Woke. Toke. Joke.

Posted on April 7, 2021 by thependulumswings staff

Over the weekend our friend Woke spoke out against Georgia and its supposed voter suppression laws. Never mind that the laws in place in the southern state are actually more progressive now than they were during the recent elections.

Major League Baseball was listening. And learning. MLB decided that it would move its 2021 mid-summer All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver. Its commissioner Rob Manfred, a member of the exclusive, famed Augusta Country Club so far has declined comment on whether The Masters Golf Tournament should follow suit.

It looks like the big swing from east to the west didn’t travel quite far enough.

Coors Field is named after Joseph Coors former president of Coors Brewing Company.

Coors established the Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) a generation ago. MSLF’s litigation work took a swing at the Voting Rights Act. MSLF filed a brief in the U.S Supreme Court case Shelby County v. Holder challenging Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which required that certain states had to get preclearance from the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal court before changing voting laws. Oops.

If only the balls were juiced enough to have flown all the way to Cali.

There Woke could toke. Although it would be wise to stay away from any cannabis developed by rapper Xzibit’s company named Napalm Cannabis. They’ve been hit with an accusation of racism due to it being named after the chemical weapon used in firebombs during the Vietnam War.

A California-based store named The Higher Path found itself in the bullseye. The Higher Path quickly took the higher path. It says the product line ended up on its digital shelves in the first place due to ignorance and a lack of diversity on the company’s marketing team.

Customers were offended by the name of the rapper’s company, as well as a product known as “The Grenade,” reports no greater authority than TMZ.

“As an entirely white marketing team that lacks knowledge or trauma surrounding this weapon, we didn’t realize how violent and ignorant it was to promote such a brand/product. That’s on us.”

Woke. Smoke. Toke. Joke.

“The word ‘napalm’ is definitely synonymous with war, and being used as a weapon,” Xzibit said. “And if you know anything about me, and my body of work — I got albums called ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction,’ and ‘Man vs. Machine,’ so on and so forth.

“My intention for naming the cannabis company Napalm was by no means affiliated or a nod to the devastation that it’s had in its past,” Xzibit added.

The rapper said “as a black man,” he understands “discrimination and hatred.”

“So this album here is called ‘Napalm.’ I put this album out in 2012,” he continued. Apparently, the word wasn’t as offensive from 2012 through early 2021.

Meanwhile back in backwoods Georgia, apparently, neither is “braves” in the team name Atlanta Braves. They’ve been in the ATL since 1966.

But the smoke signals from coast to coast signal that the end is near for that nickname.

It will get napalmed and not a moment too soon.

The Potato Head formerly known as Mr. knows this all too well.

Name Dropping

Posted on January 27, 2021January 27, 2021 by thependulumswings staff

As you know Hank Aaron passed away over the weekend. His contribution to baseball and countless lives transcended the game. He conducted himself on and off the field with great ease and aplomb.

His 755 home runs are surpassed by only one player in the game’s history. And history will forever judge how that player got there.

He started his career in Milwaukee, continued the storied run in Atlanta, and finished his final two trips around the league again from Milwaukee. Through it all, he amassed 3771 hits and was a career .305 hitter. His place in the game is forever etched in its lore. And he did all of it with great grace in the racially charged ’60s and ’70s.

This brings us to today’s world. Seemingly minutes after his passing social media got active. Then it got hot like one of Arron’s hitting streaks. The outcry was again renewed to rename the team that Aaron made famous-the Atlanta Braves. It’s always a good time to stir the cancel culture pot.

“Braves” is insensitive they (whoever they is) say.

The organization has remained steadfast that it’s an honorable term for the Native Americans. Though that same organization has eliminated the tomahawk chop from the battle cry for the offense to light up in the stadium. The war beat of the drum has ceased banging as well. Seems two-faced or at least red-faced to us, though we doubt that you could or should say red-faced anymore either.

Georgia Tech announced that they were going to retire the #44 in honor of Aaron. What is the association of Tech with Aaron you ask? Same city, but nothing.

The Atlanta Falcons also announced that they were retiring #44. Really? The town’s football team is retiring the town’s best-known baseball player’s number. The Falcons should have quit while they were ahead. Wait. They already did against New England in a Super Bowl a few years back while leading 28-3. Maybe they should retire numbers 28 and 3 as well?

While the “to be or not to be” Braves discussion plays out, maybe they should change their name temporarily a la the Washington Football Team? How well does the “Atlanta Baseball Team” roll off of your lips?

Many have suggested that the Braves become the Hammers to honor Hammerin’ Hank Aaron. Drop the tomahawk and add the hammer to the logo. Voila- that’s a cheap and quick fix if there ever was one.

This brings us to tomorrow’s world. Shouldn’t we honor all of the minorities that broke through after Jakie Robinson broke through?

The San Francisco Giants could become the San Fran Say Hey Kids honoring Willie Mays. The New York Mets could be named The New York Gooden Plenty seeing how Dwight Gooden brought the Big Apple’s little apple a championship. And, the Pittsburgh Pirates should consider the Pittsburgh Pops for the revered Willie “Pops” Stargell.

While we’re at it the New Orleans Pelicans could retire #9 in honor of Drew Brees soon, too. Wait.

Perhaps we’re getting a bit carried away?

Perhaps.

What’s In a Name?

Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

“That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

The MLB Cleveland baseball franchise had trouble picking a sweet nickname that would endear them to their fanbase at the outset of its now 120-year run.

Born in 1901 they were named the Cleveland Blues. The expansion team that year gave their followers the blues finishing 54-82-2 (no lights and train schedules were to blame for tie games back then).

Just a year later in 1902, they changed to the Cleveland Bronchos. What’s with the letter “H” you ask? Way back when “broncos” was spelled “bronchos.” Who knew? The fans did, and apparently, this wasn’t the answer for them either. It lasted one season as well.

Just a year later in 1903, they changed to the Naps. What’s in the name Naps? Napoleon Lajoie arrived in Cleveland on June 4 and was an immediate hit, drawing 10,000 fans to League Park. Soon afterward, he was named team captain, and in 1903 the team was renamed the Cleveland Napoleons (soon shortened to Naps) after a newspaper conducted a write-in contest.

The Naps nickname lasted from 1903 till 1914. A dreadful season in ’14 put the Nap nickname to bed (see what we did there?) for eternity.

Since 1915 and for 95 seasons and counting the franchise has been known as the Cleveland Indians. They’ve won exactly 51% of their 16,482 games, 6 pennants, and two World Series.

Seems like they’ve been average at best for a long time. And, they’ve been Indians for a long time as well.

But no more. Well, technically they will be for one more season.

Amid accusations that “Indians” is racist, the organization is expected to announce the change this week, sources said, continuing a years-long process in which it abandoned its Chief Wahoo logo and committed to exploring a new nickname, as well.

The upcoming season of 2021 is expected to be a transition from the old to the new name. You have just 12 short months to get your Indians $125 replica jersey before the new name ones retail for $135. Perhaps they could follow the NFL’s Washington Football Team lead and identify as the Cleveland Baseball Team for a year?

At the intersection of Brand Name Blvd. and Politically Correct Circle, the train known as Cancel Culture chugged through. So for about 96 years being known as “Indians” was good, but now, it’s bad.

“This is the culmination of decades of work,” the Oneida Nation of New York, which led the Change the Mascot Movement, said in a statement to ESPN. “Groups like the National Congress of American Indians (it’s ok for them) passed resolutions for decades on this, social science has made clear these names are harmful and Cleveland got out in front of it and they’re leading, and rather than having this hanging over their heads, they’re charting a new path.”

They’re leading says Oneida Nation! Not really.

What took them so long? Well, they last won a World Series in 1948, or 72 years and counting. Good things come to those who wait.

They’re following. They always have.

They’ve been napping for over a century actually.

Ten Piece Nuggets-Sports

Posted on October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday’s rant about Hunter Biden and all that is wrong with that story left you hungry. We understand. Politics is getting harder on the stomach by the day.

We have your nuggets. They’re a day late and were nearly a few nuggets short. Deadlines are troublesome when your staff shows up late.

As usual, they’re randomly presented, but cooked just right.

Did you see what Tennessee Head Coach Mike Vrabel did late in the game v the Houston Texans Sunday? He purposely sent a 12th man onto the field while on defense to draw a penalty. It was 2nd and 1 and the clock had reached 3:30 left in the fourth quarter. The high probability that the Texans, leading 30-29, would get a first down on that or the 3rd down play meant the clock or his timeouts could be drawn down significantly. He conceded the first down, saved a timeout or two, and saved 45 or more seconds. Scroll to the bottom of this article to see it unfold.
The Texans went on to score but left the Titans enough time and timeouts to tie the game in regulation with a very late touchdown. In overtime the Titans won the coin toss, drove the length of the field, and won the game. It’s a Bill Belichick type of move from a Bill Belichick disciple. Expect the ever-active NFL rules committee to take action this offseason somehow to prevent this in the future. It’s called the NFL. It’s called the No Fun League, where creative thinking is discouraged at times.
The Dak-less Dallas Cowboys looked below average with backup Andy Dalton leading them last MNF evening. It might be a long road ahead for a team that was picked to win the NFC East by most. They fell to 2-4. The East is bad. Correction, the East is very bad. The Cowboys remain on top of the division at 2-4. That’s no typo. The Washington Football Team, the Philadelphia Phootball Eagles, and the New York Football Giants each have one win to show in six tries.
Who’s undefeated after six weeks? Seattle, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh are. Front runners in the NFL rarely fade. It’ll be interesting in late December if these three are still on a shortlist vying for home-field advantage throughout. It says here that they will be. Baltimore and Kansas City might have a bit to say about that in the AFC, and Green Bay might as well in the NFC. Sorry Chicago fans, they won’t but will contend for a nice seed at this pace. The Bear D is good. The Bear O is bad. Did somebody just ask, “what about Tom Brady and Tampa?” Nah.
The Big 10 rolls out the pigskin this weekend. Welcome back. They’ve been missed. More football is better than less. And, Clemson and Alabama need someone to keep them company at the top. It’s lonely up there. It’s very lonely up there. Sure, Notre Dame is undefeated. Does anyone really think that they are on the aforementioned two teams’ level? THE Ohio St might well be. When the PAC 12 resumes, which we presume will be before 2024, maybe even Oregon can join a conversation.
When Oklahoma St and Texas A&M are ranked 6th and 7th respectively you can tell football isn’t playing with a full deck nor to a full house. 2020.
The World Series starts tonight. Will you be watching? The matchup is very interesting. Tampa is a small, small media market, LA is the second largest. Tampa Bay’s payroll is 28th out of 32 teams. Los Angeles pays 2nd best trailing only the NY Yankees. The Rays are +175, the Dodgers are -215.
The Rays have four current or former All-Stars with five total appearances. The Dodgers have 12 players combining to make 26 appearances.
The Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts in the offseason and the list of better nonpitching players in the game is very short. The Rays acquired Randy Arozarena. He was an obscure rookie outfielder in the Cardinals organization. In 2019 he spent 1/2 a year in AA and half a year in AAA. Arozerena was the MVP of the ALCS. He’s been a house on fire in the playoffs to date.
Do you miss the NBA already? LeBron got his damn respect winning the Finals just a week ago yesterday with the LA Lakers. The season resumes on January 18th of 2021. It’s only 12 weeks away. You can make it.

Whew. Deadlines.

Lil Joe and Lil Jose

Posted on October 14, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

On Sunday the first second baseman that the Houston Astros organization ever had passed away. Lil Joe Morgan, as he was known, broke in with the then Colt 45’s, now Astros in 1963.

With old school spikes on Morgan may have been all of five feet seven inches tall. But he played big. Traded to Cincinnati in 1971, and as part of the Big Red Machine, Morgan made eight consecutive All-Star Game appearances (1972–79) to go along with his 1966 and 1970 appearances with Houston. Morgan, along with teammates Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and Tony Pérez led the Reds to consecutive championships in the 1975 and 1976 World Series.

Morgan was also the National League MVP in 1975 and 1976. He was the first second baseman in the history of the National League to win the MVP back to back. He also won four gold gloves in consecutive seasons from 1973-1977. His demeanor on the field was as unflappable as his left elbow was flappable while batting.

Is he the best second baseman to ever play for the Astros? Well, Craig Biggio never played a major league game in anything other than an Astros uniform in his 20-year career, so his accumulated Houston stats are better. But, Morgan’s overall accomplishments in the game, especially on the biggest stages (playoffs and World Series) are much better.

Then along came another five-foot seven-inch second baseman. Jose Altuve broke into the big show in 2011 and is in the middle of a career, making his case. He’s been with the Astros a quick ten years and sports a gold glove and a league MVP to his credit while also winning a World Series. The six-time all-star has won the league batting title three times and sports a fine .311 career average. He has amassed over 1600 hits and did so by getting to the first 1000 of them faster than any other player in the history of the game. Three thousand is very doable.

But Lil Jose has one big problem. He cheated the game. Even if you believe he only cheated in one year (2017), it’s of course one year too many. If you’ve read this far you already know all about the circumstances surrounding that.

And, suddenly, Jose has another problem. Is it another big problem? We’ll find out. From nowhere, Altuve cannot throw the baseball from second to first base. Yips? Maybe. He’s committed three throwing errors in the last two ALCS games v the Rays. The hitch in the throwing motion is there for all of the baseball world to see.

When the elite physical ability is consumed by a mental block the long-term results can be disastrous. Don’t believe that? Ask Chuck Knobloch or Steve Sax, both fine second basemen in their day. A light switch burned out and their accuracy went (and stayed) kaput. Rick Ankiel could throw 95 miles per hour fastballs pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals a decade ago when 95mph was elite. Well, he could until he couldn’t. Suddenly the backstop was more effective than his catcher at slowing down his errant attempts.

Some folks are laughing at Altuve’s struggles this AM. He’s the poster child for Astros haters. Karma, they say, is a witch or something like that.

Still, bad acting on big stages is cringeworthy.

The Rays will likely dispose of the Astros tonight to complete the four-game sweep. They were the better team coming into the series and have shown out.

The series will soon enough be forgotten. But, the question for Altuve is “has he forgotten how to throw a baseball?”

Ten Piece Nuggets-Football, Baseball and a PS

Posted on October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

Significant technical difficulties this AM at the world headquarters of BBR leads to a first. You’ve been put on a diet. Less than ten nuggets might be served below in hopes that we can beat the deadline to post. Enjoy and shed some weight at the same time.

Deep in The Heart of Texas starts with “the stars at night are big and bright.” Maybe so. But they aren’t shining on football in the state that brought you Friday Night Lights. This past weekend the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Texas Longhorns, and Texas A&M Aggies all spit the bit. Three of their games weren’t even competitive. The Longhorns coughed up a fumble from point-blank range late in the fourth quarter to grab defeat from the jaws of victory v TCU.
The Cowboys at 1-3 are only 1/2 game out of first in the woeful East Division of the NFC though. Philadelphia, thanks to a late road comeback over the 49ers, is at the top at 1-2-1. The division has the Washington Football Team at 1-3. The name change didn’t help. And, the NY Football Giants are 0-4. That’s a smooth 3-12-1 combined.
The Texans are 0-4. Bill O’Brien added GM duties in the offseason to his head coaching position. He’s as stubborn as a steer headed to slaughter. He is also the only head coach with such a duel role in the NFL we believe. He bloated the Texans payroll to $225 million, highest in the league. Their porous defense has surrendered 126 points through four games. Only three teams have surrendered more as the season hits the quarter pole. The Lions (127) and Jets (131) have surrendered more. But, the absolute worst you wonder? How bout them Cowboys at 146?
Tom Herman was the hottest name in NCAA coaching circles four years ago. Texas threw big money at him. He’s 1-3 versus in-state TCU and has lost 20 games and counting in 3.25 years. His agent used LSU to broker a bigger deal with Texas. LSU “settled” on Ed Orgeron. In Austin, it’s “pew.” In Baton Rouge, it’s “whew!”
Texas A&M watched Johnny Football Mansiel run past Alabama eight years ago and thought Kevin Sumlin had something to do with it. They tore up his old contract and guaranteed him $25 million over the next five years. Three years later they ate that remaining $10 million. Undeterred, they guaranteed Jimbo $75 million over the next ten years. Fisher is a disciple of Nick Saban. Fisher is 0-3 vs. his mentor now. Saturday, Saban’s Bama team beat Jimbo’s A&M team 52-24. In 2019 it was Bama 47-28 and in 2018 it was 45-23. Seventy-five million doesn’t buy as much as it did previously it seems.
Tom Herman and Jimbo Fisher have combined to take home about $45 million combined so far from the two public Texas universities. They are still owed another $73 million guaranteed. Who says you can’t throw bad money after bad money?
How is your betting going in this season that is but almost never was? On Saturday college football underdogs went 23-7 v the spread. Home underdogs were 10-2. For the season underdogs are now 61.5% against the spread. Take the points.
A great NFL in-game bet is to take whoever the Detroit Lions are playing when the Lions roar ahead by 10 points or more. Yesterday they led the N.O. Saints 14-0 five minutes into the game. By halftime they trailed 28-14. The Lions have now lost six consecutive games in which they led at one point by 10+. It’s the longest such streak in NFL history. This comes from a team that has never won a Super Bowl ever either. Jeez.
Joe Burrow became the first rookie ever to throw for 300 or more yards in three consecutive games. He led the previously winless Cincinnatti Bengals to their first victory of the season. Afterwards, in the Bengals locker room, he was presented with the game ball. Burrow said the game ball is going back in the ball bag. He consistently told his LSU teammates game after game in last year’s 15-0 championship run that they had bigger fish to fry as well. It’s early, but it looks like Cincinnati hit on the first pick of it all.
The MLB division level playoffs begin today. Every series has bad blood between its opponents. Oakland hates Houston and knew they were cheating all along in 2019. The TB Rays and the NY Yankees played beanball recently and Rays’ manager Kevin Cash thinks the Yankees staff fails to police it’s pitching staff. The Dodgers and Padres don’t like all of the posing each does after taters leave the yard. And the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins have had their own rendition of beanball this year. Let the gamesmanship and games begin.

Whew! We were able to pile ten high on your plate.

P.S. The NBA Finals between the LA Lakers and Miami Heat is 2-1 Lakers. We had to look that one up. LeBron’s new team is beating one of LeBron’s old teams.

The Jury Is Out on BOYCOTT-2020

Posted on August 28, 2020August 28, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

In the last few months for the NBA, the NHL, and MLB great preparation and an abundance of caution have been taken for players’ safety to minimize or prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Lessons were learned from this an applied to try to get the NFL and NCAA football teams in camp and able to start the 2020 fall seasons successfully.

The jury is still out, but the preponderance of the evidence seems promising that success can be had.

Little did anyone know that another problem could and would spread faster through the leagues than even COVID-19 could.

It’s called BOYCOTT-20. It’s not as deadly, but its actual root cause is to prevent deaths ironically.

It started three days back in a meeting of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks team meeting. They decided collectively that they had had it with the continued unnecessary deaths of black men at the hands of white cops. Indeed, that is a valid concern.

Quickly, the BOYCOTT-20 festered in the NBA bubble. All playoff games for Wednesday were boycotted. The Clippers and the Lakers, led by the King, decided in a Wednesday PM meeting that they were done with the season. And, Thursday’s games were canceled as the league tried to find agreeable ways to combat the warp speed virus.

The damn thing jumped out of the Orlando bubble and hit MLB like a Nolan Ryan beanball and the NHL like Gordie Howe slapshot. They went dark last evening too.

And yesterday the SEC Kentucky Wildcat football team boycotted practice. Other SEC teams may follow today.

The PAC 12 and the Big 10 want desperately to boycott their football practice too. Unfortunately, they succumbed to the deadly CC-20 (cancel culture) weeks ago. Unfortunate. RIP.

The jury is still out on the success of these boycotts as well.

As a matter of fact, the jury hasn’t even been empaneled for the state v. Rusten Sheskey, the cop that shot Jacob Blake seven times. As a matter of fact, Rusten Sheskey hasn’t even been arrested.

But, The Movement moves fast. They’ve seen enough. A black man shot in the back SEVEN times. It’s all there on video. It’s all there on video except all of the facts that led to that moment or those seven moments.

As a society we haven’t learned yet from the deaths or shootings of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL, or Freddie Gray in Baltimore, MD, or Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, LA, or Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, or George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, or now Jacob Blake in Kenosha, WI.

We want change and we want it now. If we don’t get it, we’ll take our ball and go home. No more games. That’ll show America.

Except it won’t.

America wants change too. America doesn’t want more police interaction with criminals who disobey their commands. America doesn’t want chokeholds. But, America wants peace.

Acting like a petulant child spraypainting a building, shooting fireworks, or much worse won’t help. Boycotting won’t help.

America wants an America where The Movement recognizes that multiple time offenders like Floyd and Blake aren’t good people. Should they have been killed or nearly killed? No. But, they’re bad people-period. In fact, they are really bad. Look up their police records if you have 45 minutes to spare. Maybe some will want to boycott armed robbery or sex offenses.

Boycott for the next ten seasons if you wish. But on your way to the woke walkout take a minute to realize how very bad actors put themselves in very bad positions where very bad things can and do happen.

With all of the extra time off that boycotts bring, athletes can ask their woke self what they would do in an instant when you fear for your life even when you have the gun and the badge. Then ask yourself if it would be better for those resisting arrest to avoid the situation altogether. Again, and again, and again.

But BOYCOTT-20 might be subsiding. Rumor has it the NBA told the remaining playoff players that their income might be clipped by 25-30% should they cancel culture their livelihood. Sounds like sneakers will be squeaking on the hardwood floor as soon as today.

At a bare minimum can America wait for a jury to hear all of the facts?

It worked for OJ.

Ten Piece Nuggets-Sports, Random, and News.

Posted on August 21, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

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.

America’s Favorite Pastime

Posted on July 28, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

Welp! That didn’t take long.

About 3 days into the delayed launch of the 2020 Major League Baseball season, a game or two and counting have been postponed. Usually, its 27 degrees and snowing in Chicago in early April and we hear the annual whine about starting too early in Spring or scheduling season-opening series in the northern climes.

This time four then seven more players and two coaches and counting on the Miami Marlins went from negative to positive on COVID-19 testing from when Friday’s opener v. Philadelphia concluded Sunday. And just like that, a positive late start to the shortened season became a negative. Is anyone surprised?

Miami’s home opener scheduled for last evening with Baltimore was a no go. MLB also said yesterday “that out of an abundance of caution, the Yankees game versus Philadelphia was postponed.” No Phillies have yet tested positive.

So the league that often looks like its own worst enemy faced a decision about the enemy that wears #19 on its invisible uniform. And the league took one for the team.

There are win-win situations from time to time. This isn’t one of them.

There are no-win situations from time to time. Perhaps this is one of them.

But, MLB and the other leagues that are champing at the bit to roll out a ball, are at a crossroad. It’s the same one that all of America and the world for that matter faces. Is anyone surprised?

What to do, what to do? Like bunting a guy to second you could play it safe. Or, you could swing for the fences.

Individuals don’t have to play. Individuals don’t have to go into work. But when teams crank up or businesses reopen individuals feel the need to go. Whether it’s pride, work ethic, financial need, or job security the need to do so outweighs any want to do otherwise.

Wear a mask, stay six feet apart, try to stay in the open air, etc, etc. You’ve heard it all before.

It works, doesn’t it? The problem remains- we don’t really know. But we do know that the survival rate is now over 99%.

The fine line between herd immunity and herd stupidity is as blurred as the first base chalk line in an extra-inning game.

There once were metal cleats, doubleheaders, brushbacks, brawls, and home plate collisions. They were good until it was decided that they were bad.

How bad does bad have to get for the league to take its bat bag and go home? Or, is it past time for America’s Favorite Pastime to play through pain?

The other leagues and America are watching.

Play ball! For now.

Ten Piece Nuggets-2020

Posted on May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

After a long weekend, and a tough Tuesday that felt like Monday times three, you need your strength. Time for Ten Piece Nuggets.

The Brood IX Cicadas are coming! The Brood IX Cicadas are coming! Periodical cicadas(locusts) are expected to come out in early summer across southwest Virginia, parts of North Carolina, and in West Virginia. The last time the cicadas emerged in many of those regions was in 2003.
As many as 1.5 million of the insects can emerge per acre of land. While they are some of the longest-lived insects in the world, periodical cicadas spend almost their entire lives underground as what entomologists call “nymphs”. They’ll last above ground for six weeks at most.
This reminds us of Joe Biden who emerged from his basement Monday long enough to place a wreath at the base of the monument that honors fallen soldiers from the great state of Delaware. His better half, Dr. Jill was at his side. Both were sporting facemasks. Vain Donald Trump and wife Melania did the same in DC without a mask. Cynics and critics are plentiful.
We doubt that the cicadas will bother with a mask. And, they’ll go back to shelter in place by late June. We’ll know when they reemerge in spring 2037 if that process actually works. Timing is everything.
If you looked at the news on the weekend it looks like the majority of America is pretty much done with sheltering in place. The parties were many, the locations numerous, and the crowds were large.
Party On, Lake of the Ozarks

But the Lake of the Ozarks pool party pic takes first prize for gross indifference to the cause.
Which brings us to the great mask debate of 2020. Now that all of the “science and data” has allowed some but not all states to restart, that same “science and data” is pulling us in two directions about the request/need/mandate to wear face masks. Never let a crisis go wasted to score political points as well. As usual the country is divided on a subject and has some strong feelings on it.
We wonder if Biden suddenly discovered its benefit? It’s 50/50 if he knows whether it benefits him or those around him. Black wasn’t his facemask color of choice for any particular reason was it? “If you ain’t wearing a black facemask it ain’t a black facemask man!”
Meanwhile, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon has apologized for a skit he did on “Saturday Night Live” in 2000 during which he portrayed Chris Rock while wearing blackface. According to CNN, video of the skit resurfaced recently on social media channels. Fallon apologized on Twitter yesterday saying he “made a terrible decision.” “There is no excuse for this. I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable.”
Using Twitter to apologize is the “new normal” these days. Don’t you hate the phrase “new normal?” When did what you did before COVID-19 become the “new normal?” And, before that was the old, old, then new normal, correct? We digress. What’s weird is that Fallon has known that he did the skit since, well, since he did the skit. That’s 20 years. The cicadas have come and gone and now about to come again since then. Yet, he only apologized yesterday. Hmm. The cicadas shed their old nymph skins (ecdysis), expanding their wings, and changing to their adult coloring. Sounds similar to a 20-year-old Twitter apology.
MLB 2020 has yet to throw out its first pitch. Now league officials and the player’s union are trying to get together on a plan to launch an abbreviated season. When, where, who plays who, how many times, and who gets to watch are but some of the questions they face in their “new normal.” Yesterday, the players union balked at the compensation that the teams want to shell out. Fewer games, how many fans, and what is the TV revenue all goes into the budget equation. They’ll get it together. But, with unemployment fast approaching 20% it’s not a good look when billionaires argue with millionaires. It never is.

The cicadas swarm is very loud. It’s like getting mask shamed by an angry crowd at Walmart. Eat your nuggets and stay away from both.