Winnie the Pooh turns 100 this month. Pooh was a fictional, lovable teddy bear created by A.A. Milne. His books Winnie the Pooh (1926) and The House on Pooh corner (1928) begat the icon. In 1961, Disney licensed the rights from the Milne estate and spawned animated movies, books, theme parks and merch. Pooh remains a billion dollar a year industry for Disney. Christopher Robin Milne detested the exploitation and accepted a meager $352 million lump sum payment in 2001 and waived all future royalties. Angie Dickinson turned 95 this week and she was always our Policewoman. Edgy and sexy, she defined Charlie’s Angels before we knew there were any. The love of her life was Frank Sinatra. She was a poster on his wall and his lover for decades. She refused to marry him because she liked his ex-wife. Dickinson was not a cuddly teddy bear; she was an empowered woman before there were many. Happy 95th, Angie.
MLB has geofenced the Las Vegas market like the US Navy has blocked Iranian ports. Regular season MLB games are routinely blacked out in the Las Vegas market. Games that are displayed on the TV channel guide get a restricted access skull and crossbones when selected on my LV channel guide. It is an infuriating tease. We were pleasantly surprised when Comcast Bay Area Sports showed the Dodgers Giants game being available this past weekend. Interns felt it was another ruse but with our LG smart remote, it was determined live game content was on the air. We did have to listen to the SF Giants broadcast team of Kruk and Kuip. Vin and Jerry, they are not but serviceable and deadly quiet during Dodger highlights. There were many Dodger highlights during the three-game season ending sweep. It was Mike Krukow’s final telecast, and we wish him well in his health journey.
Giant manager Tony Vitelli had seen enough by the 3rd inning of game 162. Mookie Betts swing was ruled a check and Vitelli stormed the field. He would not be denied, and he took on two different umpires in his futile agitation. He shouted and gesticulated and got tossed. Mookie would strike out on the very next pitch after the tirade. This would be Vitelli’s league leading 7th ejection in his first season. He was trying to beat the traffic just like a Dodger fan. Tony V is hoping for a second bite of the apple in 2027. The Giants have not been playing many October games this past decade. The Giants are fighting to stay out of last place not competing for first.
Major League Baseball playoffs began in earnest this weekend. Saturday’s opener started with Skubal who was as scorching as the sun. Both registered 100+ on their respective scales. The Braves got knocked down in the heat but got up for the split on Sunday night. Dodger anxiety is at gurgling level 2 with the next two games being played in the Atlanta suburbs. Down south, San Diego Padre fans must be in denial. Leading the first two games on the road against the top dog and losing both is Dodger fan kind of pain. Sunday, Mason Miller, their hard throwing Witch needed to get six out to get the split in beer town. He only got five. His veil might be pierced. After winning 20 of 23 down the stretch, no one wanted to play the Padres in the playoffs. Now, maybe only the Brewers will. Winning three straight in the playoffs to clinch a series has happened. Losing three straight and starting your winter season prematurely happens more often. Manny might have a new team next year with the change in ownership. We will miss nada about Merchado.
In the clubhouse: Who is Jackson Koivun? The President’s Cup this year was particularly exciting. The President's Cup has been played second banana to the Ryder Cup for relevance, but this year’s event was compelling. The US had to come from three points down to win on Sunday with 21-year-old Koivun in command. He finished the weekend 2-0-1 in his matches. He was the only undefeated American. His final drive on 18 revealed his powers. It has gone viral. He crushed the drive and immediately followed it down the fairway with the confidence of a 23-year-old. Si Woo Kim didn’t know what hit him as his two-hole lead melted into the Medinah fescue.
Just saying: Dolly Parton rest her soul. She was honored with a Rock and Roll HOF induction in 2022. Dolly deserves all her accolades, but the Rock Hall was a bit of stretch, even she thought so at the time. The Yard has questioned why the legendary rock band Jethro Tull has never been elected to the Rock hall. Locomotive Breath, The Teacher, Aqualung are seminal rock songs that play on classic rock stations daily. Jann Wenner and other Hall voters have dismissed Tull as an act not a band. Peter Gabriel and Genesis were very theatrical as was Yes. They are all in the HOF. Tull frontman Ian Anderson is a cynic about the Hall and not shilling for votes. If you are uncertain in the upcoming midterms, cast your vote to JT into the Hall. It might be a Write-In vote depending on your state.
Southside Leo and the Sox: The ethereal power of the Papacy continues to propel the Chicago White Sox toward a title. Unfathomable after losing 100+ in three straight seasons, they are now five wins away from the World Series. There is tall timber still cloaking their destiny, but legions of southside demons have been exorcised.
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