Upton Abbey: Episode 3 – Hosting Royalty

upton abbey bannerI attended my first Atlanta Braves game last night, with the then-AL-Central-leading Kansas City Royals in town for the first of two games in thirty-six hours.

Getting to Turner Field via public transportation is easy, particularly considering Atlanta’s bad reputation for transit. The park itself is nice and clean, with three escalators ferrying us to the top level, where we were sitting. Originally constructed as part of the 1996 Olympic complex (it cannot in any way be overstated how much Atlanta loves the ’96 Games), it does not show its age, even if the third escalator broke down while we were on it, bringing to mind Mitch Hedberg’s bit. But let’s not dwell on the notion of being too lazy to take the stairs on one’s way to sitting and watching three hours of baseball. Instead, let’s note that Turner Field has roving Chick-fil-A vendors and a nice view of the downtown skyline.turner field 4-16-13With a seating capacity of roughly 50,000, it actually is bigger than Comerica Park, but even sitting in the top section, I felt closer to the game than one might at some technically smaller parks, and there didn’t look to be a bad seat in the house.

It was good that we were closer to the game, too, because Continue reading

Rasheed Wallace, perhaps the NBA’s best character, has again retired

ESPN New York reports:

Veteran forward Rasheed Wallace has retired from pro basketball for the second time, the New York Knicks announced Wednesday.

Wallace played in 21 games this season with the Knicks but had missed most of the season with a stress fracture in his right foot.

A first-round draft pick in 1995, Wallace played 15 seasons in the NBA and won a title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. He retired in 2010 after one season with the Celtics in which the team lost to the Lakers in the Finals. Wallace came out of retirement to sign with the Knicks in October.

He finishes his career with averages of 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. The four-time All-Star has been known as a volatile player and finishes as the all-time leader in technical fouls with 304.

About a million things could be written about Sheed, but none of them would be as interesting, engaging, or fun as Sheed himself. (E.g., this Grantland profile.) Instead, let’s just say that Sheed played hard, most of the time, and Sheed don’t lie, all of the time.

Bay of Cigs: Run distribution, science(!), and the liklihood of a Detroit comeback

We’re a dozen games into the season and the Tigers, with a few hiccups, are off to a respectable 7-5 start. Despite the day/Pacific time starts and my living outside the Tigers Radio Network, I’ve been able to keep decent track of these first few series and, while mindful of small sample size they represent, I was beginning to notice something concerning.

Continue reading

A Song of Bryce and Fire

imagesAD has been writing about his new favorite team lately in the popular column Upton Abbey.  Since I can’t allow him to praise the Barves unchecked, I will now write a semi-regular-ish column on their division rivals, the Washington Nationals.  So now you get three columns on teams you (probably) don’t care about.  But you should read all of them so you can get some culture and have something to talk about with your co-workers at the ol’ water cooler.

This past weekend saw a series between the scorching hot Bravos and the hot-but-not-scorching-hot Washington Nationals.  The series did not go so well for Washington, as they got swept and only looked competitive in the first game.  I attended the Saturday game with noted blog subject Bad Jeremy, who is almost as big of a Braves fan as AD.  The game was a 3-1 Braves victory that saw the Nats do very little in the way of making offense and the Braves do slightly more.  Evan Gattis carried the Braves, hitting a two run homer that caused Bad Jeremy to get out of his seat and flex at all the Nats fans in the surrounding area.

The highlight of the game was, as always, the Presidents’ Race.  George Washington jumped out to a big lead early on with Teddy Roosevelt, Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson trailing behind.  Newcomer William Howard Taft was nowhere to be found, and everyone in attendance wondered where he was.  The answer to that question was soon revealed, as Taft emerged from the right field bullpen to join with Teddy in beating up George Washington.  Apparently there was some beef between Presidents 26 and 27 and President 1.  Who knew?  Jefferson and Lincoln continued past, neck and neck, until Jefferson went into his kick and won what was one of the more exciting Presidents’ Races in recent memory.

Despite being swept by the Barves, the Nats have looked good early on and seem like they are more than capable of making it to their second postseason in franchise history this year.  They have some great young arms in Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzales, not to mention the bats of Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth.  This weekend’s series could very well be a preview of the 2013 NLCS (where the winner will go on to get swept by the Seattle Mariners in the World Series).  Stay tuned for more of A Song of Bryce and Fire, and also for a Mariners column with the working title of King in the North(west).  Baseball, huh?  How about it?

The 2013 Masters: Pimento Cheese is the New Hummus

masters menuGuest blogger Luke Watson is here this week to cover the Masters. Read his first post here. -Ed.
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The Masters is known for many things but probably the most delectable item is the pimento cheese sandwich.  Now, I’m typically just about hot dogs and golf, but once a year I think it’s important to take a closer look at the snack that’s quickly making its way to parties all across this glorious land.

As a young boy growing up in Texas, I was accustomed to a nearly weekly pimento cheese sandwich. My mother would sometimes make her own version, using velveeta and shredded cheddar. On trips to the coast, we would stop off at the HEB and grab a tub of the good stuff, slather it on some wheat bread and get on down the road. Nothing says vacation in Texas like warm sandwiches, soggy tortilla chips, and a can of Dr. Pepper. But, this blog ain’t about Texas vacations, it’s about golf…

The Masters, apparently, has some mighty fine pimento cheese sandwiches. And, for a dollar fifty, it’s a heckuva deal. Those I’ve talked to tell me that they have a little more oniony kick than your typical southern style PCS, but they’re a great break from the sometimes awful heat and humidity. Coronas are a good option, too. Now, they come pre-made but I don’t think that’s all that awful — you’re there for the golf, not the freshness of the sandwich.

I’ve always said that if Old Crow whiskey is good enough for Ulysses S. Grant, it’s good enough for you. Same goes for pimento cheese. As a matter of fact, my favorite PCS recipe comes from Martha Stewart. It’s the Tabasco that does it. And, if Mrs. Stewart and the members of Augusta National Golf Club are fans, it’s fine for you to be one as well.

I brought some pimento cheese spread to a party a few weeks back. People were skeptical at first, until they tried it. And then they were all over the stuff. Made me proud. It’s definitely going to be a go-to for parties I attend in the future.

On the course, aside from a hotdog, it’s a fantastic choice for a mid-round snack. It’s benefits are many: it’s filling; it’s tasty; it stays together really nicely; and it can be scarfed down quickly.

A little update for those interested in golf and not pimento cheese:

  • It’s a pretty packed leaderboard. So far, my picks are doing ok.

    • Johnson: -5

    • Westwood: -2

    • Rose: -2

    • Dufner: E

    • Poulter: +4

  • The leaders are at -6. Who are they? It’s Sergio Garcia and Marc Leishman. It should be known that I have Sergio Garcia as a pick in my office pool because someone else picked Rose.

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Luke is the author of Hotdogs and Golf, and he tweets @LukeGolf2012.

Is Rick Pitino trying to sink his player’s draft stock?

russ smith louisvilleAfter Louisville guard Russ Smith’s team won the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, it was a little bit surprising when Smith’s father announced right after the game that his son was entering the NBA draft. It felt for whatever reason like a kneejerk sports parent move– just let the kid enjoy the moment for a while– and besides, Smith hadn’t had a great game and is a bit on the small side to boot. He was one of the best players on the best team this year, though, so it wasn’t surprising when Smith confirmed his dad’s statement the next day.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino confirmed it too, until he didn’t. ESPN reports:

“Russ, I think, is 50-50,” [Pitino] told Sports Radio 790 in Louisville [today]. “He’s a very confused young man in terms of his decision right now. He didn’t want his dad to say that about him coming out. He wanted time to think of it.”

Yeesh. Does Pitino, who has coached at major college programs and in the NBA, think he’s helping his player with those statements? (He’s not.) Is he trying to force Smith to return to Louisville? (Maybe.) Is he showing early signs of tattoo ink poisoning? (Possibly.)

Why can’t college basketball coaches in the state of Kentucky leave well enough alone when it comes to their players declaring for the NBA draft?

The Memphis Grizzlies have the best promotions

Last fall, the Memphis Grizzlies were offering free game tickets (and gas cards!) in exchange for guns. Now they’re straight up giving away beer. From the Memphis Business Journal:

The Memphis Grizzlies and A.S. Barboro, the Memphis distributor for MillerCoors, are doing their part to take the edge off of tax season while celebrating the Grizzlies’ upcoming 2013 playoff run.

Beginning at 11 a.m., April 15, the Grizzlies and A.S. Barboro will be giving 300 fans a free 24-ounce Coors Light in the plaza of FedExForum.

“We looked at a couple of different days, but we decided we could ease the pain from tax day with some free beer,” [Steve Hegdale, general manager of A.S. Barboro,] said. “We’ll say a few words, check some IDs and give away some free beer.”

Fans can begin arriving around 10 a.m. for an identification check to ensure they’re old enough to drink beer. Once that’s taken care of, fans will receive one of 300 limited edition Memphis Grizzlies 24-ounce cans of Coors Light. The giveaway is limited to one can per person.

“If there are two things in life worth celebrating, it is finishing your taxes and Grizzlies playoff basketball,” Chad Bolen, vice president of corporate partnerships with the Grizzlies, said. “Our friends at A.S. Barboro and Coors Light can help you quench your Grizz-sized thirst with a Memphis Grizzlies commemorative 24 oz. can of Coors Light. We encourage all basketball loving, tax-paying, Grizzlies fans to join us for a cold one.”

What could go wrong?

(Read the full story here.)

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Related
Memphis to accept guns in exchange for Grizzlies tickets

The 2013 Masters: My Picks…or Players to Watch

Guest blogger Luke Watson is here this week to cover the Masters. -Ed.
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It’s Masters week – the one week a year when I stop bashing Hootie Johnson and the Augusta National Golf Club and just enjoy some smooth guitar and piano while sitting in a comfortable chair in front of a TV. It’s a great week.

Selecting a winner, for me anyways, always seems like a ridiculous thing to do. I used to pick a winner and then, through the whole tournament, be disappointed in my player’s apparent disregard for my feelings. So, a few years ago, I determined to pick a “team” — five guys that I would watch and root for. Life has been better since.

Here is my team:

  • Lee Westwood. I can’t help it; I love cheering for the guy that’s come close a lot. He deserves to win. He had a good showing in Houston and, while his short game (pitching in particular) is not the strongest part of his game, he’s a well-rounded player that has been in contention before. Add to the mix that he is proudly sponsored by UPS and you’ve got a possible champion.
  • Jason Dufner. Every time I hear his name, I think of Duff Beer and that makes me think of the Simpsons and that makes me happy. Plus, he’s got some serious game: straight hitter, reasonable putter, great attitude.
  • Justin Rose. This is the second (and not the last) of my mostly English team. Look, since 1998, he’s been a mainstay in the majors…not intended to be a factual statement. If he wins this weekend, he’ll likely just continue racking up majors and big tournament wins.
  • Dustin Johnson.
  • Ian Poulter. I liked him before last year’s Ryder Cup, and I’ve loved him since. Anyone who’s ever spoken to me knows that I have a real thing for the European Team. I like their style, I like their attitude, I like their drive. Ian basically is the European Team – like Seve and Jose before him. I don’t know if he’s got the game that suits Augusta, but I know that he’s gotta be in the top 10 at the end of the week.

There you have it. My top five. Who’s missing?

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Luke is the author of Hotdogs and Golf, and he tweets @LukeGolf2012.

Introducing ALDLAND’s special Masters coverage

As I’ve written many times, our golf coverage is limited to ancillary matters like hovercrafts, mustaches, Jungle Bird, and the Dukes of Hazzard. With one of the most anticipated iterations of the Masters starting today, though, we thought it would be appropriate to bring in a guest blogger to cover the tournament in earnest.

Starting later this morning, Luke Watson of Hotdogs and Golf will share, from his experienced perspective, his insight on the 2013 Masters. Stay tuned.

Steve Kerr to conduct TNT’s acid-jazz approach to the NBA

USA Today reports that TNT is experimenting with an “all analyst” approach to its NBA broadcasts. On Thursday, former NBA players Steve Kerr, Chris Webber, and Reggie Miller will broadcast the Thunder-Warriors game without a play-by-play announcer. Although all three have national broadcasting experience, Kerr has been tabbed (by the network?) to “act as ‘point man leading us to breaks. Maybe a little bit of a traffic cop if the game calls for it. It is more like three former players having a round table (discussion) almost during the game.'”

The concept intrigues me, and I am glad TNT is willing to experiment with the traditional broadcast formula, but I was wondering why Kerr was designated as the one to steer the broadcast, until I remembered his role in anchoring another all-star trio.

steve kerr chris wood

The Wood Brothers?

More hear.