Except I wasn't there and, further, there will be no report of the event here.
You shouldn't read anything into that. I had to work. Plus, I didn't want to stand around all afternoon on my broken foot. And believe me, if you've heard one rambling, anachronistic, bawdy, semi-coherent Pete Rose speech you've heard 'em all.
However, I was at the Reds-Dodgers game on Friday night, so that's what you get here.
On the way to the ballpark I stopped for a chicken club sandwich at Chick-fil-A and was greeted by this #throwback sight:
Your eyes do not deceive you! That is a vintage Pokey Reese replica jersey. Dat Dude PR was dat dude before Dat Dude BP (and before Twitter)... and my man Pokey could pick it better than Dat Dude Showboat, too. #preach
It was with some trepidation for what variety of misery the Dodgers were going to inflict upon the Redlegs that I proceeded down Colerain Avenue.
#theRedsgotmelike Woozy.
Does Dat Manager BP feel me?
Pregame, the Reds honored the NL Player of the Week Scooter Gennett for his historic 4 home run game. I was there! And by "there" I mean watching from the comfort of my couch, snacking on salted cashews. #alternativefacts
Among the gifts Scooter found himself lavished with was.... a scooter. #yolo
What made the cringe-worthy scooter presentation enjoyable was the sight of Reds Hall of Famer Tom "Mr Perfect" Browning riding in from the outfield on said scooter and making the (in)formal presentation.
Since fighting like a Roman gladiator for my Joc Pederson All-Star Game Home Run Derby baseball back in 2015 , I root for Joc to become a star and increase the monetary value of my rare item.
#helpabrotherout
.198/.309/.310?! Dang!
Soon enough, the Reds rolled over for their 7th straight loss:
And it was bring on the Friday Night Fireworks presented by just put me out of my misery!
The fireworks were allegedly set to the soundtrack of Peter Edward's playing years (1963-1986). Reds faithful were subjected to the superfluous, utterly gratuitous stylings of DJ GetARealJob. Sample;
She's got a ticket to riiiiide [*wicky wicky woop*] and she don't care!
That made 35,613 of us that didn't care.
Among the Pax Americana musical selections was this staple of FM radio:
When I spot something Bruce-related I like to share it with Heavy Artillery's resident Boss Aficionado, Johnny Dubs. Shortly before the inauguration this past January, I spied a photo making the rounds on the interwebz and shot it to JW via text. I included a lyrical footnote with the photo, to which John responded in kind:
..... you probably know the rest. #prolly
The Reds may have me woozy this season, but there are good reasons to go down to the Great American Tilt Yard. Namely, the stars on other teams. Earlier this year I got to see the sublime Adam Jones when the Baltimore Orioles steamrolled into town. I got a photo of Jones and Joey Votto together, two future Hall of Famers:
Similarly, I photographed Joey Votto batting against CC Sabathia when the Jahnkees brought their fetid circus to River City:
The arrival of the Bronx Bombers drew every fair weather, Evil Empire-loving degenerate out from under their rocks to see the game. Except they didn't watch the game:
This candy pinstriper in his Yanks ballcap played games on his phone for the whole 5 innings he stuck around. I guess he had to catch the 4 Train back to midtown. #whatevs
Back in Butler County, the next day, I caught a passing glimpse of this mural of Hamilton Joe Nuxhall painted on the side of Clark's Sporting Goods:
Speaking of Nuxy, Cooperstown Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman shines brightest when the Reds are riding the #strugglebus. Grumpy Marty makes for fantastic radio listening!
*********
The local talk radio airwaves were abuzz last week in speculation that this weekend's Hit King statue sculpture dedication might be the last opportunity for the Reds to honor Pete at the ballyard. Afterall, the theory postulated, Pete has had his number retired, been inducted into the team Hall of Fame, now the statue sculpture. In recent summer's the Reds have honored the 1975 Big Red Machine, the 1976 Big Red Machine. Pete has been in attendance for similar individual honors for Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Sparky Anderson..... plus, you know..... Pete is getting older. What else is there?!
My personal friend and Cincinnati Reds owner Robert (he lets me call him "Bob") Castellini will always find ways to pay tribute to Pete Rose for two reasons; 1) It's the right thing to do, and 2) It guarantees a sell-out.
Bear in mind, the Big Red Machine wasn't just honored last year for their 40th anniversary. They BRM was honored, at least, as far back as 2000 for their 25th anniversary. So there exists more honorific opportunities associated with the Machine.
Allow me to list a few others, just in case Bob Castellini is reading this;
1) 2018 will be the 40th anniversary of Hit #3000
2) 2018 will be the 40th anniversary of Pete's 44-game hit streak
3) 2020 will be the 35th anniversary of breaking Ty Cobb's record
So don't fret about seeing Pete down at the ol' ball orchard. #chillax
*********
Andy "Coach" Hughes passed along this link to an article and podcast about ballpark development that my baseball fan readership might find interesting. Bonus; soundbites from Hall of Fame broadcaster and voice of This Week In Baseball Mel Allen. How about that!
*********
Responding to the Holy Bull tribute, a loyal subscriber asked whether we have today an active thoroughbred race horse that is a talented and awe-inspiring as Holy Bull.
Why, yes!
In 2016, a unraced three-year old colt named Arrogate made his maiden debut in mid-April. He went off the favorite but finished third. Under the eligibility requirements for the Kentucky Derby, Arrogate's one lifetime start (and third-place finish) was not sufficient for him to qualify. Arrogate won his next start, and then won the start after that - this time facing older horses for the first time. Then he beat older horses his next time out, too. Arrogate came to national prominence when, in August, he won the Grade 1 Travers Stakes by 13 lengths beating that year's Preakness Stakes winner (Creator) and Belmont Stakes winner (Exaggerator). His winning time in the Travers broke a Saratoga track record that stood for almost 40 years. Arrogate concluded his 2016 campaign with a victory in the $5 million dollar Breeders' Cup Classic, defeating the [then] #1 ranked race horse in the world, California Chrome - himself a past winner of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and a dozen other stakes races (and a two-time Horse of the Year awardee). Full disclosure; I had big $$$ on Chromie that night.
In the aftermath of Arrogate's incredible 2016 campaign, I ran across a quote in The Blood-Horse that was so stunning in it's encapsulation of his success (to that point) that I sent it to astute horse player Boss for his own edification:
In 2016 Arrogate didn't just defeat a multitude of graded stakes winners, he annihilated them.
Arrogate was named the American champion three-year old horse and leap-frogged California Chrome to become the #1 ranked horse in the world by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Yes, that's a real thing.
Arrogate returned to the track this past January for a rematch with California Chrome - Chromie making the final start of his glorious career - in the inaugural $12 million dollar Pegasus World Cup (the world's richest race). Chrome was pulled up to prevent an injury, Arrogate set a Gulfstream Park track record on his way to a five length victory. Arrogate made his next start in the world's second richest race when he traveled abroad for the first time, going to Dubai for the $10 million dollar Dubai World Cup.
This is the race [linked below] that you need to watch - and replay - to fully appreciate the greatness of Arrogate.
Racing without benefit of the usual race day medications available to American race horses, and breaking from the gate in a steady rain and brisk wind, Arrogate proceeded to:
--- Break from the starting gate in last place,
--- Get checked hard by Jockey Mike Smith,
--- Go three-wide around the first turn,
--- Swing 8-wide down the backstretch,
--- Enter the final turn in 10th, 4- or 5-wide,
--- Move inside horses,
--- Launch an explosive move turning for home,
--- Get bumped by another horse at the top of the homestretch,
--- Pass the leader under a hand ride,
--- Cruise under the wire still under a hand ride!
Arrogate spotted the early leader 10 more lengths at the start, he covered significantly more ground than the race leaders and - this is important so I'll repeat it - cruised to the lead, as I said, "under a hand ride" meaning jockey Mike Smith had ceased using the whip (or "put away the whip") because it wasn't necessary. Arrogate, despite all his troubles and all the additional ground he covered, was going to win the Dubai World Cup and win easy.
People who are knowledgeable about horse racing will tell you, and I fully concur, that in winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup and Dubai World Cup, in beating the quality of fields that were entered in those races, and in winning in the ways that he did (coming from last, going wide, setting track records) that even if Arrogate never wins another race he is already in the conversation of greatest thoroughbred race horses of all-time.
In case there was any doubt in your mind, in just 8 lifetime starts (7 consecutive victories) and just barely into his four-year old campaign Arrogate is already North America's highest-earning race horse (over $17 million dollars to date).
Man o' War, War Admiral, Seabiscuit, Citation, Secretariat, Cigar..... remember the "Free Money Express," Wise Dan? Enjoy the phenomenon that is Arrogate.
*********
Finally, the Memorial Day weekend HA post about the Monaco Grand Prix must have sparked a nationwide interest in the race. NBC Sports proclaimed it the most-watched Formula 1 race in U.S. history.
As a bonus for HA readership, watch this onboard film from 1957 of Juan Manuel Fangio - F1's first great driver - testing a Formula 1 Maserati in Italy. The dude rolls up in a sweet Mercedes and jumps into the race car wearing his street clothes (slacks and a t-shirt; no fire suit). The narration is classic mid-century stuff; Fangio, with his iron self-control and uncanny skill met [the] demand with contemptuous ease.
I shared this Fangio film with resident HA F1 expert Kuertz and he responded with his own sweet onboard film, but from Le Mans in 1956. Kuertz' Le Mans clip has the value-added aspect of having the driver narrate from behind the wheel. He looks like a Star Wars TIE Fighter pilot in the process.
Kuertz has a Le Mans fixation, he also thinks Steve McQueen's 1971 movie Le Mans is superior to James Garner's 1966 motion picture Grand Prix but, in thinking this, Kuertz has made a rare error in judgement.
James Garner > Steve McQueen
#truth
