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Culture Shock
By rawhide | July 27, 2007
It took me a week to figure out that “Barry Burn” was a reference to hazards at the 17th and 18th holes of the British Open and not to a medical condition suffered by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig as a result of the Bonds home run chase.
Speaking of home runs, Sports Illustrated’s John Donovan had an interesting article on the pitchers who gave up milestone homers. When Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s single-season record with Number 61 in 1961, a rookie Yankees pitcher named Al Downing was on the sidelines watching. Thirteen years later, in 1974, an Al Downing fastball was hit over the left-field fence by Hank Aaron to break Babe Ruth’s career record with Number 715. The Dodgers left-fielder who climbed the fence in a desperate attempt to catch the Aaron homer was Bill Buckner, whose error in 1986 would cost the Boston Red Sox the World Series as they failed to break the infamous Babe Ruth “Curse of the Bambino.” Is Babe Ruth a common-thread, or is it just me?
The FBI and NBA continue to investigate allegations that a referee with mafia ties affected the outcomes of games on which he had wagered. I can’t decide which is more likely: Frank Luna being tied to the mob in question, or Paul Gourley being involved in the cheating.
David Beckham is causing quite a stir in Los Angeles. I guess it takes someone with a British accent and fashionable haircuts to make Southern Californians pay attention to the “other football.” We’ll know he’s a major influence if a celebrity walks the red carpet in a soccer-print outfit.
The Simpsons movie opens today. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s critic had this to say about the film: “Not as bad as it could be, but certainly not as good as you want.” Does that make you want to rush to the theaters or what? I doubt we’ll be seeing that quote in the TV commercials praising the movie.
What surprised you more? That Lindsay Lohan was arrested again or that the Tour de France is embroiled in another doping scandal? If you answered “None of the above,” you’d be right.
Enjoy the wonderful weekend responsibly. Don’t be like the astronauts and try to operate the space shuttle (or any other vehicle, for that matter) under the influence.
Topics: Culture Shock |
