The Hosken Powell Memorial Link Dump lives on, as does Mr. Powell.
Hello, happy campers! I’ll admit to being a little behind on baseball lately, what with billionaire looters stripping America for the wiring, and worrying what that means for the future of my wife’s healthcare and that of all our friends, and the worries aren’t fun ones! And when I haven’t been worrying, I’ve been writing daily about all the strange variety of movies I’m interested in, so it’s been busy!
But you need links, don’t you? Everyone likes some links! And an odd email! So here we ggggggggo!
Billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen sure doesn’t have to worry about his health insurance being taken away. And guess what, there’s a way for billionaires like him to avoid paying into Medicare, at all! Isn’t that nice! If you’ve got a billion and want to learn this trick, ProPublica has you covered.
Mommy and Daddy are fighting over which richie gets to inherit the Padres.
As we head for the The Crypto MGM Grand Online Sure Bet Network sponsored by Apple Roku Paramount Extended TV Plus in conjunction with Draft Kings Premium Play, you can read this American Prospect article about how Disney is consolidating ownership of sports broadcasting, soon to be followed by more mega-corporations doing the same.
Alas, the excellent Twins beat reporter Do-Hyoung Park has left us! He’s going to work for Statcast, instead. He wrote a nice little goodbye note, about how he got his start as a Twins fan going to Boof Bonser games at the Dome. Before leaving, Park told us how Jair Camargo’s mom waves a “boxy wooden noisemaker” (called a matraca) from the stands at every home game. That’s fun.
There are other noises at baseball games. The Twins have built a “sensory room” at their Ft. Myers ballpark (and they have one at Target Field). It’s a free resource for families/staff workers attending games with persons on the autistic spectrum. Many such persons can find loud noises and flashing lights very unsettling. Mrs. James, since her stroke, finds Target Field’s noises/flashing lights very uncomfortable.
It’s nice that the Twins are doing this; the woman overseeing the Florida version is a trained and experienced social worker. But her charity’s services for other Florida families, the ones not at a ballgame, are largely only available to families whose insurance covers those services. And some insurers don’t.
One insurer that frequently refuses this coverage to families is UnitedHealthcare. Guess which company slapped its name on the Target Field Sensory Suite? Did you guess, UnitedHealthcare? Ding ding ding!
Bailey Ober says he’s the best cook in the Twins’ clubhouse. I betcha I’m better. But Ober also raises four kids! He is better than me at that.
This season, baseball teams will be limited to a 13-man pitching staff on the active roster… but if a pitcher also gets a certain number of ABs, he doesn’t count against the limit. So, Ohtani for sure. And also, maybe, Royals pitcher Michael Lorenzen, who did have a .710 OPS for the Reds back before the universal DH. You know who didn’t have a .710 OPS last season? Christian Vázquez, Edouard Julien, Manny Margot, Max Kepler…
Speaking of stats, Yoán Moncada had a bWAR of 0.3 for Chicago last season; injuries limited him to eight games. That was still the second-highest hitter’s bWAR on the whole team! This and much more from The Athletic’s rundown of the weirdest injuries in baseball for 2024. Including but not limited to: one sustained on a kiddie-pool-dunk hoop. And Miguel Sanó unfortunately fried his skin with a therapeutic heating pad. Ouch!
Dan Gladden went on a podcast to talk about the time he and Steve Lombardozzi got into a Fight.
And former Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson had to be Removed By Security when his team was playing Kennesaw State.
You know that beloved broadcaster Bob Uecker passed away last year. Here’s a nice article at BrewCrewBall, another at Salon, a good one at The Defector.
The great Rickey Henderson, too. Tom Scocca writes this terrific opening about him:
“I saw multiple people declaring that Henderson was such a thrilling presence on the baseball field that it was a joy to see him play, no matter who you might be cheering for. This is the sort of sentimental thing that sounds nice to say about a legendary ballplayer but it was false, and false in a way that dishonored Henderson’s greatness in particular.”
Because, when Rickey was batting against your team, what followed was “the part where you were really f***ed.”
An excellent sports economist, Allen Sanderson, died at 81. He wrote part of the book Sports, Jobs, and Taxes, which first opened my eyes to the whole scam of Stadiums Always Mean Growth! Sanderson once said, “there are two things you should never put on a valuable piece of property: a cemetery and a stadium.” I think we’re allowed to say the ChiSox did both last year, aren’t we?
Speaking of stadiums, who wants taxpayers to give them ooodles of money? Besides the Twins, that is? Feel free to cue up Pete Seeger’s “Little Boxes” in you head. Because…
There’s the Cards, and the Nationals, and the Phillies want a sports district! And the Royals, and the Angels, and the Guardians, too. There’s the Astros, and the ChiSox, and the owners without a team yet! And the Brewers got half a billion, which the Dbacks want as well.
Meanwhile nobody knows what the heck is going on with the Rays or A’s potential future plans, but one thing we know they’ll do in 2025? Jack ticket prices way, way up! The lowest-priced ticket to watch the Crapremento A’s will be $54. The Rays are a steal at $45 – but better bring yer umbrella!
Rotten news from other sports time! The Hornets of Charlotte of the NBA gave a kid a Christmas present during a break in the game! Isn’t that nice? And the present was a PS5! How cool!
Oh, and then they took it back after the JumboTron camera switched away. Only to give the kid some cheapo team jersey instead. People at the game filmed this, and people who saw it were ticked, and the Hornets did fix it later. But, as the kid’s uncle said, “this could’ve been avoided if they’d just given him the jersey on the court in the first place. He would’ve been thrilled.” Sports teams are sometimes dumb.
Or evil. The NBA’s Pelicans and NFL’s Saints have been helping the Catholic archdiocese in New Orleans. Helping them to get away with decades of covering up sexual abuse.
Well, I’m not gonna leave you with that awful story. So, here’s a slightly better one about Afghan refugee women in Australia finding community and healing by playing cricket.
Finally… I occasionally get e-mail offers relating to TwinkieTown, and this was a recent favorite:
Hi James,
With the Super Bowl quickly approaching, I have a new story that I think your readers will love.
You Can Now Try New Orleans Voodoo on the Teams Playing in the Super Bowl
This game day, BetUS is inviting fans to embrace the spirit of New Orleans, the Super Bowl’s host city, with their exclusive voodoo dolls. While you may have relied on game day superstitions in the past, nothing compares to the authentic rituals of New Orleans voodoo to give your team an extra edge.
With guidance and spells provided by Divine Prince Ty Emmeca, the Voodoo King of New Orleans, these voodoo dolls offer fans a chance to add a touch of tradition and charm to their game day rituals—helping their team put their best foot forward:
“Fans can forge luck for their team by creating a honey jar or ‘money jar’. First, fill a jar with pure honey and honeycomb and then add five cinnamon sticks, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and at least one teaspoon of anise. Once complete, seal up and keep it in your sacred space. Coupling this with prayers, chants, and mantras can help grant luck to a fans chosen team.”
How It Works:
- Inquire about a Voodoo Doll
- Practice the at-home voodoo tips from the Divine Prince Ty Emmeca ✨
- Watch your team claim the final victory
Andres Vargas, Head Content Editor at BetUS, comments:
“They say football rivalries aren’t just about love for your team—they’re about the passion of the rivalry itself. This season, channel that energy into a playful ritual with our custom voodoo dolls. In a city like New Orleans, where tradition and team pride collide, why not embrace the spirit of competition in the most unforgettable way? With every pin, chant, and ritual, your rival will feel the burn of your rivalry, while you channel all that energy to propel your team toward victory.”
Are you interested in sharing this story with your audience? I would be more than happy to schedule an exclusive interview with the Divine Prince Ty Emmeca who can provide further insight on using voodoo during sporting events.
(At the bottom this e-mail says:)
For U.S. journalists: We understand the importance of integrity in journalism and affirm that utilizing our insights, data, or quotes in your reporting aligns with and is protected by your First Amendment rights after the federal ban on sports betting was overturned in 2018 – even in states where online sports betting remains prohibited.
So, would that include the island of Mwali-Comoros, in the Indian Ocean, which sure looks to me like where this Very Solid Company is legally based?
Who knows? But I did forget to make my Super Bowl Voodoo bet, alas. Maybe next year… heck, sports betting will probably be mandatory by then! I can’t wait! And that Super Bowl in New Orleans was an economic disaster for many residents. But you knew that happens at all Super Bowls, right? Things is great.
Catch ya next time.