.” – Bob Uecker

Guinness beer sales rose 20% in North America last year and stout in general is gaining in popularity. A 20% rise is unheard of for a mature brand with a deep distribution and can be partly attributed to a sharp rise in consumption by female drinkers as well as a hugely successful rollout of Guinness 0.0, its new non-alcoholic stout.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Celtics have 36 seasons with >=50 wins in their history, most of all NBA franchises, three more than the Lakers.

Good News: For Longhairs, a California-based men’s grooming brand, bigger is better. Or, in this case, longer is better. After setting a Guinness World Record five years ago for the “most hair donated to charity in a 24-hour period” during “The Great Cut of 2019,” the company is ready to surpass that record. The organization was successful in 2019, donating over 339 pounds of hair — but now the Longhairs team is hoping to surpass that record in 2024.

WTF: Some people may go to a church or chapel to get married — but one couple, Logen Abney and Tiana Alistock said “I do” inside the men’s bathroom at a local HOP Shops location in Verona, Kentucky, on Valentine’s Day. HOP Shops are known for their out-of-the-ordinary bathrooms that include a colorful light display at the press of a button.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has made the decision to remove the “Duty, Honor, Country” motto from its mission statement. In a letter sent to students and supporters, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland said the phrase, which was first added to the mission statement in 1998, would be replaced with the words, “Army Values.” “Our responsibility to produce leaders to fight and win our nation’s wars requires us to assess ourselves regularly,” Gilland wrote in a letter to cadets and supporters on Monday. “Thus, over the past year and a half, working with leaders from across West Point and external stakeholders, we reviewed our vision, mission, and strategy to serve this purpose.”

Article I’ll skip: Doomsday preppers offer tips to thrive in future societal collapse

R.I.P. Eric Carmen (74), singer-songwriter and frontman of the power-pop band the Raspberries who went on to achieve solo success with songs such as “All By Myself” and “Hungry Eyes.”

Trivia #1 answer: What is “Tokophobia?” – The pathological fear of pregnancy and can lead to avoidance of childbirth.
Trivia #2 answer: How many golf balls have been hit into the water surrounding the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, the site of THE PLAYERS (being played this weekend) since 2003, in THE PLAYERS tournament? – 602, 699, 723, 802, 868, 909, 973 – 802
Trivia #3: Longwood University punched their ticket to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. What state is the university located in and what is their nickname? – The Longwood University Lancers are located in Farmville, Virginia.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Buzzards Day!

Today is also International Women’s Day. It was supposed to be yesterday but they took too long to get ready.

“May we all be alive at this same time next year.” Slainte!

“Before her love, I was cruel and mean
Had a hole in the place where my heart should have been
But now I’ve changed, and I feel so strange
I come alive when she does all those things to me”

– Raspberries (Go All the Way)

Friday, March 1, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Hmmm. It doesn’t appear that way)

I took the road less traveled… now I don’t know where the f*k I am.

Thanks for a record number of “likes” last Friday. I’m feeling the love.

Trivia #1: What is Donald Duck’s middle name?
Trivia #2: On March 1, 1909, the 1st US university school of nursing was established where? – University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, Yale University, Harvard University, University of Ohio
Trivia #3: Who is Drew Burress?
Trivia #4: Who leads the Bruins in penalty minutes this season? – Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Trent Frederic, Hampus Lindholm

“Out of the way, it’s a busy day, I’ve got things on my mind”

On this date: March 1, 1896, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity
March 1, 1921, Spin bowler Arthur Mailey takes 5 for 119 (record 36 wickets for series) to lead Australia to a 9 wicket 5th Test win over England in Sydney; first ever, 5-0 Ashes cricket series win for Australia (Huh?!)
March 1, 1961, US President JFK establishes the Peace Corps.
March 1, 1973, Harvest (UK) and Capitol Records (US) release Pink Floyd’s 8th studio album “Dark Side of the Moon”; it stays on Billboard Top 200 Album charts for the next 14 years, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.

Go away: Caitlyn Clark. Iowa’s all-world women’s basketball star who just shattered the all-time scoring record. Good for you, now please go away.

You can bet on anything: How about betting odds on NFL combine records to be broken? The odds of the bench press record are over 49.5 reps, over (+830), under (-2200).

Women rejoice! We’ve all heard the widespread recommendation of hitting 10,000 steps per day for optimal health, but some groups — such as women over age 60 — may not need that many. According to a new study published in JAMA Cardiology, women between the ages of 63 and 99 only needed an average of 3,600 steps per day to reduce their heart risk failure by 26%.

People often ask me; “Ed, how is Warren Buffet these days?”, showing their deep concern for the investing legend. Well, you can all relax as the Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway inched closer to $1 trillion in market value.

The Bruins won a game in regulation last night!

They said it: “That brought me a lot of shame. It doesn’t matter who I talked to. It doesn’t matter who told me anything. It’s my rear end on the line when I say something, when I confirm a story. And I was wrong. And that is something that will haunt me, really. It bothers me, literally bothers me to this day.” – Peter King, American sportswriter wrote for ESPN from 1989-2018. King, who was working at Sports Illustrated at the time, said he went so far as to write a resignation letter in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the 2015 Patriots’ Deflategate scandal. He reported “11-12” footballs where underinflated when in fact there was only one. King announced his retirement earlier this week.

Jean-Philippe Lartigue, 65, of Bethseda, Maryland, was fishing with a long, 12-foot crappie-style rod, spinning reel, eight-pound test monofilament line, a small split-shot weight and a No. 8 hook baited with a natural worm bait when he hooked a rainbow trout weighing 17.44 pounds and measured 32 inches. The fish bested the previous record by 3 pounds.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Tom Brady ran a faster 40-yard dash just the other day faster than his time at the NFL combine 20 years ago.

Say what? Madison Bumgarner had more grand slams than Prince Fielder, who had more inside-the-park homeruns than Ricky Henderson, who had fewer steals of home than Babe Ruth, who had as many shutouts as Pedro Martinez.

I find the reality show, “Bar Rescue” to be annoying, especially I guess, because I find its host, John Taffer, annoying.

Stop complaining: For a third straight day, firefighters are battling several wildfires in Texas. The largest, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, has merged with another fire, burning homes and forcing residents to evacuate. The fast-moving blaze, fueled by gusty winds and dry, unseasonably warm conditions, slowed somewhat on Thursday as temperatures dipped but has scorched at least 1.1 million acres with just 3% containment, making it the largest wildfire in Texas history and the second-largest wildfire in US History.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Tickets to the Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Glasgow, Scotland, were marketed based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) images that sold parents on a magical experience, but when they showed up, it was anything but. Parents called the police on Saturday because they felt scammed by the “absolute shambles of an event.” The AI-generated images included giant candy displays and colorful lights, but children were instead greeted by a virtually empty warehouse with a printed AI background, a disappointing bouncy castle and hardly any candy. 

Article I’ll skip: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt respond to Rebecca Ferguson’s claim about “idiot” co-star.

Good news: USA Rugby, Major League Rugby (MLR) and World Rugby are pleased to officially announce a strategic partnership to launch a new MLR expansion club in Charlotte, North Carolina, named Anthem Rugby Carolina (RC). The new club will immediately join the 2024 season, with American Legion Memorial Stadium serving as its match day home. This ground-breaking partnership between the governing bodies for global and American rugby, as well as North America’s premier professional rugby league, represents a significant investment and collaboration in the growth and development of the game in the United States as future hosts of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033 respectively. 

R.I.P. Stacy Wakefield (53) – Of cancer, just five months after her husband Tim (57), former Red Sox pitcher, died as a result of a brain tumor. Stacy leaves behind two kids, Trevor and Brianna.

Trivia #1 answer: What is Donald Duck’s middle name? – Fauntleroy
Trivia #2 answer: On March 1, 1909, the 1st US university school of nursing was established where? – University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, Yale University, Harvard University, University of Ohio – The University of Minnesota
Trivia #3 answer: Who is Drew Burress? – The Georgia Tech freshman rated the No. 1 outfielder and No. 2 overall baseball prospect in the state of Georgia, swung the bat four times in the Yellow Jackets 10-0 win over Georgia State. Those four swings produced four homeruns, a school record.
Trivia #4 answer: Who leads the Bruins in penalty minutes this season? – Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Trent Frederic, Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy (71), Marchand is second with 62.

The biggest step in a relationship isn’t the first kiss… it’s the first fart.

Few people say “Thank you” these days, especially the young. Watch and listen. It’s really a shame and I blame parents, or worse, broken families. No respect.

It’s March 1st !!! Flowers and grass will begin to grow, waters will begin to warm, baseballs will fly and life, at least here in the northeast, will be a little more beautiful. It’s madness I tell you! Come on to downtown Haverhill this afternoon and celebrate. I’ll be happy to serve you.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Horse Protection Day!

“Breathe, breathe in the air
Don’t be afraid to care
Leave, but don’t leave me
Look around
Choose your own ground”

Pink Floyd (Breathe)

Bonus – Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young and Tom Jones CSN (Long Time Gone) – Talk about a group of musicians getting into a performance! Awesome!

Friday, February 23, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Sometimes elevator music can be so uplifting. Other times, it can really bring you down.

Hey, throw me a bone here, will ya? As mentioned in the past, just a few hundred thousand (or so) more hits and I could make some money off of this blog. Give me a “like”, share with friends, relatives, convicted felons. Get the word out!

Trivia #1: The Toronto Maple Leaf’s Austin Matthews scored his 6th hat trick of the season the other night, joining the list of players with 6 or more hat tricks in any one season. The record is 10. Which player does NOT have 6 or more hat tricks in one season? – Brett Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Darryl Sittler, Joe Malone, Alexander Mogilny
Trivia #2: Besides Brad Marchand, name the NHL player with, thru their first 1,000 games, >=375 goals, >=500 assists, >=300 +/-, >= 1,000 penalty minutes.
Trivia #3: What was the name of Boston’s first “football” club, cited as one of the first football clubs established anywhere outside of England? They were undefeated for most of their seasons between 1862-1867.
Trivia #4: Who is Ian Anderson?
Trivia #5: How long did the Battle at the Alamo last? – 3 days, 7 days, 9 days, 11 days, 13 days, 17 days?
Trivia #6: In 1906, Tommy Burns beat Marvin Hart for the heavyweight boxing title. How many rounds did the fight last? – 1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20?

Six trivia questions???

Why aren’t the Toronto Maple Leafs the Toronto Maple Leaves?

Giddy-up you “football” fans. As you soccerheads should already know, Boston is one of 11 US cities to be hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Jump up, look around, find yourself some fun…”

On this date: February 23, 1836, the Battle at the Alamo began.
February 23, 1945, US Marines raised the American flag on top of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Pulitzer prize-winning photo which by Joe Rosenthall later became iconic, inspiring the Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture.

Go away: D-I-N-K-S. You know, those people who don’t wipe the snow off the roof of their car thinking, “the highway is right down the road. I’ll just hit the gas and let it blow off.” You know those people who leave their shopping cart where they park instead of walking it over to the caddie. I hope you’re not that guy/gal! I would think my readers are on a different level.

They said it: “It’s way beyond ironic that a place called “The Holy Land” is the location of the fiercest, most deeply felt hatred in the world.” – Comedian George Carlin

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: It can be a “blockbuster” hurricane season, AccuWeather hurricane experts warn, as all of the ingredients are coming together for explosive tropical development in the Atlantic this year. “Can be…” They can say this every year and if it is a mild season, so what? If they are correct, they are geniuses. Spare me, please, these buffoons.

Stop complaining: Postal workers in the Dallas area have been experiencing an uptick in armed robberies and assaults, and conditions have gotten so bad that federal authorities have opened an investigation. Around 2,000 letter carriers have been victims of armed robberies since 2020. 

5 of the last 6 Boston Bruins games have gone to OT. The results? Shootout win, Non-OT loss, OT loss, Shootout win, OT win, OT loss. BTW, NHL overtime sucks. Jut sayin’.

Conversely, the Celtics have won 7 in a row while averaging 126 points during that stretch. “Shoot!”

Selfie, you’re doing it wrong. A zoo guest who decided to climb a wall and chain-link fencing to enter a lion enclosure at Sri Venkateswara zoological park in Tirupati, India, to apparently take a selfie was mauled to death by the animal.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Lawmakers in New York City are pushing a ban on Tide Pods, made by Procter & Gamble, and other single-use laundry detergent products in the name of climate consciousness.

Article I’ll skip: Insiders why explain why Princess Kate, Meghan Markle will never be friends. (Why do people care about these people??)

Good news: A suspected Florida child molester whose alleged victims included his own granddaughter has been captured days after his family teamed up with “America’s Most Wanted” to raise awareness about the case.

Me: “I’m surprised at how winded I am by this exercise.” Personal trainer: “That was the tour of the gym.”

R.I.P. Chuck Mawhinney (75) – The marine from Lakeview, Oregon, recorded 103 confirmed kills in Vietnam over the span of 16 months in 1968 and 1969. By the time he returned home, he’d also been credited with another 216 “probable kills,” a classification for incidents in which the act of confirming a kill in an active war zone would jeopardize safety.

Trivia #1 answer: The Toronto Maple Leaf’s Austin Matthews scored his 6th hat trick of the season the other night, joining the list of players with 6 or more hat tricks in any one season. The record is 10. Which player does NOT have 6 or more hat tricks in one season? – Brett Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Darryl Sittler, Joe Malone, Alexander Mogilny – Darryl Sittler only had 5
Trivia #2 answer: Besides Brad Marchand, name the NHL player with, thru their first 1,000 games, >=375 goals, >=500 assists, >=300 +/-, >= 1,000 penalty minutes. – The answer is no one!
Trivia #3: What was the name of Boston’s first “football” club, cited as one of the first football clubs established anywhere outside of England? They were undefeated for most of its seasons between 1862-1867. – The Oneida Football Club
Trivia #4 answer: Who is Ian Anderson? – Ian is the originator and, since its creation in 1967, the only remaining member of the band “Jethro Tull.” DYK: Jethro Tull, nothing to do with the band, was an eighteenth century English agricultural engineer who invented the seed drill.
Trivia #5 answer: How long did the Battle at the Alamo last? – 3 days, 7 days, 9 days, 11 days, 13 days, 17 days? – It lasted 13 days
Trivia #6 answer: In 1906, Tommy Burns beat Marvin Hart for the heavyweight boxing title. How many rounds did the fight last? – 1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20? – The fight last 20 rounds!

Sometimes, my greatest accomplishment is just keeping my mouth shut.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Banana Bread Day!

“Feeling alone
The army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea

Aqualung my friend
Don’t you start away uneasy
Your poor old sot, you see, it’s only me.”

– Jethro Tull (Aqualung)

Friday, February 16, 2024

by fasted86

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)