It’s Friday. And it’s time to get your happy hour started a bit early. We’ve got ten hor deurves. You need to make a beer run. And, do not forget your mask. To the Ten Piece Nuggets we go.
- Joe Maddon, manager of the 8-18 and last place LA Angels, is mad. He’s tired of seeing SF reliever Shaun Anderson throw at Mike Trout’s head. “Enough is enough,” Maddon said after Thursday’s 10-5 road loss dropped the Angels’ record to 8-18. “This is the major leagues. There’s a level of accountability here also.” Just wondering, who should be held accountable for the 8-18 record?
- Do you remember when we all used to sing happy birthday to a family member or friend and then have them blow out all of the candles? Then you would all have a slice of that cake. Turns out that singing and a strong exhale or two (blow them all out!) might not be what the doctor advises in 2020. Maybe in 2021?
- The Washington Football Team continues to be in the news. A few days after hiring the first-ever black President, this time the news isn’t so good. Washington coach Ron Rivera has been diagnosed with cancer but plans to continue coaching. Rivera was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma located in a lymph node, the team said in a statement. Rivera said the cancer is in the early stages and is considered “very treatable and curable.” That part is good news.
- It’s way too early to deem the NFL protocols a success in holding COVID-19 at bay. But, a few days into 32 training camps a total of only four players have tested positive. It’s a start. And, there is a long way to go. The NFL is pretty adamant about starting the season on time.
- No so fast NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. His league is likely to delay its planned Dec. 1 start for the 2020-21 season. The hope is to get paying fans back into arenas. The league’s gross revenue is roughly 8 billion with a “b.” The fans in the areas account for 40% of that, or 3.2 billion still with a “b.
- MLB has postponed 34 games this season because of positive tests and counting. Two Mets’ games this weekend are postponed after two members of the traveling team tested positive yesterday. MLB soldiers on though. And, that is a good thing.
- The NFL Kansas City Chiefs are putting in place new policies during games at Arrowhead Stadium with regard to Native American imagery. Fans are now prohibited from wearing headdresses into the stadium. Face painting that is styled in a way as to imitate Native American cultures is also prohibited. The Arrowhead Chop and the pregame beating of a drum, often by a former player or coach or other local celebrity is also on the chopping block. Maybe they can announce if the “chop” stays or goes by beginning with, “after further review, the ruling on the field….” So, let’s see, keep the stadium name of Arrowhead, and keep the arrowhead logo, and keep the name Chiefs is fine. But the fans, those dreaded creatures, they can’t be allowed to do anything to offend anyone. After further review, this makes no sense.
- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended the Chicago Police Department’s ban on protesters being able to demonstrate on the block where she lives. She told reporters yesterday that she and her family require heightened security because of threats she receives daily. If it’s a peaceful protest, as we’ve been told repeatedly by the good mayor, why worry about safety? It only takes 51% of the voting population to put someone into office. Does anyone have a tent big enough to put over the Chicago circus?
- Meanwhile, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms suggested that the GOP is using the Chinese coronavirus pandemic to “spread misinformation and interfere with voting,” forcing many to “risk their lives” to exercise their right to vote. Risk their lives? Really? It only takes 51% of the voting population to kick someone out of office as well.
- Joe Biden’s acceptance speech last night was only 24 minutes long. But, most analysts and reporters thought it to be quite effective. Hillary’s was twice as long four years prior. Fans of the nominee turned out to watch the speech. The DNC built security walls to barricade supporters and voters into a specific outside area to watch Biden’s speech. The walls were set up to keep both progressive and conservative protesters at arm’s length. Again, there was no word on why this was needed for the “mostly peaceful” protests that have been popping up across the country.
Have a peaceful weekend.