Base Ball

Ceil brought back a few framed items from Corrine's house in Catarrh, including one of her ancestor's Belmont base ball team from the 1800's. I'll hang it in my office.

Finally: got the new curtain hung in the bedroom. Also a shower curtain. Dresser should be delivering soon. Working on the bedside tables, window shades, and the hanging of framed pictures. 

My humble blog recently passed 4 million views. This is my 21st year posting blogs. Not super impressive when you do the math, but it's a mark to be noted nevertheless.

When I worked, I had several ways to take notes and make to do lists: use an email, a sticky note, a small notepad, or a regular sized piece of paper (usually folded). When I retired, I made sure to have several of these possibilities available. At some point, I realized I needed to have 3x5 notecards on hand. For one reason to enter the occasional mail in sweepstakes. So I bought me a stack at Dollar Tree. Now I've started using the 3x5 cards for my to do lists. Now I am remembering how I receive so many 3x5 cards from Reid. 

I was happy to have a restful Sunday. I'm trying to get C to be more active, so I waited around for her to get ready to go to the gym. Didn't leave the house until 10:15. She wanted to do the treadmill and sauna, so that's what we did. She'd wanted to go to Whole Foods, but she didn't want to go in her yoga pants. 

Got home, and I left out to run some errands. Today is 6/8 and Sonny BBQ was having a $6.80 special: a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, fries and a drink. Came out quick and hot, before my drink had arrived. Crinkle fries were piping hot, but tasted undercooked. The busy 68 year old waiter brought me a glass of weak root beer instead of Coke Zero, but root beer is good every now and then. Sandwich was good. A little adventure.

Went to the AT&T store to get my phone fixed, but they said there were lots of hoops I had to go through, that I was pretty sure had spent hours getting fixed already. Drives me crazy.   

 

Question of the day: who is your favorite pass rusher? Claude Humphrey and John Zook.

MEL OTT  [SABR Bio] led his team in home runs for 18 straight seasons, yet is only third on his franchise’s career home run list. Ott had more homers than any other Giants hitter every season from 1928-45.  His total of 511 dingers in a Giants uniform was later passed by Willie Mays (646) and Barry Bonds (586). Ott tied Gavvy Cravath’s record for National League home run titles, though he needed more than twice as many home runs to do it. Ott led the Senior Circuit in roundtrippers six times, in 1932, 1934, 1936-38, and 1942. In those six seasons, he hit a total of 203 home runs. Cravath also led the league six times, from 1913-15 and 1917-19, but only hit 94 homers combined in those six seasons. Their record would be broken by Ralph Kiner, who won seven consecutive NL home run titles from 1946-52. Kiner was eventually eclipsed by Mike Schmidt, who led the NL in home runs eight times. Ott’s first at-bat for the Giants came less than two months after his 17th birthday.  He was by 20 months the junior of Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rufus Meadows, the 2nd youngest player to take the field in 1926. When Braves outfielder Bill Dunlap made his big league debut, it marked the first time in four seasons that someone younger than Ott was on a National League roster.

Denison: how to speak the truth in love.

 Max Lucado: “I choose kindness. I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.” 

    Quote for the day: “Compassion is born when we discover in the center of our own existence not only that God is God and man is man, but also that our neighbor is really our fellow man.” —Henri J. M. Nouwen

Abraham: His Highs & Lows

Brian Fox 

Sunday School 

Highs in Abraham’s life. 

1. Abraham’s belief in God’s promise. 

2. His intercession for Lot. 

3. Having Lot take the land in one direction, and he took the other. 

4. Obeying God by putting his son on the pire. 

5. Abraham was the cornerstone of our faith. 

6. He rescued Lot, without keeping any spoils. 

7. Getting circumcised immediately, in obedience to God. 

Lows 

1. When he had Ishmael. 

2. When he twice claimed Sarah was his sister. 

Romans 4 the illustration: the life of Abraham - after… 

Romans 1:16 

Rom 2&3 we are all sinners 

Rom 3:21-22 through faith in Jesus 

Abraham’s unwavering faith was counted to him as righteousness, written for our benefit. His faith continued to grow throughout his life. 

Galatians 3:3-7 Do not add anything to the gospel. 

Genesis 12:3 Paul called this preaching the Gospel. It’s those of faith who are sons of Abraham. It is God’s rescue plan to preach to the nations. 

Hebrews 11:8-19 the Hall of Faith 

v 6 without faith it is impossible to please God. 

v 12 Abraham’s descendants were like the stars in the sky. 

Challenges 

1. He obeyed when he was called to go. Are you looking forward to heaven? Is how you use your time, talents, and abilities reflective of this? How does my heart show this? 

2. By faith Sarah received power to conceive. What about me? Do I know the promises of God? Do I meditate on God’s promises? There are so many promises that God has for us.

I Cor 15 we have a hope that goes on to the next life. Our best life isn’t now, but in the next life.  

3. We are strangers and exiles in this life. Are the decisions I make based on this life now, or my future life in heaven? 

4. Abraham offered up Issac as a sacrifice. How far am I willing to go, based on my faith in Christ’s resurrection? 

Closing passage: End of Heb 11 thru beginning of Heb 12. Run the race as if to win. 

30 in Sunday School

Saturday In The Park

Up at 5:30 this morning for our Kennesaw Mountain hike. Picked up my friend Lee and met Dan, Steve, and Jim at the park. 3.46 miles - a little longer because we had to park at the overflow lot. A good workout. Some morning haze over Atlanta, but more clear than the past two weeks.

C had gone on a walk with Anna and Miller, from their house to the Marietta farmers market. Caleb and his dad had installed a new porch swing. I went to the gym for a sauna and treadmill cooldown. My hips seem to be feeling better after all the activity.

After all these years I am making a change in my life. I’ve eaten saltine crackers for at least 45 years, but I’ve decided to switch to Ritz crackers. Had them for lunch today with chicken salad. I make a little sandwich with a piece of cheese, the chicken salad, and a bread & butter pickle. Good stuff.

Yesterday afternoon C made sweet rolls, and pizza dough for tonight’s homemade pizza. Enough dough to make two pies. C is hinting that she wants to eat at Taqueria soon.

Fever game tonight. Weather delay at the Memorial Tournament. Hail. Worth it just to watch Jack Nicklaus tell his stories. Didn't realize I was missing the Braves 4 pm start.

Had a hard time sleeping last night. I’m drinking a lot less caffeine these days (soft drinks), so perhaps it was the Diet Coke from Whataburger that I sipped on all afternoon. Not sure when I’ll drink the three 2 liters of mtn dew that I’d bought.

Took a nap this afternoon.

Billy Lothridge: Super Bowl Champ

Was doing some research on Billy Lothridge. Not many photos from his time on the Cowboys and Rams. Found a picture of him on the Falcons, greeting Don Meredith after a game. 

Never really realized that in 1972, Larry Seiple, the punter for the Miami Dolphins, was injured. Lothridge was signed to fill in for two games. Pretty sure the undefeated Dolphins kept Lothridge on the roster throughout their undefeated season, so he was on the sidelines when Miami beat Washington in the Super Bowl. Backup punter, kicker, safety, and QB. 

At Tech, Lothridge was a Heisman runner-up, a top ten all time Yellow Jacket. With the Falcons he twice led the NFL in punting, and was pressed into service at safety - intercepting three passes in one season.

Latest rumor: Fever trade Caitlin Clark to LA. Doesn't seem like the Fever coaches have Caitlin's back. 

 

Braves record is what, 42-21. On pace to win 108 games. If they go 45-44 the rest of the way they'd still win 87 games. Gotta get Riley hitting again. No one has suggested it, but why not let him go down to Gwinnett for a week or two to get his swing back?

Why did Ronald Acuna wear number 21 for Venezuela? He was paying tribute to Roberto Clemente. A noble gesture. He had previously worn 42 to honor Jackie Robinson.

My church always draws a big crowd to Wednesday night supper when they serve Bourbon Chicken. Not sure why. 

Johnson's Ferry is a great church, but needs to improve in the dry erase marker department.

Sermon topic that I'd like to hear: we know that all dogs go to heaven - but what about cats? Surely not. 

Churches across America are being set on fire. Just a few years ago the same thing was happening in Europe, and we all know what's happening in Europe now. Are sleeper cells involved?

Yesterday W&MC had friends in town from Texas. They took them to Bellwood Coffee in Decatur, then went to Kimball House. C had a doctor's appt so she went over to babysit. At 6:20 pm, I left to drive down and help out with the 5 kids. Stopped by Chickfila to get C some supper. 

Didn't leave to drive home until 10:30 pm. C had fallen asleep on the couch. From their house you can drive one mile west on MLK Blvd to go 20 west to 285 north, but C doesn't like that way. So we took MLK east to Northside Drive north. 

   

Today: (1) walked Winnie, (2) gym to lift weights / sauna / treadmill, (3) Walmart for a big shipping envelope, (4) post office to mail a package, (5) Whattaburger for the free burger deal, and (6) Kennesaw Mountain to buy a lifetime visitor pass. 

Tonight will be the first night C and I have been home together all week. Nothing big on tap for the weekend.

Braves 7 Toronto 3

Wednesday: Anna brought baby Miller over this morning. We kept her while A had a hair appointment. Then Matthew came over. We drove up to the Trader Joes in the Pine Straw Plaza for some groceries. 

Left the house at 3 pm. Stopped by McDonalds for a BOGO McChicken and a free Wendys frosty. Picked up M at 3:45 and we checked out the Goodwill on Cobb Parkway. From there we walked to the ballpark. 

Couldn't believe the long lines so early in the afternoon. School is out and it was Drake Baldwin hockey jersey night. Long lines at 4:15 pm - a full hour and 15 minutes before the gates opened.

Lots of people watching. Got into the park and grabbed our free designated driver Cokes, and found our seats. Nice to sit in the shade and get ready for the game. 

A good game. Grant Holmes pitched long enough to get the win. Seems like he's pitching ever time I go. Three run homers from Ozzie and the utility player. Even shortstop Kim knocked in a run. Austin Riley stole a base.

The good looking hockey jerseys were in high demand. I went because Matthew wanted one, but they were selling for high prices. Tried to sell mine at the game, but wasn't able to secure a buyer until this morning. Paid for our tickets. 

Braves up their record to 42-20, the best record in baseball. 

Thinking we were going to SC tomorrow (we aren't), I got out early to play golf this morning. Arrived at Candler park by 6:35 and there was already a single ready to play. He said he was a beginner but he was a lot better than me. Hie first time playing at Candler park, so I tried to share a few secrets along the way. Teed off at 6:40 am. Pretty much played my one Bridgestone ball the entire round. I usually play from the front tees, but today we both played the back tees. 

1. Sliced my first drive, but hit a mulligan straight but low. Flub, then an okay 4 iron short of the hole. My chip rolled up the hill and onto the green, but it wasn't pretty. Two putt. Double. 

2. Tee shot straight but short. Took me two shots to get on the green, then two putts. Double.

3. Got my tee shot up in the air, though it was short of the green - but not down a hill into trouble. Bad chip, better chip. Good lag putt. Double.

4. A great 6 iron off the tee, to the front fringe. Shot of the day. Poor putt, then two more putts. Bogey.

5. A decent 4 iron straight down the fairway. Chipped to the back of the green. Great long lag putt. Today I was not taking any gimme's, instead putting out every one footer I had. I didn't miss any short putts. Bogey.

6. A decent drive, to the right of the big oak. After a flub, I hit a great 3 iron under the tree branches, to the front left fringe. Shot of the day. A poor putt, then a good long lag putt. Double.

7. A passable drive to the right side of the fairway. Not much distance, leaving a shot under the tree branches. Hit another 3 iron. made good contact but it clipped the branches. Still got a decent roll. Poked a 7 iron to the front fringe. With the fringes circling the greens recently resodded, its hard to putt from off the greens. I flubbed a putt, then hit another nice long lag putt. Double.

8. Hit a decent drive to the middle of the fairway, then pitched my second shot to the middle of the green. My long lag putt didn't roll as close as I would've liked. Took two more putts. Double. 

9. Hit my hybrid too low off the tee, but it got a good roll. Decent pitch, though still short of the green. Then a good chip, and a finishing two putt on the sloped green. Double. Not a bad round, for playing one ball.  

Finished at 8:03 am and drove home. More furniture is supposed to deliver this afternoon, and C has a doctor's appointment.

    

Haley Hurt went to Tuesday night's game. Braves won 4-3.

Tuesday night was our first men's Bible Study for the summer. Thirteen in attendance, around Reid's fire pit. A nice cool evening. Dennis, Tom, Lee, Tommy, Dan, David, Greg, Jim, Robert, and Brian and his brother. Lots of cookies and other treats. 

World Cup < Super Bowl < Olympics

How big a deal will the World Cup be in Atlanta? It will be a big bad eight games over 31 days. No back to back games. There will be various ancillary events around town. How does this compare to the Olympics and a Super Bowl?
 
A Super Bowl is one sold out stadium event that culminates after seven straight days of lead up events, press conferences, fan experiences, concerts, etc. Dang the Falcons or Dawgs will draw two or three sellout crowds over the course of a month. The Braves will have ten sellouts in a month - or more.
 
The Olympics was 16+ consecutive days, with multiple sold out events being held at the same time all around downtown, all throughout each day. At the Olympic Stadium, Atlanta Stadium, Georgia Dome, Omni, Herndon Stadium, two aquatic venues at Georgia Tech, the Civic Center, Alexander Memorial Coliseum,  and the World Congress Center. Plus the Olympic Village at GT and Centennial Olympic Park. And outlying venues at Stone Mountain, Conyers, Atlanta Beach, Athens, Savannah, Lake Lanier, and North Georgia. Cycling in the velodrome in East Point. 

The Paris Olympics had 329 medal events across 32 sports and 48 disciplines. The 2026 World Cup will have 104 total matches spread out in 16 cities in the US, Mexico, and Canada. 

People are saying 500,000 people are coming to Atlanta for the World Cup. But Atlanta is only hosting 8 games spread out over 30 days. Doing the math, that's 62500 fans at each game are from out of town. Sure the World Cup may be a big deal all around the world, but in the US it will be so spread out that the impact on any one city will be considerably diluted, unlike the Olympics all taking place in one city. The Braves have averaged 500,000 fans per month - for six straight months - without the help of MARTA. 

There will be a World Cup FanFest in June and July in Centennial Olympic Park. I signed up for tickets. Interesting hours: from 2 pm - midnight. There will be concerts and food trucks and other vendors.

Which had the greatest impact on MARTA, the city streets, and highways? On the restaurants and hotels and airport? To me it’s a no brainer.

Perhaps FIFA followers are more fanatical than NFL fans or followers of the Olympics, but when it boils down to the impact it has on one city, I still say the World Cup ranks behind the Super Bowl and certainly the Olympics - and maybe even the Braves.

With so much constantly going on in and around Atlanta, the World Cup will just be another blip on the radar screen. No big deal. Traffic will be bad - but Atlanta traffic is bad every day.  

Another World Cup black eye: the way FIFA is manhandling the ticket sales and distribution is abismal - driving up prices and switching out the best seats bought by commoners for less desirable locations. Hard to get in the door for a match in Atlanta for less than $1,000.00. No thanks.

RUBE WADDELL  [SABR Bio] was the first American League pitcher to strike out more than 300 batters in a season, with 302 in 1903 for PHA. His total the next year still stands as the record for American League strikeout record by a lefty. He struck out 349 in 1904; Sam McDowell is second with 325 in 1965. Waddell threw the first recorded Immaculate Inning, on 01-Jul-1902, Waddell struck out 3 batters, throwing exactly 9 pitches.

Melina's Third Birthday

Drove down to W&MC's yesterday afternoon to celebrate Millie's birthday. I asked C to the directions through traffic since we were supposed to be there in an hour. Her directions said we'd arrive at 5:55, but we didn't arrive until after six. Took me on a route with more red lights, through more crowded streets than necessary, through more dangerous neighborhoods. 

Will made quesadillas on his outdoor grill, to go with rice and beans. Matthew made a corn dip, and brought specially seasoned saltine crackers. Cake and ice cream. 

After supper the girls rode their bikes behind the house on the Atlanta Beltline. Millie was wearing her new pink cowboys boots. They allowed her to go faster on her bike, which didn't have pedals - but she got stuck in the mud next to the paved beltline.

Sunset from the Beltline.

The new pastor at SPdL wears a robe for the services. You'd think people would be getting away from the robes these days. I am hearing that there is a surge in interest in the Catholic Church from young people. 

Tech was like the number 2 team in the country, with the top offense in the nation. They failed to advance from the first round of the tournament, losing two straight to Oklahoma. Many question GT's head coach, who removed his starting pitcher after 8 innings - and replaced him with a pitcher who'd thrown 104 pitches two days before. This pitcher got through the 9th inning, but gave up a 454 foot walk off home run in the 10th.

Many wondered why Tech, the host of the regional, wasn't the home team in either of the last two games against the Sooners. But those wondering didn't take the time to look up the rules on Google. 

Sunday: I was still so exhausted that I stayed home from church. Slept late, until Winnie wouldn't let me sleep any more. Tried to relax. Straightened up the house, did some laundry. In the afternoon I drove over to the gym for the sauna and cooldown on the treadmill. After the Braves loss i went outside to mow the lawn. So it will be another 10,000 step day. 

Watched an old movie: The Internship, with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. I'd thought that parts of the movie had been filmed in Atlanta. Did not realize they made up parts of the GT campus to pose as Google's San Francisco headquarters.  

I slept in on Monday morning. Didn't make it to the gym until 11 am. Then I ran down to Lenox Square for a birthday present for Millie. Got home to find that C had brought back another carload of stuff from SC. Not sure where she's going to put it. 

Lifted weights at the gym this morning, then sauna and treadmill cooldown. Packaged two more items that sold on Poshmark - a vintage Chicago Bears helmet, and a pair of Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers.