STARTING FIVE
It was a very Elle Woods moment for the former Elin Woods.
1. Nanny and the Professors
(The judges would have also accepted “From PGA to GPA” as well as “Model, Student” and, alright, “Eagle-y Blonde”)
Tiger Woods’ ex-wife, the luminous Elin Nordegren, graduates from Rollins College with a 3.96 GPA and is asked to deliver the commencement address. She nails it. Elin majored in psych; it’s her family’s first major in six years, if you’re keeping score.
So, yes, the former Elin Woods has a lot in common with Elle Woods.
2. Casey: Coast to Coast?
Where’s Casey? Has anyone checked the AT40 archives?
The man who for decades has been counting them down until he gets to No. 1, Casey Kasem, is missing. Kasem, 82, suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and it is believed that his current wife, Jean, spirited him away from his Holmby Hills estate –this is the REALLY swank section of Beverly Hills; Hugh Hefner lives here–to avoid dealing with his children.
As far as wealthy octogenarian Los Angelenos are concerned, why couldn’t this have happened to Donald Sterling?
In the meantime, I’m asking that the current AT40 deejay play John Waite’s “Missing You” as my long-distance dedication to Kasem.
3. Shark Chums
Junior Lake, a.k.a. “Pond”, drove in six runs last night.
Last night the Chicago Cubs belted out 20 hits and scored a season-high (for any team in the majors) 17 runs against the St. Louis Cardinals and immediately after their 17-5 victory, winning pitcher Travis Wood scurried straight to the locker of teammate Jeff Samardzija and, I kid you not, hugged him.
“I told him I was sorry,” Wood said.
Why? Because Samardzija has baseball’s second-lowest ERA (1.45) but in his eight starts the Cubs have yet to score 17 runs in total. They have put up just 15 for him, which is why the Shark is 0-3.
Wondering if this is the Curse of Bartman. Both are Notre Dame alums.
4. Donald Dunce
Sterling’s words leave a bad taste in your mouth, but even a worse taste in his, since his foot is in it.
Clipper owner Donald Sterling steps deeper into it, going on “Anderson Cooper 180” in a bold but ultimately foolish attempt to reverse course. Two of the low lights were his telling Cooper that he, Cooper, is more of a racist than Sterling and also saying that Magic Johnson should be ashamed of himself for sleeping with so many women.
Trump. Sterling. I’ll take “Wealthy Donalds Who Attempt To Sleep with Women Half Their Age and are Racists” for $200, Alex.
5. 49er
LeBron James scores 49 points in a Game 4 win against the Nets –no, Solange was not courtside–and is slightly peeved that he missed an otherwise meaningless free throw with 1 second left, since he still has yet to score 50 points in a playoff game (49 twice, 48 and 47 once).
Can’t really blame LeBron for feeling that way. He seems about as bored with the second round of the playoffs as we are. After a scintillating open round, only OKC-LAC really has any juice.
Call us when the Spurs meet whomever they are going to meet in the Western Conference finals.
The Hall
Charter Inductees: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner 1937: Tris Speaker, CF; Cy Young, P ; 1938: Grover Cleveland Alexander, P; Eddie Collins, 2B 1939:Nap Lajoie, 2B; Joe Jackson, LF; 1940: Billy Hamilton, OF; Cap Anson, 1B; 1941: Wee Willie Keeler, RF; George Sisler, 1B; 1942: Rogers Hornsby, 2B; Pie Traynor, 3B; 1943: Mickey Cochrane, C; Frankie Frisch, 2B 1944: Ed Walsh, P; Old Hoss Radbourn, P 1945: Lou Gehrig, 1B; Kid Nichols, P 1946: Ed Delahanty, LF; Lefty O’Doul 1947: Pud Galvin, P; John McGraw, INF 1948: Carl Hubbell, P; Addie Joss, P 1949: Harry Heilman, OF/1B; Monte Ward, P/SS 1950: Cool Papa Bell, CF; Jimmie Foxx, 1B 1951: Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, P; Josh Gibson, C 1952: Paul Waner, RF; Charlie Gehringer, 2B 1953: Mel Ott, RF; Hank Greenberg, 1B 1954: Eddie Plank, P; Dan Brouthers, 1B 1955: “Wahoo” Sam Crawford, OF; John Clarkson, P 1956: Chief Bender, P; Bill Dickey, C 1957: Sam Rice, RF; Joe DiMaggio, CF 1958: Bill Terry, 1B; Heinie Manush, LF 1959: Dizzy Dean, P; Tim Keefe, P 1960: Gabby Hartnett, C; Mickey Welch, P 1961: Bob Feller, P; Ducky Medwick, LF 1962: Luke Appling, SS; Jesse Burkett, LF 1963 Jackie Robinson, 2B; Zack Wheat, LF 1964: Jake Beckley, 1B; Rube Waddell, P 1965: Ralph Kiner, 1B; Lefty Grove, P
The “Say Hey” Kid
1966: Ted Williams, LF; Smoky Joe Wood, P/OF 1967: Roy Campanella, C; Max Carey, OF 1968: Goose Goslin, LF; Rabbit Maranville, SS 1969: Stan Musial, 1B/OF 1970: Ferris Fain, 1B; Earle Combs, CF 1971: Warren Spahn, P; Yogi Berra, C 1972 Satchel Paige, P; Sandy Koufax, P 1973: Robin Roberts, P; Whitey Ford, P 1974: Mickey Mantle, CF; Eddie Mathews, 3B 1975: Lefty Gomez, P; Hack Wilson, CF 1976: Jack Pfiester, P; Johnny Mize, 1B 1977: Ernie Banks, SS; Mickey Welch, P 1978: Roberto Clemente, RF; Chuck Klein, RF 1979: Willie Mays, CF; Luis Aparicio, SS 1980: Al Kaline, RF; Enos Slaughter, RF 1981: Bob Gibson, P; Harmon Killebrew, 1B 1982: Hank Aaron, RF; Frank Robinson, OF 1983: Brooks Robinson, 3B, Juan Marichal, P 1984: Hoyt Wilhelm, P; Arky Vaughan, SS 1985: Lou Brock, LF; Pete Browning, OF 1986: Sidd Finch, P 1987: Willie McCovey, 1B, Roger Maris, RF 1988: Willie Stargell, 1B, Catfish Hunter, P 1989: Earl Averill, CF, Billy Williams, LF 1990: Johnny Bench, C, Carl Yastrzemski, LF 1991: Jim Palmer, P, Joe Morgan, 2B 1992: Rod Carew, 2B; Gaylord Perry, P 1993: Reggie Jackson, RF, Tom Seaver, P 1994: Phil Niekro, P, Rollie Fingers, P 1995: Pete Rose, INF, Mike Schmidt, 3B 1996: Steve Carlton, P, Denny McLain, P 1997: Jim Rice, LF, Don Sutton, P 1998: Dick Allen, 1B, Dave Parker, RF 1999: Nolan Ryan, P, George Brett, 3B 2000: Robin Yount, SS, Carlton Fisk, C 2001: Kirby Puckett, CF, Mark Fidrych, P 2002: Ozzie Smith, SS, Gary Carter, C 2003: Eddie Murray, 1B, Tommy John (Surgery) 2004: Paul Molitor, INF, Dennis Eckersley, P 2005: Wade Boggs, 3B, Ryne Sandberg, 2B 2006: Hughie Jennings, SS, Herman Long, SS 2007: Cal Ripken, Jr, SS, Tony Gwynn, RF 2008: Tanner Boyle, SS, Crash Davis, C 2009: Rickey Henderson, LF, Duke Snider, CF 2010: Lee Smith, P, Garry Maddox, CF 2011: Roberto Alomar, 2B, Dave Winfield, LF 2012: Barry Larkin, SS, Johnny Vander Meer, P 2013: Phil Rizzuto, SS, Ferguson Jenkins, P
2014
Greg Maddux, P; 1986-2008, Cubs/Braves
The thinking man’s pitcher, Maddux never had overpowering stuff but painted the black well enough to lead the league in WHIP and in ERA four times. Led in complete games three times. A career record of 355-227 despite never winning more than 20 games in one season. Led the league in Innings Pitched five consecutive years, yet never endured a serious arm injury. Finally, compiled an astounding 18 Gold Gloves fielding his position.
Craig Biggio, 2B/C; 1988-2007
A seven-time All-Star, Biggio barely missed being voted into the Hall in his second year of eligibility (74.8% of vote, needing 75%) and at the time I thought little of it. But when you examine his numbers, he’s worthy: Biggio is 21st all-time in Hits (3,060) and FIFTH all-time in Doubles (668). The only four men in baseball history who hit more gappers than the seven-time All-Star were Tris Speaker, Pete Rose, Stan Musial and Ty Cobb. That’s very rare company.
Biggio is also second on the all-time Hit By Pitch list, with 267. Ouch.
Remote Patrol
Clippers at Thunder
TNT 9:30 p.m.
Erstwhile, for a short while, Bruin teammates Collison and Westbrook have both been special in this series.
OKC blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 4, proving once and for all that God loves racists. What? Oh, no. But, the Thunder did blunder and now they’re going to need to fight a little harder to win this series. Either team will prove an intriguing test for the Prickly Popoviches.
What a night of TV viewing! LeBron to Sterling; from the sublime to the ridiculous. More on the latter in a minute, but 1st, I’m here to talk about LeBron. Only fitting that Denzel was in the house as LBJ was a ‘MAN ON FIRE’! Just toe-tingling awesomeness. However, HOWEVER, despite feeling privileged/ecstatic that I was able to, um, WITNESS LeBron’s heroic Game 4 feats, I am still as concerned as I was after Game 3’s miserable 2nd half. Sure, some of the other guys stepped up here & there, but NOT ENOUGH! The Heat will not be able to defeat either the Spurs or Thunder if only LeBron plays at his best. Not even with an able assist by the rejuvenated Jesus Shuttlesworth. The ENTIRE main 7-8 guys must play as a champion TEAM. And once again, WHAT is D-Wade waiting for? Sure, we occasionally see ‘flashes’ of his former Flash self, but unless he’s waiting to crank it up to the next gear only for the Finals, this is very worrisome. And yes, love Bosh & they need his input too, but without a ‘Flashier’ D-Wade, my June tears this year will not be of happiness.
Meanwhile, over on the Bat Shit Crazy channel (formerly known as CNN), their new poster boy was diggin’ it deeper by the minute. The 1st time I watched, I sat slack-jawed & wondered why his lawyers “let” him do that interview. Then, I remembered he IS a lawyer & the laughter began. Plus, can we mention the HAIR? The contradictions were impressive to behold, if one didn’t get nauseous trying to follow his attempts at logic. So, does he consider Magic a “great guy, a friend” or a guy who’s done nothing for his community & is definitely not a role model for kids because he “slept with every girl in every city” (not even Wilt did that) & has “those AIDS”? The fact that HE, an 81 year old man, is mostly in this mess because he admittedly was trying to sleep with a woman 50 YEARS younger makes his criticism of that point priceless.
Anderson should get an Emmy. Not for the interview really, but that he sat their with a straight face, asked probing questions & not once blurted out – “OH MY GOD, CAN YOU HEAR YOURSELF?!”
I do have 2 questions – did Magic REALLY call Sterling after the tape leak & offer to help him? Seems unbelievable! (Or is this an attempt to show dementia? I put nothing past Sterling at this point). Also, what is taking those other owners SO DAMN LONG in voting this guy out?! Plus, Shelly needs to zip it or she will be as ostracized as her husband.
Good grief – “sat THERE…”. 🙂
OH, my other favorite part was when Sterling said his players LOVED him! And that the fans & sponsors love him too & that ONLY the MEDIA is against him. Yep, he’s going for the dementia defense.