by John Walters
Happy Birthday to Phil Hartman, who would’ve turned 67 today. “I got guys the size of you in my stool.”
Starting Five
1. Mecca-lomania*
The judges will also accept “Black Mass,” “Hajj Quest” and “Allah These Pilgrims Are Being Crushed”
Currently the number of dead is 717, all of them pilgrims making the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. As usual, Al-Jazeera has the most detailed story on the tragedy, detailing how pilgrims flock to Mina, on the outskirts of Mecca, to carry out a symbolic “stoning of the devil” by tossing rocks at three stone walls.
The stampede did not take place during the stoning, but rather before as one pilgrim camp walked through another pilgrim camp. Watch the video at the bottom of the story.
2. Integrity is His Trump Card*
*Upon Further Review, the judges will accept “Atta Boye” as well as “Bridge (Over Troubled Walters)”
This is Boye Brogeland, 42, the man who is single-handedly (with 13 cards in it, I’d assume) trying to save contract bridge at its highest levels. Thanks to the Norwegians’ efforts, the top two ranked bridge players in the world, as well as another team that happens to be the European champions, have been exposed as cheaters.
Here’s my story in Newsweek about the entire affair, which features skulduggery, threats of physical violence and lawsuits, big money, and crooked people.
An aside that I was tempted to tweet, but I’ll save it for you readers. So this morning one of my sources emails me to tell me that a highly decorated writer had sent an email to her and others extolling the piece. Here is the email:
3. The Thompson Twins
Okay, they’re not twins. They’re sisters. Anne and Mary Thompson are both alumnae of Notre Dame and both are in the employ of NBC Universal (if that’s still a thing). You regularly see Anne’s reports on NBC Nightly News and Mary, the younger of the two, reports from the NYSE and other locales for CNBC.
4. My Two Dads Remake?
When I first saw this GIF of Jeremy Lin and Stephen Curry teaching Stephen’s daughter, Riley, to do the Nae Nae, I thought, This would make the perfect 21st century My Two Dads remake: you’ve got at least three ethnicities, three or four SI covers (thanks to the efforts of Pablo Torre), an MVP and an NBA championship. Who wouldn’t watch this show!?!?
5. Where in the World?
Answer to Tuesday’s photo: Astana, Kazakhstan
Music 101
Two Tickets to Paradise
Billy Joel may be the most famous “rocker” from Long Island, but maybe Eddie Money (born: Mahoney) may be its best guitarist/pop star. This was not the first hit from his eponymous 1977 debut album — that was “Baby Hold On” — but time has been kinder to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLf8_wSq4Is
Eddie’s grandfather, dad and brother were all members of the NYPD. He was in training to become a cop, too, before he opted for a music career.
Remote Patrol
Valley of the Dolls
TCM 11:45 p.m.
“Three young women pursue acting and end up being destroyed by the very lifestyle they desired,” says my TV video guide. Quite prescient, that, considering that one of the stars of the film was the ill-fated Sharon Tate.
Let’s see, within the past year or two, I learn of CHEATING in fishing tournaments & now ‘professional bridge’. Is NOTHING “SACRED” anymore?! Hey, I hear there’s gonna be a “guy” in your neck of the woods this weekend whom you could ask.
I liked your Newsweek piece & not just because of the awesome Mae West quote. (My fave Mae quote which I made into a t-shirt & a poster a few, ahem, decades ago & a mere 7 years ago used as part of my “blog sign-off name” on a cycling website – “I used to be Snow White…till I drifted”. 🙂 That I had NO idea “professional bridge” even existed till I started reading did not lessen my appreciation of your write-up.
Speaking of feeling stupid – I meant to write this a few days ago but never got around to it – one of the guys I find most impressive on ND’s football team is that Prosise kid. I THOUGHT he must be a freshman as I do not remember him at all from previous years. I’ve watched every ND football game on TV the past 4 years & I could swear I’d never heard of him. Then I find out last Saturday he is a SENIOR?! Where’s he been or have I just not paid attention? Was he injured the past 2 years? How could a kid that talented not see the field till now or was I blind or just inattentive? Of course if the NAMES were on the back of the jerseys, maybe I’d remember more. (You knew I was going to get that whine in there.) Anyhoo, I ‘m impressed with Prosise.
Mecca doesn’t kill people, stampeding people kill people. EVERY YEAR…
Just do me a favor – when a certain GOP candidate drops out of the Presidential race this coming winter/spring, can you announce it here as :
ONE NO TRUMP
Really liked the bridge story. Never played — and I learned pinochle as a kid, which now feels like checkers by comparison. I’m reminded of a great Cosby show where he’s at a table with four friends and they shamelessly talk across the table. “I was thinking of going to the club today … maybe around 3” and such. Is it even OK to have fond memories of a Cosby episode?