USA Today published a list of athletes who succeeded in their 40’s. You forgot to check Bartolo as one of your favorites. Many of Reid’s favorites are also mine: Maddux, Blanda, Favre, Julio Franco, Mickleson, Nicklaus, Paige. I also like Morten Andersen, Els, Groza, Jerry Rice, Ichiro, and Adam Vinatieri. One third of Phil Niekro’s wins came after he turned 40.
Not Roger Clemens, though. BTW last week Clemens was playing baseball with Chipper, Uggla, Adam LaRoche, and others in a tourney that used to be an amateur showcase. One year a former pro was brought in as a ringer, and after that lots of pros signed on.
Perhaps Clemens is gearing up for a comeback, in order to win two games to pass Greg Maddux on the all-time wins list. If so, I wouldn’t be surprised if Maddux didn’t come back to pass Clemens again.
As usual, no mention of Herschel Walker. The football players on the list:
George Blanda was the 1970 NFL player of the year at 43, when as a backup QB and kicker engineered several remarkable come from behind victories.
Morten Andersen (kicker) retired at 47.
Brett Favre made the Pro Bowl at 40.
Lou Groza retired at 43, but was mostly just a kicker his last few years.
Warren Moon led the league in passing yards at 41.
Jerry Rice made the Pro Bowl at 40.
Adam Vinatieri (kicker) was All-Pro at 42.
George Foreman regained the heavyweight championship at 45.
Bernard Hopkins won world titles at 46, 48, and 49.
Wladimir Klitschko was a contender at 41.
Article in the AJC about the disassembly of the Georgia Dome. http://www.myajc.com/sports/football/inside-the-georgia-dome-shell-its-former-self/7iQbctfY14HRmA5p7ccTGP/
Did you read Jeff Schultz’s column about the Braves playing the youngsters the rest of the way? That’s what they’re doing. It never was about this season anyway. Schultz was talking out of both sides of his mouth, especially about Dansby. Covering his tracks. Trying to have it both ways. He said the Braves made a mistake playing Swanson so long in the bigs (but if they hadn’t he would’ve called for them to) - but Schultz also said it’s too early to give up on Dansby.
Chip and Joe had John Hart in the booth for the inning Santana hit his home run. Was interesting to hear all he had to say, about Albies, Carmango, and the other kids. While we may consider these things a minute or two, Hart and Coppy and Schuerholz and Snitker and working on these things all day long. Short term projections. Long term projections.
Did you see the former Marist / UGA player who won a game for the Dodgers in his first MLB at bat?
Last week on TV they showed an Atlanta United soccer player and his family, also on the first base side under the overhang. That’s also where Nick Markakis’ family was sitting. Markakis got his 1999th hit.
August 2: worked until 6:30. Stopped by Whole Foods on the way home to switch cars with M. Gassed up his Buick at QT and several people were admiring the car. Didn’t get home until eight. Ceil was at Nancy’s so I crashed and watched the game.
August 3: vendor came in, plus two other projects. Wrote my 30th anniversary speech.
Any book I want to read I add to my list at GoodReads.com so I don’t forget. Actually I already have All The Light We Cannot See on my list, but will add Conclave.
No comments:
Post a Comment