There is a Santa Claus

Christmas arrived early this year. Yes, Atlanta, there is a Santa Claus. His name is Kirk Cousins.  

 

1. The Falcons will be getting new uniforms for 2026. Most probably red helmets and silver britches, perhaps harkening to the William Andrews era. Most probably a new Falcon logo, since the current logo is too related to years of losing football. A complete break from the current uniforms as well as from the Matt Ryan era uniforms. The current 1966 throwback uniforms will be retained. All exciting news.

 

2. Both the Falcons and the Buccaneers wore their throwback uniforms last night. Both wore dark jerseys. A super rare color on color matchup. The Uni Watch game of the year.

 

3. The Falcons actually won the game. Call me a hater, but QB Kirk Cousins is a way more efficient QB than Phenix. Cousins may not scramble, but Phenix is no Fran Tarkenton either. Kirk knows how to get rid of the ball, usually without throwing the ball away. Kirk had a high passer rating – 116.9. Went 30-44 for 373 yards, three TDs & zero interceptions.

 

4. Georgia State has begun construction on their new baseball stadium, to be built on the footprint of the old Atlanta Stadium. Will include a Hank Aaron 715 memorial. Should be finished before the end of 2026. Not sure, but the Georgia State women's softball field may be built just west of the baseball stadium. Georgia State may also place a marker where Atlanta Stadium's home plate used to be, so future celebrations on the anniversary of Sid Slid will have a place to meet.  

 

5. The Braves signed a second closer / setup reliever this week. And a DH / fourth outfielder. With two months before spring training, and 3-1/2 months before opening day, I’m certain GM Alex Anthropolis will be making several moves to round out the roster.

 

6. Saw where the super cool Detlef Schrempf iSlides are still available in my size (12), for 4 payments of $13.00. Something I for sure don’t need. Alas, the royal & green Maravich era Hawks iSlides are nowhere to be found.

 

Andrew Peterson lives in Nashville, and the tour stop in Nashville will be in the Ryman. He will also have another concert in the Ryman next June. When Will had a baseball tournament in Nashville we stopped by the Ryman when we were sightseeing. Ceil wants to go back. The water park where Opryland and the new Grand Old Opry is? I’ve never been there, but did stop in front of the old Ryman Auditorium. There are still big name concerts at the Ryman just about every night – here’s the schedule.

  

Wish I had traveled more when I was single. I went to Camp SPdL and on youth and singles retreats, but that was about it. Never really made my career a focus or priority, but God provided. Work was just where I went to provide for my family, though for the most part I had enjoyable coworkers. Only a few stretches where the work was overbearing. Enjoyed the few times I traveled for work, and was able to attend a few “road Games” along the way.

Denison on the “new” US position on foreign policy: the administration states, “The purpose of foreign policy is the protection of core national interests; that is the sole focus of this strategy.” The document adds that previous approaches “allowed allies to offload the cost of their defense onto the American people, and suck us into conflicts central to their interests but peripheral to our own.” The US has decided that America’s allies have too often been a hindrance to the nation than help. 

ME: is it not right for the US to put the best interests of its own citizens ahead of the interests of other countries?

 

JIM BUNNING [SABR Bio] pitched the first National League perfect game in the Modern Era, on Fathers’ Day 21-Jun-1964. Previously there were two perfect games in the NL, both in 1880. There have been 6 since. He was the first 20th century pitcher to rack up 1000 career strikeouts in each league. Bunning’s total was 2,855 — 1,406 with the Tigers and 1449 with the Phillies, Pirates, and Dodgers. After his playing and coaching career, he began representing players as their agent. He had at 30 clients when he first entered politics.