The baseball world, and especially Yankee fans, have lost a legend as Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto died today, August 14, 2007.
Scooter played for New York for 11 seasons before his career was interrupted by his service in World War II. He rejoined the Yankees after his enlistment was over.
In 1950 Rizzuto received the honor of being named the American League Most Valuable Player. In 1994 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and was until his death the oldest living member of the Hall.
"Holy Cow!" was his on-air pronouncement as he followed his baseball career with over 40 years as a broadcaster for the Yankees. He was forever a Yankee, whether on the field or in the broadcast booth.
Phil played along side Yankee greats like Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and many others. It was said that a Rizzuto bunt, a stolen base and a DiMaggio hit made up the scoring trademark of the Yankee's golden era.
When he returned to the diamond after the war in 1946, he went 58 games without an error making 288 straight successful plays. Rizzuto played erroless ball in 21 consecutive World Series games -- phenominal.
A debate always raged as to whether Phil or the Dodger's Pee Wee Reese was baseball's best short stop. You must know where my heart lies with this question.
Scooter tried out for both the crosstown Brooklyn Dodgers and the Yanks when he was only 16. Ironically Casey Stengel, then manager of the Dodgers, told him to "go get a shoeshine box." Rizzuto became one of Stengel's (when he became the Yankee manager) most dependable players.
I can still remember -- almost hear it -- when as a kid listening to the old Mutual Radio Broadcasting System's game of the day and "seeing" in my mind as if I were there Scooter's bunts, hits, steals and fantastic plays. I was proud to be a Yankee fan.
My hope now is that God has that golden diamond in Heaven all ready, and Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto can resume his position as the greatest shortstop major league baseball has ever known.
God bless you "Scooter."
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Little Rock Or Bust!
Gosh, I'm dumb -- put in the title and hit enter instead of tab. I'm probably not going to live long enough to learn how to properly use a computer.
Anyway, on the Little Rock thing -- my boss and I are going over there Thursday and Friday to visit the Jason Hydrotherapy bathtub factory. Hydrotherapy is a big word meaning that it has water jets.
Jason also makes air tubs and/or a combination of air jets and water jets with optional remote control and mood lights. Now days one can really make bathing an experience. Also, they manufacture tubs with all of the above that will accommodate two people. If any of you are interested, let me know.
Remo V. Jacuzzi, owner of Jason, is going to treat us to dinner at Loca Luna and Graffiti's -- if any of you are familiar with Little Rock and these two restaurants, I would like a little review. If they are bad maybe I can smuggle in a Big Mac.
---
A Really Odd Bit of News
A Japanese bike rider rode for 1.2 miles after hitting a safety barrier and severing his leg. He said that he felt extreme pain upon hitting the barrier but did not notice his leg was missing. I suppose he peddled with one leg, but how on earth does one not miss a body part? A companion rider picked up the limb and took it to the hospital, but it was too badly crushed to re-attach.
This story is a little too weird, but it was reported by Rueters.
Chinese At It Again
Mattel, Inc. is recalling 7.5 million toys including Polly Pocket and Batman action figures plus and additional 1.5 million die-cast cars containing -- you guessed it -- too much lead in their paint. They apparently have failed to take my Sherwin-Williams advice posted earlier.
Here is the shocker. More than 80% of the toys sold worldwide are manufactured in China. It is to be expected that toys sellers are getting just a wee bit nervous over these Chinese problems.
Looks like Santa is going to be bringing just fruits and nuts this Christmas.
President Lincoln Had Facial Defect
A recent study that included laser scans of two life masks, made from plaster casts of Lincoln's face, revealed that the 16th president had an unusual degree of facial asymmetry.
We all knew that Old Abe was not a very handsome man, but the left side of his face was smaller than the right. For you medical people this is a condition known as cranial facial microsomia.
According to the report the ailment joined a long list of maladies that afflicted Lincoln including smallpox, heart disease and depression. However, nowhere in the study did it indicate that he suffered from "Clintonitis" -- a sexual appetite condition.
More news later.
Anyway, on the Little Rock thing -- my boss and I are going over there Thursday and Friday to visit the Jason Hydrotherapy bathtub factory. Hydrotherapy is a big word meaning that it has water jets.
Jason also makes air tubs and/or a combination of air jets and water jets with optional remote control and mood lights. Now days one can really make bathing an experience. Also, they manufacture tubs with all of the above that will accommodate two people. If any of you are interested, let me know.
Remo V. Jacuzzi, owner of Jason, is going to treat us to dinner at Loca Luna and Graffiti's -- if any of you are familiar with Little Rock and these two restaurants, I would like a little review. If they are bad maybe I can smuggle in a Big Mac.
---
A Really Odd Bit of News
A Japanese bike rider rode for 1.2 miles after hitting a safety barrier and severing his leg. He said that he felt extreme pain upon hitting the barrier but did not notice his leg was missing. I suppose he peddled with one leg, but how on earth does one not miss a body part? A companion rider picked up the limb and took it to the hospital, but it was too badly crushed to re-attach.
This story is a little too weird, but it was reported by Rueters.
Chinese At It Again
Mattel, Inc. is recalling 7.5 million toys including Polly Pocket and Batman action figures plus and additional 1.5 million die-cast cars containing -- you guessed it -- too much lead in their paint. They apparently have failed to take my Sherwin-Williams advice posted earlier.
Here is the shocker. More than 80% of the toys sold worldwide are manufactured in China. It is to be expected that toys sellers are getting just a wee bit nervous over these Chinese problems.
Looks like Santa is going to be bringing just fruits and nuts this Christmas.
President Lincoln Had Facial Defect
A recent study that included laser scans of two life masks, made from plaster casts of Lincoln's face, revealed that the 16th president had an unusual degree of facial asymmetry.
We all knew that Old Abe was not a very handsome man, but the left side of his face was smaller than the right. For you medical people this is a condition known as cranial facial microsomia.
According to the report the ailment joined a long list of maladies that afflicted Lincoln including smallpox, heart disease and depression. However, nowhere in the study did it indicate that he suffered from "Clintonitis" -- a sexual appetite condition.
More news later.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Not Brent Shaeffer Again
Don't know how many of you out there are Ole Miss fans -- I hope not many. But for you Dawg fans, and I suspect there are hoards of you in the blog world, I have some breaking news from the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The paper announced today at 1:12 P.M. the much (too much) heralded Brent Shaeffer, quarterback extraordinaire, who couldn't complete a pass last year has now lined up at wide receiver to try and catch some.
The article did not say whether Brent was going to throw the ball and then try and run under it, but I suppose that would be asking too much of even him.
Anyway, I hope that the reporters who wrote, "Shaeffer's Coming To Ole Miss" -- "Brent's Not Coming To Ole Miss" -- "When Is Shaeffer Coming To Ole Miss?" -- "Has Shaeffer Completed His Coursework So He Can Come To Ole Miss?" and the endless stories of the saga of Brent Shaeffer have run out of ink -- I can't stomach any more Brent Shaeffer stories.
GO DAWGS!
The paper announced today at 1:12 P.M. the much (too much) heralded Brent Shaeffer, quarterback extraordinaire, who couldn't complete a pass last year has now lined up at wide receiver to try and catch some.
The article did not say whether Brent was going to throw the ball and then try and run under it, but I suppose that would be asking too much of even him.
Anyway, I hope that the reporters who wrote, "Shaeffer's Coming To Ole Miss" -- "Brent's Not Coming To Ole Miss" -- "When Is Shaeffer Coming To Ole Miss?" -- "Has Shaeffer Completed His Coursework So He Can Come To Ole Miss?" and the endless stories of the saga of Brent Shaeffer have run out of ink -- I can't stomach any more Brent Shaeffer stories.
GO DAWGS!
Barry Bonds Has Worn Me Out!
Travis had a good post this morning about Hank Aaron's homerun record finally being broken after seemingly endless chances at the plate by a tainted Barry Bonds. Other athletic things were mentioned in the the post, and it bears reading.
Now let us baseball fans sit back, grab another beer and a couple of hot dogs and watch A-Rod break that record in a few years -- barring injury or some other calamity. Alex be de man.
In my comment to Travis's post I mentioned a couple of my Yankee heroes -- Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle who both swatted many a baseball out of the park under the influence of Johnny Walker or Jack Daniels -- two heroes of a different kind. I don't suppose steroids were in use back then. They did it with sheer muscle, timing and a little alcohol.
Since the Bonds' feat is over now we can go back to the more important people in the news -- Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears etal. After all, all of America hangs at the edge of seats wondering what will be next for these Hollywood role models.
Now let us baseball fans sit back, grab another beer and a couple of hot dogs and watch A-Rod break that record in a few years -- barring injury or some other calamity. Alex be de man.
In my comment to Travis's post I mentioned a couple of my Yankee heroes -- Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle who both swatted many a baseball out of the park under the influence of Johnny Walker or Jack Daniels -- two heroes of a different kind. I don't suppose steroids were in use back then. They did it with sheer muscle, timing and a little alcohol.
Since the Bonds' feat is over now we can go back to the more important people in the news -- Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears etal. After all, all of America hangs at the edge of seats wondering what will be next for these Hollywood role models.
What's Up With China?
This is kinda old news, but I think it needs rehashing a bit. It seems that the big Mattel recall, 1.5 million toys made in China may be the straw that broke the camel's back. The problem with this new set of recalls and crappy Chinese merchandise is too much lead in the paint. So I guess the Chinese leaders are going to have to get the lead out of their collective butts and bring about some sense to this nonsense.
First they were trying to poision all of our pets with that chemical in the food. What was that all about? Many, many other problems have arisen with Chinese-produced items. In June a whole bunch of toy trains had to be recalled -- you guessed it, the old too much lead in the paint situation.
I've got a solution for this leaded paint business. The Chinese need to hire Sherwin-Williams to load up a big boat with good paint, and we all know it is good, and sail to China. Apparently we in America don't know how to make toys anymore, and the Chinese don't know how to make paint. We need a little Chino-American cooperation for the safety of our kids.
There is some other stuff the Chinese can't get right -- toxic ingredients found in fish. Who would eat Chinese fish? If my catfish doesn't say "made in the Mississippi Delta" I ain't gonna eat it.
I once bought some "made in China" crawfish. I must have been stupid, and I apologize to my Cajun Coon-Ass friends in Louisiana. I promise I will never do that again.
How about that Chinese toothpaste? What is one of the last things you would think that America would import from China -- toothpaste? I just don't want Chinese taking over my bathroom. This toothpaste, it was reported, was used mostly in jails, so I guess that was part of the punishment. The judge might give the convicted 5 years and a case of Chinese toothpaste -- serves him or her right.
I'm not real smart when it comes to all of this international trade business, but it looks like a no brainer if you import more than you export. A trade deficit ain't good for the American economy or labor force. We can be more self-sufficient if we will prod our less than intelligent Senators and Congressmen to get the lead out of their butts and enact some legislation to make this trade business a more level playing field. As Americans we can be produce more of our own goods and not have to import all of this cheap-ass stuff from other countries.
Look at all of the foreign products in your local WalMart. That commercial giant would look like a ghost town without imported stuff. Another case in point -- one day I went to Fred's looking for three specific items I needed. I got them -- one was from Brazil, one from Indonesia and one from Taiwan. That is utterly rediculous.
Sorry I had to get on the old soap box today, but some things really do bother me. You'll hear more things that irk me as time goes on.
Have a nice day and buy something Chinese -- preferably something that is painted.
First they were trying to poision all of our pets with that chemical in the food. What was that all about? Many, many other problems have arisen with Chinese-produced items. In June a whole bunch of toy trains had to be recalled -- you guessed it, the old too much lead in the paint situation.
I've got a solution for this leaded paint business. The Chinese need to hire Sherwin-Williams to load up a big boat with good paint, and we all know it is good, and sail to China. Apparently we in America don't know how to make toys anymore, and the Chinese don't know how to make paint. We need a little Chino-American cooperation for the safety of our kids.
There is some other stuff the Chinese can't get right -- toxic ingredients found in fish. Who would eat Chinese fish? If my catfish doesn't say "made in the Mississippi Delta" I ain't gonna eat it.
I once bought some "made in China" crawfish. I must have been stupid, and I apologize to my Cajun Coon-Ass friends in Louisiana. I promise I will never do that again.
How about that Chinese toothpaste? What is one of the last things you would think that America would import from China -- toothpaste? I just don't want Chinese taking over my bathroom. This toothpaste, it was reported, was used mostly in jails, so I guess that was part of the punishment. The judge might give the convicted 5 years and a case of Chinese toothpaste -- serves him or her right.
I'm not real smart when it comes to all of this international trade business, but it looks like a no brainer if you import more than you export. A trade deficit ain't good for the American economy or labor force. We can be more self-sufficient if we will prod our less than intelligent Senators and Congressmen to get the lead out of their butts and enact some legislation to make this trade business a more level playing field. As Americans we can be produce more of our own goods and not have to import all of this cheap-ass stuff from other countries.
Look at all of the foreign products in your local WalMart. That commercial giant would look like a ghost town without imported stuff. Another case in point -- one day I went to Fred's looking for three specific items I needed. I got them -- one was from Brazil, one from Indonesia and one from Taiwan. That is utterly rediculous.
Sorry I had to get on the old soap box today, but some things really do bother me. You'll hear more things that irk me as time goes on.
Have a nice day and buy something Chinese -- preferably something that is painted.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Blogging Has Its Good Side
To my many (?) loyal fans I offer my sincere apologies for having this blog on hiatus since Monday, but since I started this piece of nonsense back in June I have logged in almost 50 posts -- the old brain is tired and sapped out -- had to have a rest. Plus material has gotten a little scarce.
This blogging business can get a little scary in that you sometimes gets comments from weird people and/or weird places -- I have gotten both. But what has really amazed me is there are readers whom one is surprised that they are wasting their time doing so. And then you hear from someone way back in your past -- people whom you have not forgotten about, but you did not expect for paths to cross on the internet.
I just got an e-mail the other day from someone I had taught with at the Amory Middle School in the 60's. We taught together one year, and the next year he was my principal, and he then moved on to bigger and better things. Eventually I did too. At least we would hope that, but maybe we might have been better off in that situation -- who knows?
He, being a blogger too, had stumbled across Not Without Some Thought. We exchanged a couple of e-mails and sort of caught up on the last 40 years. Part of that time we were not living that far from one another, but neither of us knew. Maybe we can get together in the not too distant future and really relive some old times.
In one of Terry's e-mails he mentioned that Lori had e-mailed him inquiring if I were the same person who was at AMS when she was a student. She had stumbled across my blog as well. What an absolute small world this is, and it is getting smaller and smaller.
We were in Aberdeen not long ago visiting with Melinda's parents, and we had gone out to a catfish place on Coontail Road (The Friendship House or Bill and Jim's -- it goes by both names).
A lady came by the table, and she and Melinda talked for a minute and later the subject of my blog comes up and she says, "Oh, I have read it -- I know who Little Daddy is." Makes you wonder if you posted anything that might cause some trouble if you ever go back to Aberdeen.
This is really such an enjoyable experience. I read primarily the blogs of Travis and Laurette and their friends. All of them, of course, are much younger than I but are very, very talented individuals and write some great, funny stuff. To me nothing can compare to a sharp wit, and these bloggers are endowed with it. Yall keep up the good work and keep me laughing.
If there are others out there from the past who happen to stumble across this blog, please give me a comment or e-mail and maybe we can relive some good old times. I look forward to it, but if I have wronged you in some way or owe you money, I am not that person at all -- you've got me confused with someone else.
This blogging business can get a little scary in that you sometimes gets comments from weird people and/or weird places -- I have gotten both. But what has really amazed me is there are readers whom one is surprised that they are wasting their time doing so. And then you hear from someone way back in your past -- people whom you have not forgotten about, but you did not expect for paths to cross on the internet.
I just got an e-mail the other day from someone I had taught with at the Amory Middle School in the 60's. We taught together one year, and the next year he was my principal, and he then moved on to bigger and better things. Eventually I did too. At least we would hope that, but maybe we might have been better off in that situation -- who knows?
He, being a blogger too, had stumbled across Not Without Some Thought. We exchanged a couple of e-mails and sort of caught up on the last 40 years. Part of that time we were not living that far from one another, but neither of us knew. Maybe we can get together in the not too distant future and really relive some old times.
In one of Terry's e-mails he mentioned that Lori had e-mailed him inquiring if I were the same person who was at AMS when she was a student. She had stumbled across my blog as well. What an absolute small world this is, and it is getting smaller and smaller.
We were in Aberdeen not long ago visiting with Melinda's parents, and we had gone out to a catfish place on Coontail Road (The Friendship House or Bill and Jim's -- it goes by both names).
A lady came by the table, and she and Melinda talked for a minute and later the subject of my blog comes up and she says, "Oh, I have read it -- I know who Little Daddy is." Makes you wonder if you posted anything that might cause some trouble if you ever go back to Aberdeen.
This is really such an enjoyable experience. I read primarily the blogs of Travis and Laurette and their friends. All of them, of course, are much younger than I but are very, very talented individuals and write some great, funny stuff. To me nothing can compare to a sharp wit, and these bloggers are endowed with it. Yall keep up the good work and keep me laughing.
If there are others out there from the past who happen to stumble across this blog, please give me a comment or e-mail and maybe we can relive some good old times. I look forward to it, but if I have wronged you in some way or owe you money, I am not that person at all -- you've got me confused with someone else.
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