The New World Awaits
Just finished reading a very depressing NY Times article from Sunday detailing the long road we have ahead. I’m going to do what most everyone else is going to do when it comes to treatment or a vaccine: I’m going to sit and wait. And wait. And wait.
The other stuff, sports, our old way of life, etc seems further away today. We just haven’t come to grips yet on how quickly our world has changed and how some things are just never coming back. As Americans start to grasp this we are going to see bigger protests and very likely anarchy oozing out all over the country.
The highly esteemed and honorable Pa Salon just sent me Season 10 of Curb Your Enthusiasm and it is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Good morning Flap Universe. Hope you all are well.
The only glimmer of excitement is just one night of the NFL Draft! And some constant extra drinking of quarantini’s shanked not stirred martinis 🍸..The rest of time just stands still as we’re all like Steve McQueen in the Great Escape ordered to the COOLER waiting for some kind of normal existence to return to civilization…
“The other stuff, sports, our old way of life, etc seems further away today. We just haven’t come to grips yet on how quickly our world has changed and how some things are just never coming back.”
As I said yesterday, I have unequivocally grasped what is going to go down in this country. If you get a chance, read Martin Ford’s book,“Rise of the Robots.” I mentioned all manual labor jobs which will SEVERELY be affected. Now, the job-eating maw of technology threatens even the nimblest and most expensively educated. Lawyers, radiologists and software designers, among others, whom have seen their work evaporate to India or China. Tasks that would seem to require a distinctively human capacity for nuance are increasingly assigned to algorithms, like the ones currently being introduced to grade essays on college exams. Ask James about this or perhaps, Zumiee.
The aforementioned wasn’t supposed to happen for a relatively long time. Not anymore, as this pandemic is going to accelerate this process. Ford predicts that new industries will “rarely, if ever, be highly labor-intensive,” pointing to companies like YouTube and Instagram, which are characterized by “tiny workforces and huge valuations and revenues.” On another front, 3-D printing is poised to make a mockery of manufacturing as we knew it. Truck driving may survive for a while — at least until self-driving vehicles start rolling out of Detroit or, perhaps, San Jose.
In short, Ford offers little hope that emerging technologies will eventually generate new forms of employment, in the way that blacksmiths yielded to autoworkers in the early 20th century. All of the aforementioned, coupled with this pandemic weighs heavily on my decision to live in the mountains and purchasing guns for what I see as life being 180 degrees different from before the pandemic.
My sense from that and other articles is that there will be some fundamental shifts and, that barring unprecedented and unlikely short term medical cures, it’s going to take a few years of collective political and civic policies and cooperation to return to health, literally and figuratively. The incredibly irrational way that we’ve chosen to distribute our wealth in the name of phony “freedoms” until now makes that road much more difficult to take. The last cultural gasps of the deluded flyover population and their cretinous leader will make it even tougher.
From wideouts to home defense, yesterday’s thread really ran the gamut.
I know I’m in the minority here, but I’m really not missing sports all that much right now. It’s kinda weird because Opening day and just the start of the season in general were always huge to me. Huge. I guess it just feels like baseball died or something. I’ve already started thinking of a world where we watch managers face each other playing the newest version of Out of the Park, or just follow 12 year old kids playing the little league series on MLB’s The Show. I’ll know it’s time to eat a bullet if I find myself grilling up Polish dogs for that shit.
I am missing sitting at a bar and chatting up others there. Chatting up complete strangers in a bar probably won’t be back soon, not to mention with no sports on the tube it’ll be weird to talk shit about Iron Chef.I
This week would normally be the time we would head down to New Orleans for Jazz Fest. They originally postponed it to October, now for the 1st time in 50 years it is cancelled. No baseball, no fest…these tomatoes I’m planting right now better be fucking killer.
Opening Day was always huge for me, too, John. And I, like you, miss sitting at the bar and chatting with complete strangers. Quick story on that note…
A couple of years ago, Gail and I were sitting at the bar at one of our favorite local restaurants/bars, having dinner and drinks. A young guy next to me started inquiring about local things to do. We ended-up finding out that he was from DC and was some type of political aid. Anyway, after a few glasses of wine and talk of local wines, we invited him over to our place, sat on the front porch, and consumed a couple more bottles of wine. I was just thinking of that kid the other day. I still have his business card laying around somewhere. Anyway, just a time I remember and miss…sitting at the bar and chatting-up strangers. Sigh…
I tend to chat up people wherever I go, but it is sorta amazing the different folks that you can chat up while hanging in a bar. Some of them you stay in touch with, some of them you never see again and yeah, there are also some you wished you had never met and hope they don’t follow ya outta the joint.
Agree…I am a social MoFo…I will chat/talk with people almost anywhere. I was out riding through town the other day and saw a couple of guys sitting at a gas station who were also riding Road Glides. So, I stopped-in and we chatted for about 10 minutes. I truly will talk with just about anyone, and anywhere. And you’re right, I have met and talked to those where I wish it had not happened.
It never was sustainable that 1% of the nation has 50% of the wealth. The virus is putting huge pressure on the inequities of that.
Lawsuits per season ticket holders (and partial or individual game seat buyers) lead story over on MLBTR. At some point, refunds have to be given, right? Even if something does start up, fans aren’t going to be allowed in even in Arizona or Florida. Right now status is “postponed” but for fans who wanted seats to watch MLB in person will have to admit status will be “cancelled.”
Bozo that post hit me, very poignant…”it just feels like baseball died…” Sure seems that way for right now, not just for major leagues but minors too. Sorry you’ll miss out on Jazz Fest. San Jose does big one in August and Monterey hasn’t cancelled yet but hard to see either of them happening in scale fans are accustomed to.
Side note: Have you heard saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin?
I haven’t heard of Lakecia Benjamin, I’ll have to check her out. Thanks.
Not sure if you like streaming radio stuff but WOZ will be doing a stay at home jazz fest over the next two weeks playing old live stuff from past fests. I’m pretty stoked about that.
That lawsuit vs. mlb looks like a classic B&P section 17200 shakedown. The class-action claims would be gratuitous add ons. I bet the federal judge assigned to it in the central district (LA) doesn’t take it seriously. The plaintiffs’ lawyers didn’t even need a legal memo from a 25-year-old barrister in Mumbai or Manila to put that complaint together.
mlb is going to have to come up with some sort of credit plan for its season ticket holders, however. Not only do they deserve it — mlb does not want them to quit, to say, a eff it, baseball’s dead: take your seat licenses and stick em.
I had to change that to “doesn’t take it seriously.” I need a good algorithmic proofreader.
What is so funny (disgusting) about all the protests is that these folks blame the media/dems for Coronavirus, but they are the ones being led by the nose by the Republican party to protest it. Their stupidity will be their demise.
And they will take others with them.
Bozo to be honest I wouldn’t say I miss sports. I do miss playing daily fantasy every day. NBA, MLB, golf, it’s all fucking awesome and you know what’s left? You know what thousands of people are playing at draftkings TODAY? They’re play LOL (league of legends). They’re betting on fucking high school kids playing video games. I can’t do that. What if my play of the day gets grounded by his mom?
What’s everyone’s take on Trump halting all immigration right now? Personally, I’m ok with it but I think once this begins to pass he’s going to use it to further foster his xenophobic ways so with that in mind I guess I’m against it. But, for now, fuck it, no more people coming in sounds ok to me……
“What if my play of the day gets grounded by his mom?”
what a great line.
That is quite excellent…
I’m not really a chit-chatter. 98% of what most people want to chit-chat about I’m not interested in. I’ll engage if I’m engaged but only to be polite. And often I don’t even do that….
Wow! You guys are posting some downer shit this AM. You’re supposed to leave that stuff to me. Meanwhile, over in my “lost” home of Tampa, they are all stiff predicting how draft picks are going to mesh with Tom Brady in Sept. Meanwhile, they are dropping like flies out there. On April 18 Oregon had 49 new cases while Florida had 1400! And, they just opened the beaches after closing them for a few days. Evolution may be on display in Florida.
Stan- those Oregon #’s are so low because no one has yet to be tested. Most people do not want to go the hospital for any reason right now. You can bet the #’s per capita are pretty much the same as elsewhere. When i go to the store I still see about 50% of the people without gloves or masks. it is incredibly selfish at this point.
I truly miss baseball.
The media has been irresponsible in covering these AstroTurf protests imo. That said, I do expect increased unrest as this extends into May/June and job loses continue. Those able to keep their jobs will be missing substantial income and probably losing housing. Pretty much a recipe for a disaster.
I think halting immigration is just a diversion tactic, to get people talking about something other than his failures, plus it plays well with his base. Although, I’m still not sure he really has the authority to end immigration, but it beats him starting a war in Venezuela or somewhere as a diversion.
Yeah I miss my bar buddies and gals and talking with the non regulars who mostly no nothing about sports but think they do.The tight knit friends from my bar guys and gals we would 2 annual trips a year going camping in May and also Sept the week after Labor Day when campers are pulling out and we’re pulling in assuring a good spot.
Drinking,hiking,fishing,sitting around a campfire, eating fantastic food that everyone brings for breakfast and dinners,and just the overall laughter shooting the breeze under the stars it just doesn’t get any better!
The only bars I go to anymore are sports bars. I like to watch games with other fans and it’s a lot of fun just bullshiting with fans of teams I hate. And, it’s also an excuse to eat a bunch of fried food. Love fried Zucchini dipped in bleu cheese dressing.
Anybody anxious to get back to the gym when gyms reopen? I spent at least an hour a day six days a week at my gym. I met friends, girlfriends and business connections there. Stayed healthy, too. But man if there’s a hothouse environment for cultivating a pandemic you’d have to think the gym is the place.
I quit gyms a couple of years ago, essentially because they are too noisy, too many people, and most important, just motivating myself to hit the gym was becoming difficult.
I ended up buying Core adjustable bell bars, which are much, much better rated then Bowflex adjustable bar bells, primarily because they have a smaller profile width (better if you have small forearms) and equally important, cost less. That being said, I miss going to our local community center for my daily steam and sauna room sessions, as they have been closed since the shelter in place regulations.
Endorphins have been my drug of choice for years now. Gyms are the perfect place to meet like minded people.
yes I miss that too. Didn’t talk to many people there but ones I did were special and I wonder if I would ever see them again Just the ability to work out in variety of ways (place I used to hit is big) as opposed to now. idk how you could possibly socially distance there, for cardio free weights or cables/machines.
I have not had a gym membership in years. Before the shutdown, I was meeting my daughter and we were doing spin classes a couple of days a week (great aerobic workout, and lots of eye candy in tight-fitting fitness clothes). I am fortunate that at my work we have a small gym with multiple machines (treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, weight machines and various free weights). We also have a full locker room with showers. And right out the back door of the place, 50 yards max, is part of the Sacramento bike trail that runs along Lake Natomas. But being on my sixth week of full-time telework, I do miss the use of that facility.
Now, I try to walk the dogs every day, spend some time using my TRX, and mix in some work with dumbbells. The walk from our house to my mailbox and back, is about 1.2 miles. There are six kick-ass hills along the way, out and back. It is quite the aerobic workout, and takes the edge off for the dogs, too.
Is that part of the American River bike trail? I used to ride that a lot when I lived in the Sac area ’96-97, man, that was a great place to ride.
Mac, yes…part of the American River bike trail. Runs from Sacramento (confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers) and runs all the way through Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, and out to Folsom (where I work…or usually work).
the trump admin has screwed up the immigration system so thoroughly it’s effectively shut down anyway. Backlogs are absurd. The new fiat from the demagogue in chief is just more grandstanding on the backs of the helpless. Apple and Nvidia and so forth will still find ways to smooth the way for the engineers they need from abroad. (There are more genius teenagers in India right now than there are teenagers total in the USA.)
One pro bono client I picked up back in 2018 essentially vanished into the asylum morass during the government shut down in Jan. last year (remember that?). The immigration courts just stopped for a long while. Our client, a 21-year-old guy from El Salvador, is not completely undocumented: he has a terse one-page statement of appeal showing that his case is still pending. He’s probably cleaning a hospital somewhere this morning.
What is it about the Indian population (and Asian to some extent, too) that busts with intelligence? I work for a faction of the Department of Energy. Every year the DOE hosts a nation-wide Science Bowl. Folks from my work volunteer to help with the Sacramento regional instance. There is a local high school in Sac, Mira Loma, that has won the national title almost every year, and their teams are always loaded with Indians, Asians, and a token white person on occasion. These kids are so fucking smart it is amazing.
I think China’s even stronger, but the immigration restrictions on those people are tough. Just the other day I heard one of trump’s wall-building cheer-leaders explain how Chinese immigrants work here long enough to bear anchor babies. Allegedly, the families return to China and then the kids, USA citizens due to birthright, come back after they graduate from college in China (or England, or wherever) to become industrial spies in the tech and defense industries. No shit. That guy is a trump adviser.
Interesting shit, Mike. Well, we all know there is a ton tech of espionage that goes on between our country and others.
I miss sports on TV quite a bit. NCAA b-ball was gonna be fun. When I was a kid Giants baseball was on radio every single day at our house. The ability to watch Giants on TV, even if they weren’t very good, was great.
Selfishly, I miss coaching b-ball– being in school gyms, working with kids and talking to parents. Not sure when/if that is coming back this school year either. Our youth group has been around since late ’60s; typically registration starts late summer and by mid September we are practicing couple times a weekend and preparing for local tournaments in Nov.
Last season ended just in time end of February before schools we played and practiced in shut down. Definitely familiar people I’ll miss seeing and talking to if we aren’t going to have a season this year.
Thx to Bozo for tip on Nola station I’ll check that out.
Wwoz.org the jazz fest stuff starts Thursday. Geaux get ya some.
Thanks, Clown.
think about missing baseball too— while it’s very cool of Flavor to keep up daily thread so we can all read and converse steady diet of various topics… we don’t have Belt (et al) to kick around anymore.
Anyone remember first posts they might have made, maybe from Splash days?
Not exactly, but I think my first confrontation with Twin was on day 2…
Oh hell, no. My best memory of the Splash was meeting Flavor, Twin, and some of the other regulars, and then the invite from Flav to check-out his new blog. And the rest is history…
Loo…laughed my ass off…I think the first day or two I was on the Splash I had a run-in with Twin. Cannot recall if he called me a dunderhead, or not.
And on the Splash, you had the Doomers and the Pollyannas. LOL..
I joined during the horrible limerick contest of 2007. I asked “who’s this twinkle guy who insults everyone” and he responded that he was cool with anyone who was cool with him. Then a guy named sonofabastard came out of nowhere and lost his temper at me. I responded. And my long journey down the wrong road of online interaction began.
But that long road of online interaction resulted in you being here and having this conversation. Not too bad, I would say…
Xoot, I played music at a for profit ICE processing facility in Bakersfield back in February. I guess this place is kind of a transfer/holding place between SF and LA. My understanding was that the “detainees” were held at this place for up to 40 days or as little as 1 night before they were moved again. It sounded to me like many were moved before a court date and then had to refile in whatever city they landed in. Did I get that right? Or does their court date follow along with their transfer? It just sounded to me like these people were on a never ending for profit gulag merry go round.
The rules change constantly. I can’t keep up with them. Back in the early days of the trump assaults, my young client presented himself at San Ysidro (San Diego, essentially) and offered a solid credible-fear application. His sister lives in Hayward, so he had a place to stay while he waited for a formal hearing. ICE put him on a bus to one of the new trump camps in Georgia and the immigration judge in Atlanta deported him summarily, on a technicality. His sister got lawyers at a legal clinic in East Oakland to file the appeal for him.
My issue in the case concerned a difference between humane federal 9th Circuit due process law (west USA) and inhumane 11th Circuit due process law (Fla, Ga, et al.). Because the guy’d been shipped to Ga, the bad law governed. The local clinic isn’t familiar with 11th Cir law. Otherwise, they could’ve handled every aspect of the case. Overworked as they are, all attorneys and staff there are dazzlingly good.
Very cool that you played that gig.
Thanks. The original idea was to play at a children’s facility but after a very long process we got this adult one. The gig itself was both uplifting and depressing at the same time.I went through a 4 hour orientation at the facility back in November so I had somewhat of an idea how it was going to be, at least I thought so at the time.
Thanks to you for doing the pro bono work for these people, they need all the help they can get.
If I were younger, I’d’ve been down at theTexas border appearing at the cattle-call hearings trying to keep terrified children who couldn’t speak Spanish, much less English, from getting separated from their parents and slammed into concentration camps. But these days my bones can’t take crashing on someone else’s floor for a month or two. The volunteer lawyers who did that sort of thing were admirable.
Trivia question – who holds the record for most hits during a post season in ML history?
No peeking via google, etc.
Beltran?
I’m sure he’s at least got the HR record – like 10 in one year?
Just a stab: Pedroia?
An embarrassingly bad guess after looking him up…
I just recently watched a 2014 Giants season show on the Giants network. Is it Sandoval?
It was Sandoval at that time.
Right, Zume. It was Sandoval at the time. Not sure if anyone has since topped it. He had 26 post-season hits. Yeah, I just watched the 2014 game 7 the other day. While I knew the Giants won, I could not recall a lot of the details, so it was cool to see. One of the standout plays was Panik’s flip to Craw, from his belly (after a crazy stop that should have been a hit) to Craw for the DP. Originally the runner was called safe at 1st, but after review, he was out.
“And on the Splash, you had the Doomers and the Pollyannas”
That was a creation of TF. He created that division that didn’t need to exist, but it kept the Splash interesting for him, I think. He liked the conflict, for some reason.
TF always called me a doomer which was sometimes true.
Yep, but whatever you wanted to call them, there were two distinct camps. Those for whom “the sky was always falling,” and the eternal “glass half full optimists.” I’ve always been an optimist.
Yeah that’s for Zumie. I came in towards the end of the Splash, thought it was entertaining until I got in to some battles with Twin over a few baseball players we were different about.Man he sure wanted to be top alpha over there.
Then when Flavor started the Flap I was “STOKED” still I’m, and I was one of the first to post and new Twin would follow over with his Royal Highness Chair ,and setup on top of the kingdom looking down on his disciples and ripping some for not enough baseball knowledge to even have the gall to ask a question are challenge his authority.
Still though with his cantankerous attitude i admired him, and he did loosen up more towards the end of his life which is a good way to leave..
I’d have to say guy like Derek Jeter cause he played in so many..
First mistake….reading the NY Times…
the Times is 100X more reliable than what we get out of Trump and his queen Pence every day.
What you said.
Has anyone here ever watched cable Fox News? I saw it once. It was on the communal tv one day years back when my son and I visited my mother in a rest home. We couldn’t believe it. That’s the opposition? Well, needless to say, the super rich and their ignorant rabble showed us.
I watch fox news every once in awhile on hulu. I find it amazingly sad that people end up believing what they want to believe. Facts are facts no matter what, and liars are liars no matter what. But not on fox.
What Flav and Blade said, times 10. So much more truthful reporting at the NY Times, Washington Post, etc., than you would EVER get from trump’s hard-on news source…Fox snooze.
Im surprised the immigration ban did not happen right away when the attempt was made to shut down air traffic for intl non-citizen travelers…dont think the temp ban is going to hold up to supreme court scrutiny…
i believe the Supreme Court will do just what Trump wants. They are set up for that.
OTOH, a perfect opportunity to display “independence,” since the practical effect of the ban is minimal.
if he gets away with it it’s constitutional, even if only for a while. That’s the mindset.
At the beginning of the movie “Jojo Rabbit,” the soundtrack blasts out the Beatles doing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” with vocals in German. I had forgotten the Beatles did a German version for that market. It’s used really well in the film, and it just sounds great. I don’t need to be sold on the greatness of the Beatles, of course, but it’s always cool to get these surprise reminders. I’m sure there are some younger folks who watch the film wondering who the heck is that band with that great song in the beginning of the movie, and watching the credits at the end to find out. The movie also uses the terrific Bowie song “Heroes,” with Bowie doing the vocals in German.
Great movie. It’s very emotionally moving, but also very funny. I hadn’t seen anything quite like it before. “Life is Beautiful” would be the closest thing, which had humor in what would seem an impossible movie to have humor in.
The movie is set during WWII in Germany. A young boy in the Hitler youth discovers a secret that sets the plot going. Scarlett Johansson gives a great performance in a supporting role as the boy’s mother.
We just watched Jojo Rabbit, and I was impressed. Very well written and very very acted. One of those movies you are thankful can still get made. The back story is pretty crazy as well. And I did enjoy the Beatles touch in the beginning. I was aware of those German albums 40 years ago, but hadn’t thought or heard of them since.
My wife is a huge Bowie fan and she dug that as well.
Speaking of German Bowie fans, have you seen the movie Christiane F, Aumie? Weird movie about German street kids in the 70s. 14 year old junkies and such. Fairly depressing, but some great vintage Bowie footage.
Mickey Mantle
OK. So I could have been more clear on my trivia question. I asked “who holds the record for most hits during a post season in ML history?” With the “a” the intent was for one post season year. Pablo still holds the record at 26.
Jeter owns the overall post season hit record.
OK Flappers. Time to roll out my Bad Motorscooter, get my knees in the breeze, and blow out the cobwebs. Have a good afternoon all you dunderheads.
This seems like the perfect time to have a motorsickle. I have been racing around 680/84 every once in a while in the car.
Gorgeous day. I rode east out of Placerville to Camino, circled back through town, out through Lotus and Coloma (where gold was discovered in 1849)…beautiful weather…I just wanted to keep on riding.
Sweet. We used to ride our dirtbikes out near Georgetown. I think Camino is somewhere around there.
Love all the Eldorado area, from icehouse lake,Union Valley,LoonLake great camping and fishing, then drop into Georgetown but 1st visiting Uncle Tom’s cabin/bar for a cold one from the side road between Union&Loon which leads to Stumpy Meadows lake and camping 🏕 great fishing 🎣!
Chi have you ever ridden over to Hell Hole Res? I use to camp and fish there as well! A slice of heaven to get away too!
Four players had 25 hits in one postseason: Grissom (Braves ’95), Erstad, Freese, Altuve (last year).
Yeah, I was kinda confused by the question. A postseason, or ALL postseasons combined?
Miss baseball and spring college. march madness and lacrosse for sure. My son plays college lacrosse. Addicted to it now. Thanks to Xoot and Blade for the EPD discussion.
PS… Flap 10x better than the splash. Too many idiots there. Strongest memory of twin wasn’t ggod. The BAT. Enough said:) To balance…the POEM was terrific…If anyone has it repost it
This is good. The Bucs just traded for Gronk, they gave up a 4th rd pick. Arians is a hell of a coach i sure hope this season can take off.
Tampa Bay is so over the top entranced with Brady. This is so stupid in that possibly neither Brady nor Gronk will ever play for the Bucs. They are so old and some are saying 2021 will be too soon. My guess they traded OJ Howard for him or will to someone soon.
1st real sports news in a while:)
I watched the 1st hour so no spoilers..Anyone watch the Last Dance?
yeah I thought it was great. Kerr came off pretty well as guy who has good perspective of what was going on at the time. Like MJ or not, background stuff, his family and UNC shows how determined he was and where it came from. Game footage was cool too.
Xoot, Loo, Chi, you guys are really reaching back recalling the Splash. I had just retired and moved to Oregon. Discovered Splash and watched for a week or so. Saw that Twin assumed some lordship over the place. I started small and usually took a shot at him. We had numerous flame outs. Once he threatened to come and find me and shoot (??) me. But, remember the big fights were often between TF and BF! Those were epic. True love/hate. Right BF?
I was one of the Doomers that he railed on. And, if I’m not mistaken I was the one who first accused him of being a “rose-colored glasses Pollyanna”. He sure knew his shit- -down to the single A ball.
Interesting, he and I were across the field together at the first Super Bowl. Of course his was in the
booth with his father who broadcast the game. I was with the love of my life. Of course, I walked away from her. One of another major bad decisions by this doomer.
What I really miss is a cheap takeout burger. I just can’t trust the low wage workers that are grilling, putting together condiments and wrapping it. Corona Paranoia at its finest.
What happened to Ferret head?
OSF
To me when I think of Twin,I always thought of him as George C Scott, playing the role of Mordecai Jones in the 1967 movie Flim Fan Man, which I highly rate seeing about a con man back in the south, who’s always looking to sucker a buck out of un suspecting people…
I’m not certain how many Flappers have actually spoken to Twin, besides Flavor, Chi, Stix, and myself. Frankly, I always imagined him as some sort of rough, big, surly guy. Nope. Quite the opposite. Mike was quite small, frail (likely due to his cancer), and had a squeaky voice. He was always polite over the phone and video chat.
I had a couple of nice chats with him via phone when his house burned-down years ago. RIP, Twin…you fucking dunderhead.
I called twin when he was in UCSF hospital — 2009, I think. Someone posted the contact info on the splash. A woman who worked at the hospital answered the phone, told me twin was out of his room for a routine test and that he was doing pretty well. She took a message. Some days later, when twin made it back to the splash, he started being quite generous toward me.
Then the Flap started, and the era of the big contests commenced (win a computer). Twin posted challenges, we all submitted our bets confidentially via email, and either twin or Flavor posted the result. What will Pablo’s BA be at the break? That sort of thing, although some were more difficult. Funny thing happened. Often twin and I submitted exactly the same, or almost the same, numbers — and no one else was close to us. Twin got annoyed; I thought it was hilarious and let him know. He really got pissed off. He deliberately interfered with the email account I’d given him so that the provider shut it down for a while. Took me some time to straighten that out. (You can’t just get those guys on the phone.) I figured out what had happened and considered some sort of complaint, but I let it go. Back then my life was very complicated. I was rude on line; I really didn’t give a shit about what happened on blogs. Poor twin. He must’ve been half-deranged by drugs or pain much of the time.
I called him at the hospital also. I think he was a little stunned it was OSF and that I was not antagonistic to him. He was quite polite. I’m sorry he is gone.
A’s side of sports channel has Game 1 of 1973 World Series on tonite, vs. Mets from 10/13.
The pregame introduction of Mays in Oakland gets me every time.
Willie working the chewing gum, knowing it was over…
I remember Twin actively investigating certain people from early days Splash, like the Hanger and few others. and of course the whole Sophrosyne “girl from Bryn Mawr” story that he exposed.
I mentioned at one point I’d read auto bio by Johnny Otis and Twin recalled he’d done BBQ food prep stuff with him.
I didn’t own a computer till 2007. I don’t think I even knew the word “blog” – I’d only heard of “chat rooms” and I was looking for one full of Giant fans. I somehow bumbled into the Splash and early on I thought a few of the guys really knew each other personally on the outside. Twin would talk about his daughter (Lisa?) and son in law who would post occasionally I think. And there was a guy named Hawk who hated Twin so much and really let him know it in the most vile way. I didn’t understand how you could have that much animosity towards someone you’d never met.
Loo mentioned Mays who was in starting lineup that night for Mets.
Btw the two teams there was another ex Giant in starting lineup as well.
Who?
I remember one day in ST can’t remember the year but it was a year we didn’t have a very good team and not much of a chance in the division. Anyway we were playing in Fresno and they were hammering us and I kind of came unglued about it and twin jumped all over me. There were times I took some offense to it but compared to most of the stuff going on at the splash it was mild. Over the years I would drop in here and read what the flappers were saying and I saw the progression that was taking place in TF and I felt bad for him. Cancer is a motherfucker and he was certainly a fighter.
To clarify my question, this player had previously played for SF before 1973 WS, like Mays and was in starting lineup for either Mets or A’s Game 1.
Kingman
ah no, good guess though. 1973 he was still Giant and didn’t join Mets til 1975.
I think Sadecki was a Met in ’73 – Dave Marshall was probably gone by then and neither one of them was WS Game 1 material anyway, so I think it’s gotta be someone on Oakland. Just not coming up with it…
Yes Loo he was and actually did well in relief in the Series.
I remember Cepeda DHing for a couple of teams.
No recollection of him with Oakland though…
warm though Loo. this guy played with Cepeda.
ESPN 2 showing the 2017 NFL Draft.
Can’t wait for KC to trade up…
Jesus Alou?
Got it Kat.
Good job, Kat.
Jesus was a pretty funky player…
I was shocked not too long ago to see that Felipe was actually the best of the 3. Matty had the cool name and Felipe was kind of a dunce as a manager.
All 3 of them got into WS–Felipe in 62, Matty in 62 and 72 with A’s, and then Jesus in 73.
some kind of record for a family, at least 3?
“Speaking of German Bowie fans, have you seen the movie Christiane F, Aumie? Weird movie about German street kids in the 70s. 14 year old junkies and such. Fairly depressing, but some great vintage Bowie footage.”
I hadn’t heard of that film, Chuck. I know Bowie recorded several albums in Germany in the ’70s.
Germany has kind of an interesting history in rock music. The Beatles (and other British bands) played a lot in Germany before they got a record contract. Playing hours every night in German clubs made them much tighter and better as a band.
The Beatles’ years in Germany are depicted in the very good movie “Backbeat,” which also tells the story of Stu Sutcliffe, early member of the Beatles who died tragically young of a brain hemorrhage after he left the group to pursue an art career and be with his German girlfriend Astrid. She took some great photos of the early Beatles, and also introduced them to the haircut in Germany that became known to the world as the Beatles haircut, long with bangs. The Beatles had been sporting a greasy-haired leather-clad tough-guy look before that, which was not really genuine or working for them.
U2 recorded one of their most successful albums, Achtung Baby, in Germany.
In Germany, the Beatles also met Klaus Voorman, artist and musician, who later did the great iconic cover art for the Beatles’ Revolver album, and also later played bass on some of John’s solo albums.
I’ve sorta resented “Backbeat” because the actor who played Lennon cannibalized his performance from “The Hours and the Times.” I think I’ve recommended the latter before. It’s a really smart movie.
I’ll have to check out “The Hours and the Times.” I can’t remember if I’ve seen that one.
The Wikipedia synopsis makes it sound like its appeal might be limited to those whose interest in gay culture goes well beyond the sensibilities of some of the open-minded, but men of their time denizens of the Flap. Don’t be fooled.
I’ll give it a chance.
I was a big fan of the Village People.
Still am…
even a twelve-year-old kid could think wtf? to some of those winks John offered what’s his name in Hard Day’s Night
This is a 3 minute video that shows some of Stu’s artwork. He was talented, with his own particular style.
He died at age 22. He had been jumped in England and beaten and kicked in the head. And the head injury probably eventually led to the later hemorrhage.
Stu wasn’t much of a musician. He was only in the band because he was John’s best friend, and also because being in a rock band was very cool. He played bass (not very well.) In the movie “Backbeat,” John is depicted as being very despondent after Stu’s death and wanting to quit the band; but Paul talks him out of it. Paul had switched to bass after Stu left, and the band had really found its identity. They knew they were very good.
When they played in England after having played so much in Germany, they knew they were doing something different than all the other bands.
One of the reasons there was such a big music club scene in those days in West Germany is because of the large U.S. military presence in West Germany after WWII at that time. Some of the American GIs went to the music clubs.
“Greasy little bugger.” Have I ever told you the story about the statuesque blonde I knew in England circa 1963 who dated Richard Starkey? By chance, she and my mother connected over a mutual interest in Ray Charles records. I was twelve. She was statuesque.
This 2 minute scene from Backbeat is great. The band is performing “Money,” and all the actors really look just like the Beatles from those days, including Stu. The guy depicting Paul is Paul’s twin, basically. The clip also shows Stu painting. The clip doesn’t show the beautiful and ethereal Astrid.
They didn’t have their iconic Beatles haircuts yet. The music track was done by a bunch of great alternative rock singers and musicians. The bass on the recording is being played by Mike Mills of REM.
I am now trying to get away from constant Covid news, so these days I’m watching Narcos on Netflix after work in my home office. Why attend to a pandemic when you can wander mentally and watch mass mayhem and murder?
I see where the first two seasons were actually filmed in Colombia.
The Colombian women in this thing are very very hot.
No wonder that country has had many winners of Miss Universe.
An episode or two ago one of the actresses reminded me of Scutaro’s wife, though I believe she is Venezuelan.
Years ago I went to a birthday party attended by one of the snarkkettes, and Scutaro’s wife was there with one of their kids who was a Daiisy in Girl Scouts along with my daughter, though not for long. At the time, Mrs. Scutaro was absolutely smokin’ hawwwwttt…
Hotter than her hubby in 2012?
Doubtful…
My Jewish biological father’s family was driven out of Austria in 1938, eventually settling in Da Bronx. He later met my mom as an American GI in Germany. My adoptive father was in the Hitler Youth. He was later an American GI in Germany when he met my mom, with little James already in tow. They both have the same first name. Funny stuff.
I’ll take a shot with Franz…
I was expecting “Did they both dig the Beatles?”
American Music, the Blasters
West Berlin it wasn’t, more like a Hessian Hooterville.
yikes. thus spake siddarthustra. I’ve known a lot of GIs in my day, but . . . .
Amazing beginnings to your life, James. Life is such a journey.