Author: thependulumswings staff

One Win and 17,000 Losses Makes Them Winners

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday, the disappointing, no playoff Los Angeles Lakers lost team president Magic Johnson, as he abruptly resigned.  Meanwhile, the perennially disappointing New York Knicks won their 17th regular season game to insure that they won’t set a single season record for futility even if they lose tonight’s season ending game.  But, if you are really talking about losses and futility, look no further than the Washington Generals.

Also known as the Boston Shamrocks(1971–1972), New Jersey Reds(1971–1972), Baltimore Rockets(1971–1972), Atlantic City Seagulls(1971–1972), New York Nationals(1995–2006), International Elite(2011–2012),  Global Select(2011–2012) , and the World All-Stars (2013–2014), the Generals are the all time losers.  To give the illusion that the Globetrotters play different teams they changed names and uniforms to be the best foil that they can be.

Depending on which version of history you believe they have only won one, or three, or six games while losing over 17,000.  The Generals exist primarily as a part of the Harlem Globetrotters’ act, effectively being stooges for them. While the Globetrotters play tricks and spectacular displays of skill for the crowd, the Generals appear to attempt to play a “normal” game of basketball.

Below are ten fun facts (their history isn’t perfectly nor completely documented) about the multi decade traveling show.

  1.  The Washington Generals were named so to honor Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  2. The Generals would rarely, but occasionally, play teams other than the Globetrotters. They beat the Taiwanese national team and a low-level Red Army team along the way.
  3. The Globetrotters official website only recognizes one loss.  That loss came in Tennessee at Tennessee Martin in 1971.  Even the date of the loss is disputed as either January 5th or 25th.
  4. The loss was mostly the result of an incorrect scoreboard that showed the Globetrotters winning by four with three minutes to play.  Thinking they had the game in hand, the Trotters were mostly running out the clock.  When they realized that they were behind, the clock operator stopped the clock to allow them one final shot as they now trailed by one.  The Generals allowed Meadowlark Lemon to dribble straight to redemption, but he missed the final shot.
  5. Some say that a pregame dispute between the two caused the Generals to play to win that evening vs “play along.”  Neither team has ever spoken in support or denial of that accusation.
  6. There have been a scant few, but still a few players who were once Generals that became Trotters and vice versa.
  7. One of the few was Paul Sturgess who made the opposite transition. The former Globetrotter, after a few seasons playing for other teams, transferred back into the setup as part of the arranged opposition. The 7 ft 8 in. Sturgess adopts the persona of “Cager”, a masked adversary who adopts a villainous role.
  8.  The Generals were created in 1952 by their owner, GM, coach, and player Red Klotz.  Klotz played into his fifties.  They were a part of the staged act until 2015 when the Globetrotters decided to end their long, long relationship.   Fans actually objected to not seeing the Generals.
  9. So, in 2017, Herschend Family Entertainment, the owners of the Harlem Globetrotters, bought the Washington Generals from the Klotz family and revived them as an active team with Kenny Smith as general manager.  Yep, that Kenny Smith.
  10. The night of the lone recognized loss it’s reported that many children in the crowd cried in disbelief.  Meadowlark Lemon, ever the showman, was furious about the loss.  It wasn’t the game loss that concerned him in all likelihood.  It was the loss of a cornerstone of the brand.  The brand never lost.

One game tears aside, the Generals have won for a long time by losing to the beloved Globetrotters.  Creating a winning show that has prospered for 65 years is no easy task.  Ask the Knicks who are way, way off-Broadway, thankfully.  Or, ask Magic who couldn’t work his magic where he was once the lead actor in the hit play Showtime.

I Have Yet Another Story and a Moral Thereof

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Michael Phelps was the third ever American athlete to capture gold in four consecutive Summer Olympics in the same event.  Carl Lewis became only the second American to do so from 1984 through 1996. He won nine golds in all, but four consecutively came from the long jump.  But do you know who the first American was to win and in what event in four consecutive games?  If you just said Alfred “Al” Oerter, Jr. and the discus throw, without googling it, go directly to the medal stand to collect yours.

Al Oerter began his Olympic career in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.  As a not well-known underdog he threw a then career best 185 feet in the discus competition.  In 1960 Oerter set an Olympic record of 194 feet for his second gold.  In 1964, hampered by neck and rib injuries he skipped his last throw due to the pain but tossed his second one nearly 200 feet, good for gold number three.  In 1968, as a 32-year-old big underdog, Oerter came from well behind with a third and final hurl of 212 feet for his fourth and final gold.

His discus career had an almost mythical beginning.  While running on his high school track (Oerter began his track and field career as a miler), an errant discus, which weighs four and-a-half pounds, nearly hit him and fell nearby.  He tossed it back further than from where it came.  He immediately was asked by his coach to switch events.

After the ’68 games he retired to pursue life in the business world.  That world was not suited for him (especially the suit part) and by 1976 eyed a comeback in the sport he so loved.  He tried out for the 1980 Olympic team and threw a personal best 228 feet, but failed to qualify finishing fourth.  Amazingly, he was a young 43 years old then.

He also was suffering from high blood pressure that plagued him throughout his rewarding life.

Almost getting hit by the discus and suffering from high blood pressure were not known to this writer in 2003 when Al addressed a several hundred strong contingent of eager listeners, and told his remarkable story at our sales meeting.  His tale was riveting.  His passion pure.  His intensity extreme.  What was known was that a few social beverages consumed by a not to be named coworker and I prior to the speech made us thirsty for more as soon as another presenter stopped droning on post Al’s address.  Sitting by the back door of the amphitheater we bolted for the post meeting poolside party bar.  Beverages secured, we saw Al ready to mingle with the masses.

“Let’s go talk to him.”  “Sure, what to say?”  “Come on, we’ll think of something.”   Al was sweating profusely in the night air.  Blood pressure was the culprit, I suppose, now that I know.  After a quick bit of small talk (and a bit more of our refreshments) about how great the speech was and how proud he must be, I decided I had to ask.  “Al, you’ve seen the video of that guy running track that accidentally gets skewered by the javelin throw?”  “Huh?”  “You know, like the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat?”  He nodded affirmatively in silence, but with a furrowed brow.

“Well,” I went on.  “Well I was just wondering if you ever hit anyone about the cranium with the discus when you were practicing.”  “Are you serious?” He asked with some anger.  “Um, yes.”  “I traveled all the way to this meeting for you to ask me that?”  He seemed to not like my question much at all.  “Um, yes.”  “NO!”

With that Al turned faster than the whirl of a good discus throw and was off to talk to some other folks that might hold his interest and slow his escalating heartbeat.  Who knew?  Not I.  Well, it was time to head to the bar for another.  Maybe you “had to be there,” but at the time it was funny as hell.

Al died four years later in 2007, at a too young 71, of cardiovascular disease.  He refused a suggested heart transplant telling doctors that he “was going out with what he came here with.”

Oh.  What’s the moral of the story?  It probably is important to know your audience before you address them.

He did.  I did not.

 

 

 

Ten Piece Nuggets-April Madness

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

The madness that was March Madness didn’t disappoint due to the calendar turning the page to April.  We have a few nuggets for you to chew on prior to tonight’s final.

  1.  Saturday, in The Final Four matchups, upset minded and upstart Texas Tech stymied a darn good Michigan State team.  Meanwhile, Virginia squeezed by upstart and upset minded Auburn.  The field of 64 narrowed to 2, and tonight it’s down to the one who gets the scissors to cut down the twine.
  2. Virginia is a slight 1 and 1/2 point favorite if you like a wager.  Or, you could place $100 to win $110 on Texas Tech on the money line while Virginia costs you $130 to win $100.  Hmm.  What to do?  What to do?
  3. One bettor has a YUGE (thanks Donald) “what to do?” themselves.  He or she put $1500 on Texas Tech to win it all back in November.  The fat odds then were 200-1.  The potential payday is 300k.   Here is the story.  And, here is the dilemma.  If you have come this far, do you let it ride?  It’s 300k or nothing.  Or, do you hedge the bet?  Maybe you bet 100k on Virgina on the money line tonight.  If you don’t have 100k in loose change stuck in the sofa cushions, you could always borrow it from friends and pay them back plus a bit of the haul.  That would insure a 100k payday at a minimum if Virginia wins, or a 200k payday if Texas Tech wins.  Common sense says that you have to hedge.  Of course, common sense says that $1500 on Texas Tech in November wasn’t using a lot of common sense either.
  4. Common sense also says that Virginia beat Auburn 63-62 in the last second fair and square.  Conspiracy theorists disagree and at least one Auburn fan disagrees.   His feelings poured out right after the game and right at the refs.  You can see the short clip here. But turn down, way down, the volume if you are at work.
  5. If you think that the refs collectively followed some mysterious guidance from the NCAA to get the “blue bloods” into the finals as some have mentioned, we have a question or three for you.  Was the whole game tilted that way, or just the no call double dribble against Virginia and the three-point attempt Auburn foul call?  Why did the NCAA “allow” Texas Tech into the grand finale?  Why not fix that game too?  And, lastly, do you believe that one of the three shots that Lee Harvey Oswald took really came from a sharp shooter behind the grassy knoll?
  6. Speaking of sharpshooters, how about that Guy?  Kyle Guy that is.  Kyle was fouled (per the maybe crooked, maybe biased refs) and very calmly sank three straight free throws, the last of which was taken after a timeout aimed at icing him.  He iced the game for Virginia instead.  Ten years from now you can ask, “Do you remember when that guy hit those three last second free throws to win that game over Auburn?”  Then you can ask what was that guy’s name?  Don’t be that guy.
  7. Is there any hypocrisy in Auburn yelling about cheating?  Watching Bruce Pearl bounce up and down the sidelines after the foul call in disbelief about the refs ruling was just a tad of karma.  Bruce has been accused a time or three of cheating, too, we seem to recall.  One of his Auburn assistants plead guilty in the NCAA/FBI investigation while another was just suspended on March 13th.  He will remain sidelined (not on the sidelines) while the probe into his alleged involvement in a bribery while at Penn U. is investigated.  His acts at Penn might put him in the pen too.  He needs a good defense attorney.
  8. Speaking of good defense, The Red Raiders of Texas Tech play some.  Don’t take our word for it, ask Michigan State.  Or, ask any other team that they have faced in this tournament.  The over/under line for tonight is 118.5.  It’s the lowest point total for a final in 20 years.  Who says defense doesn’t win championships?
  9. Dick Vitale picks Virginia to win it all in a close, low scoring defensive struggle.  Shocker.  Him taking the blue blood team, taking the chalk, and predicting low scoring isn’t exactly groundbreaking.  Dick was once, and for a long time, a breath of fresh air in the gym.  Now, his rhetoric is tired.
  10. We’ll take Texas Tech and over 118.5.  If you haven’t heard, we like to zig when others zag.

Enjoy the final.  You’ll be watching it.  So will Bruce Pearl.  Isn’t karma a beeotch?

Lefty and Shorty Talking Baseball, Sorta

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

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Lefty and Shorty were all but ready to close the Gulf Oil gas station last evening.  The Gulf of Mexico has spoken.  The early spring, humid, steamy air descended on the quiet evening.  Midnight neared and cars were nowhere near.  Lefty- Why on earth do we stay open this late on a Thursday night?  Shorty- So that you and I can talk sports.

Lefty sat to the left of Shorty.  Imagine that.  Shorty sat on the shorter of the two “halves” of the 55 gallon drum. Imagine that.  Each were cut down to size and retrofitted with a soft cushion top.

Lefty- Can you believe the slow start for New York, Boston, and Houston?  Shorty- Everyone knows the Knicks stink.  Lefty– What?  Shorty- But, Boston and Houston are good.  They clinched a playoff berth.  Lefty- I’m talking baseball. The season just started. All three are Vegas favorites.  Shorty- Oh.  Baseball?  Nobody cares about baseball this early.  Lefty- I care.  Shorty- Tampa is in first and nobody knows one player on their team.  Lefty- Snell.  Shorty– Smell what?  Lefty- Blake Snell, the pitcher for Tampa.  He won the Cy Young last year.  Shorty- That’s one.  Name another.  Lefty- I can’t, but isn’t it interesting that they sometimes pitch their staff backwards.  Shorty- Backwards?  That must hurt.  No wonder no one goes to their games.  Lefty- No! No!  They sometimes start their closer, and close with their starter.  Shorty- Sounds weird.

Silence fills the still night for a moment as Lefty shakes his head and tries to regroup.

Lefty- So, who is going to win the MVP race?  Shorty- Harden.  Lefty- You mean Harper?  Shorty- Harden.  Lefty- I’m still talking baseball.  Harper just got traded to the Phillies.  Shorty- Why?

Lefty-Have you heard of Abbott and Costello? Shorty- Yes.  They are Lefty and Shorty wanna be’s.  Lefty- Have you heard of Who’s on First?  Shorty- On first?  Where?  I don’t know.  Lefty- No, he’s on third.

Shorty- Be sure to lock up.  I going home to catch the Harden highlights on ESPN unless they are talking about LeBron and his groin injury.

 

 

 

Hoping to Change Is Unrealistic

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.  So said William Arthur Ward.  We had no idea who William Arthur Ward was, but an avid reader forwarded this quote to us yesterday.

Turns out that Mr. Ward was an often quoted  writer of inspirational maxims.  During his lifespan more than 100 articles, poems and meditations written by Ward were published in such magazines as Reader’s Digest, The Phi Delta Kappan, and Science of Mind.

We had no idea who Lori Lightfoot was either.  Well that is, we didn’t until yesterday.  Turns out that Lightfoot was elected mayor of the third largest city in America, Chicago, yesterday.  In her victory speech late Tuesday evening she said that her election was a “mandate for change.”  She went on saying “Together we will insure that your zip code will no longer determine your destiny.”

Mr. Ward and Ms. Lightfoot on the surface both sound quite inspirational don’t they?

But we wonder, as a realist, if a mayor, or a government can insure that you, as an individual, or as a zip code can change as her “mandate” of an election speech suggests.

It was John F. Kennedy who asked in his inauguration speech, “Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country.”  Sounds like President Kennedy, who I am sure felt like his election was a mandate for change as well, was perhaps more of a realist.

Reliance on government creates a dependency.  When one hopes someone else will help them, they are dependent.  Once in place, and BBR submits its been in place for far too long, it becomes an entitlement.  Hoping is the first cousin of moping.

But, every two, four, or six years too many people in too many elections run on a promise of change, and hope, and dreams.  As a realist, we wish they would run on reality.

Chicago’s very own, the Reverend Jessie Jackson, while concluding the 1988 Democratic Convention warm up speech before a worldwide audience said “Keep Hope Alive!”  In fact he liked the sound of it so much he said it four consecutive times.  Inspirational indeed.

Hope is but an emotional connection.  Post election reality sets in all over again.  It’s nice to keep hope alive.  It really is.  We all like to dream of better days.

Realistically, however, without action, it gets you as an individual, nowhere.  Sorry to disagree Ms. Lightfoot, but you’ll be in the same zip code in four years if you rely on others.

 

Boom Boom’s Life Lessons #14

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

One of the many gifts that Boom Boom gave us was the torrent of quips about how one leads one’s life.   He could say so much by saying so little.   A statement at just the right moment resonated in my young, eager eardrums.  How I interpreted or applied it was up to me.  No more words were spoken because no more words were needed.

Growing up, Daniel Joseph “Rusty” Staub was my favorite MLB baseball player.  Born and raised in NOLA, he signed with the Houston Astros for a then crazy 100,000 dollars in the early sixties.  Our family and his were friends.  My dad introduced me to him at an early age both in person and through the TV and newspapers.  I was hooked.

He went on to play in four decades (late 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s) for five teams (the Mets twice), amass 2700 plus hits, and late in his career set a modern-day record for pinch hits.

Growing up my conversations with Boom Boom were plentiful.  Rarely did one occur that didn’t start or end in baseball.  Rarely did one occur without a subtle or not so subtle lesson imbedded in it.

“Rusty went one for three last night Dad.  What’s his batting average?”  “Get a pencil and paper son and we will figure it out,” he suggested.

“Can we drive to Houston and watch Rusty play for our vacation?”  “Let’s sit down tonight with your mom and see if that’s what we want to do this summer.”  “We could go to AstroWorld too!”  “Sounds great son.  It’s a family decision, let’s talk to mom.”

“Why did the Astros trade him to the Montreal Expos, dad?”  “The Astros must have thought they were getting value back son.”  “What does value mean, dad?”  “Value means getting equal or better in return.”

In my teen years, “Why did Rusty turn down 2.5 million dollars over five years from the Mets, dad?”  “He asked for $200k a year for the next 20 years instead Wally.  He is setting himself up for the rest of his life son.”  “What does that mean?”  “Get a pencil and paper and we will figure it out,” he again suggested.

Rusty never held out for more money.  He never had a bad word to say about another teammate or coach. He never got tossed from a game.  And, most of all, he left the game with his head held high.  Over time he became a favorite of many for how he conducted himself on the field, in the clubhouse, and in life.

Happy belated birthday to Rusty!  He would have been 75 on Monday, April 1st, or April Fool’s Day.  But, Rusty was no fool.  He didn’t know it, but he helped Boom Boom teach an eager beaver a thing or two about sports, life, finances, and growing up “the right way.”

It’s great to have heroes in life.  It’s greater to have one that you can learn a lot from.  It’s greatest when you can share that hero’s journey with your ultimate hero in life.

 

 

 

 

Down Goes Biden, Down Goes Biden!

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday we offered up our four best runners-up for the top five countdown of Donald Trump’s best (from the right) or worst (from the left) nicknames on his road to, and now, as President of the United States.  In the era of “play nice in the sandbox”  The Donald never shies away from a good jab or a right (saw what we did there?) cross.

Today, below, are our top five in ascending order of punch strength.

5.  Low Energy Jeb Bush– The Republican old guard and its committee for election in 2016 mostly had aligned its effort and huge money behind the brother of one and the son of another former president.  Hey everyone, get excited about another Bush!  The problem was twofold.  One, America was screaming for less of the same and wanted a fresh feel.  Two, Jeb’s a nice guy, but Jeb doesn’t exactly energize.  Then candidate Trump sensed all of the above and labeled him Low Energy Jeb.  Republican’s from near and far collectively agreed that Jeb didn’t exactly light up a room.  Soon, he wasn’t any longer in the room.  It was a Trump TKO.

4.  Pencil Neck Adam Schiff–  The newest nickname is only a week old.  It makes its debut at number 4.  We were quite tempted to place it higher, much higher.  It was the impetus for this post actually.  It’s not higher because of the significance of the remaining three, but like a fine wine (or whine if you are Schiff) it will only gain more character with age.  Schiff, Chair of the Intelligence Committee, has put himself on the front burner as one of Trump’s biggest critics.  When one sticks his (pencil) neck out attacking President Trump one might get burned.  No further explanation is needed.  It’s as if a flyweight stepped into the wrong ring.

3.  Crooked Hillary– As Secretary of State under President Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton had a small problem with too many phones in hand, and way too many emails erased.  After Trump stumped his way past Lil Marco, Lyin Ted, and Low Energy Jeb, he focused his energy on the highest office in the land.  Clinton’s Bengazi problem and use of personal technology while conducting official and perhaps top-secret US business was under investigation.  Trump decided that she was guilty, naming her Crooked Hillary.   America, almost silently it seemed, had grown tired of the same old, same old Washington mess.  Jeb Bush had no energy and the wrong last name.  Hillary was labeled crooked and had the wrong last name.  Drain the swamp Trump said.  He hit her right on the nose.

2.  Pocahontas- Like Pencil Neck Adam, we were tempted to put this one higher, meaning number one.  It easily could be.  Elizabeth Warren, senior Senator from Massachusetts, claimed many times in her past that she was of Native American heritage.  She did so repeatedly on college entrance applications and law bar applications alike.  Being a minority helps in such pursuits.  As she rose in recognition and importance the lie, exaggeration, or stretch (however you wish to look at it) grew in stature.  Her outspoken opposition of The Donald caused him to drop the name Pocahontas on her.  Politically incorrect, said many.  Racist said many more.  But, now Warren has had to say she was sorry about that more and more.  With a one word nickname Warren, now an announced presidential candidate for 2020, has a handle that she will struggle to shake.  It’s a shot to the body by The Donald that takes the wind away.

1. Rocket Man–  A ripple of shock rolled through Twitter and the global media when President Trump called North Korea’s Kim Jong Un “Rocket Man” on the floor of the United Nations.  How dare he inflame an already very strained relationship with a dictator who sent a few nuclear test missiles over South Korea and Japan?   Heck, we even heard that North Korea’s capability had reached a range that could target the left coast of America.  Undeterred, on a world stage, Trump pressed on.  Perhaps he knows when he has the better cards?  Two years and two summits later Rocket Man has not yet been completely neutered, but the rockets haven’t glared red in a long while.  And, Trump and team continues to press hard for complete disarmament.  Given what was and is at stake on a global stage, this nickname is the knockout.

It’s only a matter of time before Trump recognizes another exposed chin and takes a swing.   The BBR money is on Joe Biden.  With accusers aplenty, Biden might wear himself out before he ever gets into the ring.  Trump is just bidding his time before he jabs.

Say it ain’t so, Joe.

Mr. Magoo and the Haymakers

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Emboldened by what he called “total vindication,” President Trump took a victory lap after the knockout to Grand Rapids, MI. and back for one of his feel good pep rallies of his base.  The Mueller Investigation findings, though not yet totally released, proves, he says, what he told us all along.  That is, no Russian Collusion.

Some Democrats, like a dog on a bone, won’t yet let go.  One such bow-wow, from the great state of California, Adam Schiff continued his diatribe into the weekend that he knows Trump is guilty and he has proof.  When he became Chair of the House Intelligence Committee in 2019, Schiff made it his personal mission to investigate Trump’s connections to Russia, separate from the investigation by the Special Counsel.  Schiff came under significant fire when asked if he would accept it if the Special Counsel’s investigation concluded that Donald Trump did not collude with Russia.  He stated that he has great confidence in Mueller but that “there may be, for example, evidence of collusion or conspiracy that is clear and convincing, but not proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” as is needed for a criminal conviction.

So, President Trump, once the star of the hit show The Apprentice, took his show on the road.  No apprentice at assigning nicknames to friend or foe, “The Donald” offered a new one in describing the House Intelligence Chairperson.  It played quite well in Grand Rapids, and we suspect it’ll play quite well in red states coast to coast.  Of course there aren’t many red states on any coast really unless you include the Gulf Coast.

So, since he has such an affinity for nicknames, BBR decided to countdown our thoughts on his best (if you are from the right) or his worst (if you are from the left).  The hit list is the same either way.

Many honorable mentions are possible.  We chose four that follow.

Little Marco – Then candidate Trump went from stage left to center stage after just one Republican debate.  He bullied several believed to be serious candidates right down podium row.  Marco Rubio, of diminutive size, took a shot to his ribs, lost his composure more than once, and never recovered.

Crazy Bernie- Bernie Sanders pushed Hillary Clinton much further left than she wished to gain the Democratic nomination in 2016.  The now Prez relabeled “free college tuition” Bernie as Crazy Bernie.  Bernie’s glasses and uncoiffed grey hair could, given a lab white lab coat, come across as a bit out there to anyone to his right.  And we think many are to his right.

Lyin’ Ted- Ted Cruz stayed above it all for much of the Republican campaigning and debating.  As also ran’s ran out of support or money or both, Ted stayed firmly in the race.  Mr. Trump took exception to a few of Ted’s characterizations of him and labeled him Lyin’ Ted Cruz.  Trump trumped Ted in the debates by pulling out the nickname early and often is his rebuttals of Ted’s shots across the bow.  Ted eventually bowed out.

Mr. Magoo- President Trump appointed Congressman Jeff Sessions as his first Attorney General of the United States.  Alabamian Sessions was an early, avid, and outspoken advocate of candidate Trump.  Trump spoke glowingly of Sessions.  He did at least until Sessions recused himself in the beginning stages of the Russian Investigation that led to the appointment of Special Prosecutor Mueller.    Sessions decided to not participate.  He concluded “I should not be involved in investigating a campaign I had a role in.”  Trump denies that he ever called AG Sessions “Mr. Magoo.” Of course he denies any Stormy relationship that turned stormy for him as well.   We think the nickname is too good for Trump to not take credit.  So, we included it here, authorship be damned.

Remember, President Trump says that he never starts a fight, he just counter punches until he ends one.  Maybe.  But, there is no doubt that he’s a heavyweight champion of nicknames.  The one he put on Schiff is a punch straight to his manhood.

Tomorrow we count down his top five haymakers.

They all hit like Mike Tyson.

 

Time to Move

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Four weeks from today the NFL Draft Extravaganza gets rolling in Nashville, TN when Roger Goodell walks onto the stage to announce that the NFL Draft 2019 has begun.  He’ll get booed roundly.  He always does.

Someone else who got booed roundly is the reason why Nashville has the draft spotlight on them this year, or for that matter, more importantly, why Nashville has an NFL team.  Kenneth Stanley “Bud” Adams, Jr. was a founding owner of the old American Football League back in 1959.    Bud’s franchise was the Houston Oilers, located in an oil boom town.  And, soon he housed the team in the eighth wonder of the world, The Astrodome which gave even more credibility to the new league.

As the league grew in popularity it eventually merged with the National Football League in 1970.  His franchise’s value grew considerably on that day.  When he hired Bum Phillips to coach and when Bum drafted Earl Campbell collectively they could do no wrong.  Then Bud fired Bum.  And it got worse from there.

In 1987, Adams threatened to move the Oilers to Jacksonville, Florida unless significant improvements were made to the Astrodome. Harris County, which owns the Astrodome, responded with a $67 million renovation that added 10,000 more seats, a new Astroturf carpet and 65 luxury boxes. Adams promised that with the new improvements, he would keep the team in Houston for 10 years.  Ever the man of his word, Bud kept them in Houston for exactly 10 more years.  His flirting with Jacksonville made Houston leery.  His outright romance with Nashville led to a divorce.

After Adams met several times with then-Nashville mayor Phil Bredesen, they announced a deal to bring the Oilers to Nashville for the 1998 season to a new 68,000-seat stadium (originally called Adelphia Coliseum, now known as Nissan Stadium).  To throw mud in Houston’s eye, Adams successfully petitioned the league to permanently retire the nickname Oilers.

And in 1998, after a year playing in Memphis, the Tennessee Titans kicked off in Nashville.  How could someone abandon the now third largest city for then, little ole Nashville?

It turns out that everyone’s a winner, like on Oprah’s show, here.  Houston got an expansion franchise in the early 2000’s to replace the Oilers.  The Texans are already a franchise valued at well over 2 billion.  They play average football to sold out crowds and sold out suites year after year.

Meanwhile, Nashville has added an NHL team to their burgeoning portfolio of reasons why it’s now a very relevant US sports city.   Amazon’s million square foot office, Oracle’s 800k square foot office, and Alliance Bernstein’s announced move to Nashville has all occurred in the last six months.  That and more makes Nashville a very relevant city period.  Tall cranes, always a good sign, are everywhere.

Maybe Bud Adams had more vision that we could see in the early 90’s.  He bought into the AFL in 1959 for a 50k franchise price.  The Titans are now valued at 2.05 billion themselves.  That was some vision.

MLB starts today.  Maybe the Houston Astros can get to another World Series.  The Astrodome was built for them originally.  Bud moved in afterwards.

Nashville doesn’t yet have an MLB team.  But, with the growth going on in the city some visionary probably has a plan in mind.

It’s play ball in Houston today. It’s Kyler Murray’s name called as the first round first pick to the Arizona Cardinals in four weeks in Nashville.  And, it’s always a good day to boo Roger Goodell.