Left Coast Sports Babe

Forget being able to tell the players without a scorecard. These days can anyone tell what CONFERENCES college football teams are in without a scorecard?

The SF Giants seem hellbent on being the answer to a question “Siri, what is a .500 team?”

–

Darren Baker, son of Dusty Baker, was just called up by the Washington Nationals… Congratulations to him.. But for some of us SF Giantshe’ll always be three years old.

Serious question. Why does anyone care what Tulsi Gabbard thinks?

–

As a woman who grew up when most of us didn’t think anything of politically incorrect jokes, understand now how such humor could be hurtful. And I’m sympathetic when people make mistakes. Most of us have said stupid things. But J.D. Vance just doubles down on his misogyny.

You’d think w/ Trump’s warp speed weather vane spin on abortion in last 24 hours even Fox News would take note. Nope. Top headline “”Experts warn VP Harris is ‘gaslighting’ Americans.” (on the border) Guessing many Fox News don’t even know about Trump’s original lie/reserval.

–

JD Vance’s attitude to women who by choice or chance do not have children reminds me of Henry VIII. Suppose he thinks Henry was right to divorce or behead wives who couldn’t give him a son?

From NY Times – “Trump has been twisting himself in knots to navigate the politics of in vitro fertilization and abortion rights.” Fixed it for them. “Trump, who apparently doesn’t believe in anything, is trying to decide which lies about reproductive rights will help him win.

–

But seriouslyl, why it news that Trump has re-endorsed the six-week abortion ban? Since he ran for President, Donald has always been about taking all reproductive rights away. He’s proud of it. All he is trying to do now is confuse voters and take as much air time as possible.

–

Israel and Hamas, who agree on almost nothing, are actually pausing fighting so children in Gaza can be vaccinated against polio.

Yet Trump’s new surrogate RFK Jr. is staunchly anti-vaccine. Can someone who claims to be a journalist please ask Donald how he feels about that?

–

As Kamala Harris begins to lay out her plans as President we need to be 100% clear:

For a President to get things done – and judges confirmed – she needs the Senate. If GOP controls Senate everything gets blocked.

U.S. Senate (and House) races are critical. Vote blue.

Thinking the Jeff Walz story just makes Tim Walz more relatable to millions of Americans. Families are complicated.

Stephen Curry just signed a one year $62..6 million extension with the Golden State Warriors

That’s about 4 times all the WNBA team payrolls, combined.

And slightly more than the entire Oakland As payroll.

–

Although while we’re on numbers, just checked the Chicago White Sox payroll. The Sox are on pace to catch the 1962 Mets with their 40-120 record. Their payroll at $133,000,000 million is more than.

The Kansas City Royals, the Minnesota Twins, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles. All teams that will make the playoffs.

–

=

Guessing most pundits couldn’t even explain fracking. But they obsess over Kamala Harris’s positions on the subject & how they have changed over time. Meanwhile, Donald Trump changes positions every other week, sometimes in the same day, and it’s largely media crickets.

–

CNN: We need Kamala Harris to sit for an interview so we can ask her questions about policy.

Also CNN: We got Kamala Harris & Tim Walz both to sit down & we spent most of time asking them questions about GOP talking points. Anyone think any other cable news would do better?

–

Can we stop with “Harris answers questions for first time as nominee?” Or describing it as “job interview” Kamala has been answering questions since she became nominee. This was 1st “scheduled” interview. And some of Dana Bash’s questions would be laughable at a job interview.

–

Something Kamala Harris brought up & media has problems remembering. We HAD bipartisan border bill members of Congress spent months on, led by conservative GOP Senator James Lankford. It was going to pass. Until Trump decided anything good for USA was bad for his campaign.

–

So here’s something we’ve learned. If you’re a GOP candidate you can try to swiftboat a Democrat with any dishonest accusations you want… the national media, instead of focusing on policy, will turn them into serious questions.

–

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz – “I would never demean another member’s service. I never have and I never will.” Won’t it be wonderful to have this good man as our Vice President?

–

Manu Raju on CNN just now about Donald’s Arlington photo up ‘The Army basically is saying Trump campaign isn’t telling the truth.” Let’s save words. “The Army is saying Trump is lying.”

–

Donald Trump now claiming that that the Arlington photo op fiasco was the Gold Star families’ idea while he was at the cemetery “would you take pictures over the grave of my son, my sister, brother, would you take pictures with us, sir? Two words. Yeah. right.

–

Media keeps talking about “misleading” or “exaggerated” claims that Trump is making on abortion. Let’s make it easy for them: “Democrats do not support aborting babies after birth. Trump is lying.” You’re welcome.

–

In April 2024, Trump said he’d announce his policy on abortion pill mifepristone “over next 2 weeks.” We’re waiting.

Today he wants us to believe he thinks 6 week abortion ban is too soon. Donald, what about just giving women as much time for decisions as you allow yourself?

–

One thing that isn’t talked about enough. Media likes to jump all over when Kamala Harris or Tim Walz have changed their positions on anything from years ago. But seriously, who wants a leader who is incapable of evolving on issues as he/she learns more and as times change?

–

Can we just stop parsing people’s fertility journeys? Have friends who’ve been through all kinds of hell, some successfully some not. Artificial insemination, fertility drugs, IVF, IUI, surrogates.

We need to stay the hell out of people’s efforts & choices for having a family.

Rich Hill, 44, is back in the majors with the Boston Red Sox. Well come on, why isn’t someone signing Jamie Moyer? He’s only 61. Am sure his fastball can still rattle glass.

=

SF Giants’ Kyle Harrison fell apart with two outs in the 5th inning on a hot humid night.

But there were two batters in that inning Harrison should have struck out except for missed calls.

I repeat, I’m voting for Harris-Walz anyway but how many occasional voters could they get if Kamala promised to issue an executive order for robot umps for balls and strikes in MLB?

–

Even if Tim Walz doesn’t remind Americans personally of their coach, their teacher or their dad, he makes millions of Americans think of the coach, the teacher or the dad they wish they had.

–

So if age matters, then yes, I admit the combined age of the Trump-Vance ticket is 118 years, while the combined age of the Harris-Walz ticket is 119.

Of course Kamala and Tim are 59 and 60. Whereas Donald and JD are 78 and 40.

–

Underreported from the travesty at Arlington. The smiling thumbs up picture in Arlington National Cemetery included the grave of Andrew Marckesano, who served six tours in Afghanistan. mostly under Trump.

(Not posting the picture, it’s easy to find but don’t want to give him Donald any more photo op tractins.)

Marckesano suffered from PTSD & he died by suicide in July 2020. “

“Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?”

–

—

Meanwhile CNN contributor Scott Jennings has vaulted towards the top of my “change the channel” list.

–

And right wing media seems to have decided it’s “Kamala’s border crisis.” Hoping at the debate and as often as possible before then Harris and Democrats point out that th bipartisan but GOP Senator Lankford led bill to try to fix things with immigration and the board WOULD HAVE PASSED. If not for Trump ordering it to be scuttled because Donald thought it would help Joe Biden.

Trump said yesterday that “he would win California with an honest vote count.” Yeah, my mother completely lost track with reality as her dementia progressed too.

Had some great high school teachers, two in particular who changed my life. Neither had biological children.

Thank you Amy Klobuchar for reminding us of teachers, and people, like that.

(If you can’t get the link, Amy talks about a teacher, Ms. Kalionen, who changed her life, and had no biological children of her own.

A little joy with @JoyAnnReid and a response to JD Vance: pic.twitter.com/keJXUtIQTq

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) August 29, 2024

Two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces tonight lost 93-90 to the lowly Dallas Wings, despite 42 points from their superstar A’ja WIlson.

Bad news for the Aces, but good news for WNBA fans…. as the story is the lead on ESPN website tonight.

–

“We didn’t defend, we fouled and we didn’t rebound. And we shot the 3 terrible again,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “So it’s a bad combination.”

(If you didn’t already know Becky trained under Gregg Popovich.)

–

If the season ended today, while the NY Yankees and Baltimore Orioles would make the playoffs, the other two wild card spots in the AL, along with the division win, would go to to some combination of the Kansas City Royals, the Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins.

All three of them with a combined payroll less than about $20 million more than the Yankees.

–

If Kamala Harris and Tim Walz want a bipartisan issue that would pick up some occasional voters, maybe they should consider an executive order to require MLB to use robot umps- or at least challenges- for balls and strikes.

–

Larry Hogan says he won’t vote for Trump but won’t vote for Harris either. Also for non-political junkies, Senate committees & floor time controlled by majority leader; why GOP voted no on Trump impeachment after Jan. 6.

Hogan will fall in line. Don’t fall for his lines.

–

Would Trump dump J.D. Vance for RFK Jr? Thinking Donald would never want to admit he made a mistake. But if I am Vance maybe I stay away from windows.

–

Lies lies and more lies Trump claims in a fundraising email that Kamala Harris has “backed out of the Fox News debate.” There never

– Fox News Debate. Donald just wanted one.

–

Kash Patel says “we’re going to come after” the media, if Trump is re-elected.

Some in media seem re-assured by the fact that many positions need to be confirmed by the Senate. Have they forgotten that SCOTUS just said the President can do whatever he wants?

–

Hey media. 1. Can you ask Trump if he agrees with RFK Jr. on vaccines? 2. Can you ask RFK Jr, who’s always said he’s an environmentalist, what he thinks about Trump saying climate change is a hoax?

Thank you. America

–

As the Taliban has basically put women into a beyond Handmaid’s Tale dystopia, why isn’t the national media making a bigger story of the fact that Trump praised them and their leader – less than two weeks ago?

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-brags-compliment-taliban-your-excellency-1940179

The SEC will start out the 2024 season with 16 teams.

The BIg Ten will start out the 2024 season with 18 teams

Which conference will be the first to 20?

—

And 12 teams in 2024 will make the playoffs.

Over under on if more than half of them will be from either the SEC or Big Ten?

Dallas Cowboys haven’t been to NFC Championship game since 1995. But Jerry Jones remains confident that there’s no one better suited for getting this done than himself.

“The reason I don’t let somebody else be the GM is because I don’t have anybody that I will let do it to actually do it right. 

Sound familiar? And yes, Jones is a Trump supporter.

–

A the Kroger-Albertson merger trial begins, Kroger says if deal is allowed to go through they will cut prices? Kroger gross profit for 12 months ending April 30, 2024 was $33.424B, a 3.75% increase year-over-year.

So the question, why don’t they cut prices now?

–

As Alaska gets closer to approval of their merger with Hawaiian Airlines, the airline quietly stopped giving free preferred seats to clients of their best travel agency partners. Mergers may help bottom lines, they almost never help consumers

–

Heather Cox Richardson sums it up “The momentum of the Harris-Walz campaign undermines the Big Lie that Trump is the popular choice, but the voter suppression the Big Lie justified remain.” If your vote didn’t matter, GOP wouldn’t be trying so hard to stop you voting.

Ever wonder why Fox News viewers act brainwashed? This is today’s headline. “Trump team suggests debate could be canceled as Harris seeks last-minute ‘changes’”

Kamala has NEVER threatened to back out of the debate. Her campaign has said they would like a change to mic rules. Donald is the one wants out., 

–

Trump today”“Who would call (dead troops) suckers and losers?” “Who would say it? A stupid person or a person that’s mentally ill.”

When he’s right, he’s right.

–

A reporter asked Trump if he’d consider RFK Jr for HHS Secretary. Donald said they hadn’t talked about it but that he “knows a lot about the subject.’ Uh, why didn’t the reporter simply ask if Trump agrees with RFK Jr. on vaccines?

–

Republicans are pretending to be more upset by the fact that Tim Walz plays with dogs who are not his own, than they are by allegations that RFK Jr ate dog. (And who knows what RFK Jr did with the bear cub?)

If you’re only seeing the Twitter comments, Cory Booker absolutely did play football. Even if he wasn’t a professional player. He was recruited by Michigan, UCLA, Georgia Tech…

Yes, he played college football at Stanford. #BeatCal PS F*ck Jake Tapper

—

Meanwhile, another weekend closer to NFL opener on September 5.. Now, while I love sports in general and guess I understand why fans watch Preseason football, have yet to have someone really explain to me why anyone BETS on preseason football.

SF Giants let an imminently winnable game in Seattle get away, this time 4-3, but with only five hits and 0-3 with RISP (Runners in Scoring/Stranded Position?)

But at least there remains the hope of postseason joy with the Dodgers losing in the first or second round of the playoffs.

–

–

RFK Jr. says Donald Trump will announce Democrats joining campaign soon

Yep, Trump will announce Democrats joining his campaign at the same time he announces the details of his “big beautiful healthcare plan.”

–

Let’s make it simple. Can some journalist please just ask Donald Trump if he agrees with RFK Jr. on vaccines?

–

And as JD Vance increasingly looks like a major mistake as Trump’s running mate why isn’t media making a bigger deal of the fact that Donald is 78 and showing signs of age, If Trump is elected Vance would be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

–

Kamala Harris has popular plans for 2025, but media attacks her continually over those plans not having enough details. Donald Trump has very unpopular plans with Project 2025, but media ignores that he pretends not to know any of the details.

–

CNN headline “Trump team prepares for sprint to November with ‘all hands on deck’ approach.” Would it be wrong to add the adjective “teeny tiny” to all those hands on decK?

By the time you read this the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, played in Dublin, Ireland, between Florida State and Georgia Tech will probably be over. Along with yet another of the pretences that college football is about anything but money.

–

Whatever you think about the DNC lovefest last week, where former colleagues, rivals, students, family member, etc, all showed up to show their love for Kamala Harris and TIm Walz, can anyone remember anyone showing – other than maybe one granddaughter, professing actual love for Donald Trump?

And anyone but J.D. Vance’s wife showing love for him?

–

Texas, along with other red sttates, is suing over a Biden program to give immigrant spouses of US citizens legal status. Guess they figure you should only get that privilege if you marry an old white man powerful enough to get you a “genius” visa.

–

RFK Jr. and Donald Trump deserve each other. Our country deserves better than them. #HarrisWalz

If they could put a wind turbine above RFK’s grave at Arlington cemetery the spinning his son is causing him could power half of Washington DC.

–

Last week. Trump bragged Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar called him “Your Excellency.” Donald also called Taliban leader a “strong and smart” man.”

Taliban just banned women in Afghanistan from speaking in public & from showing their bare faces.

Anyone asked Trump for comment?

Kamala Harris sounds like she’s ready to be Commander in Chief. Donald Trump sounds like he’s ready to enter assisted living.

–

Fox News headline “Trump blasts Harris as part of Truth Social flurry on what she ‘didn’t mention’ in DNC speech.” What Kamala didn’t mention…. Bird cemeteries? Sharks? Electrocution? The “late great Hannibal Lecter”? For starters..

–

“Democracy knows no party.” Can’t wait until we get back to a time when I can go back to disagreeing with Adam Kinzinger again.

–

Adam Kinzinger “I never thought I’d be here. You never thought you’d see me here.. “But to my fellow GOP, Dems are just as patriotic as us. & they love our country just as much as us.” “Trump is a small man pretending to be big.” Shouldn’t love size jokes as much as I do.

–

Apparently “Rocking in the Free World” is one of Tim Walz’s favorite songs.

Hey, youngsters, if you only knew Pearl Jam version it’s great time to get acquainted with great music of Neil Young.

May I suggest “Ohio,” “Needle & the Damage Done,” “Old Man,” & “Like a Hurricane?”

–

–

On top of everything else…. for those who still want to base their vote in November on whether they “like” a candidate, or want to have a beer with them… think about the people Kamala Harris would appoint as judges, Cabinet members, etc. And then think about those Trump would appoint.

–

As Trump continues his new lying rant about Kamala Harris having destroyed San Francisco and California, the silver lining for California residents could be fewer MAGA tourists.

–

So many moments of so much love at the Democratic National Convention. Can anyone remember one moment of love at the RNC? Except Donald talking about himself.

–

Now that the Democrat convention is over, if you’re looking for something to binge watch this weekend, may I suggest “Friday Night Lights?” On of my all time favorite shows. And then try to tell me Tim and Gwen Walz don’t give you Eric and Tami Taylor vibes…

–

Two things that seem wrong in August. Football and pumpkin spice lattes.

Confess I liked that Gabe Kapler was up front about being a Democrat, but admit his teams, other than in 2021, had pretty mediocre records.

Someone pointed out Bob Melvin’s record after playing 129 games is currently 65-64, while Kapler’s record last year after playing 129 games was 66-63.

–

Mike Krukow said “the strikeout bug is affecting the SF Giants right now.” Uh, the strikeout bug in 2024 for the SF Giants isn’t a bug, it’s the baseball equivalent of long COVID..

–

Cory Booker, former varsity football player at Stanford talks about their being “coaches we’d run through a wall for.” Tim Walz was clearly one of those coaches..

–

Tim Walz on Project 2025. Trump & Vance “spent a lot of time pretending they know nothing about this. But I coached high school football for a long time. Trust me on this, when somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re going to use it.”

–

From Amy Klobuchar to his former students to his family, we learned tonight that people who really know Tim Walz really love Tim Walz. Is there a better thing you can find out about a human being?

–

Stephen Colbert sums it up for the football fans in the room – “Maybe we needed a coach to show us “This is what locker room talk is supposed to sound like.”

–

  · 

Still adore listening to Bill Clinton….

But if the DNC wanted to have Tim Walz speak at 11p, on a night with Bill scheduled to speak… they should have started earlier.

Bill Clinton says he’s triple checked it . “Since the end of the Cold War in 1989, American has created about 51 million new jobs. What’s the score? Democrats 50, Republicans 1.”

(and USA Today fact checker agrees)

–

Dana Nessel, attorney general of Michigan, talking about freedom, includng freedom to love who we choose. “I have a message for Republicans & justices of SCOTUS You can pry this wedding band from my cold dead gay hand…” Joyful with no f*cks to give is a good look for Dems.

–

Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan nails it in speaking to his fellow Republicans tonight.

“You vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, you’re not a Democrat, you’re a patriot.”

Yes, there have been some arrests near DNC in Chicago. But overall the convention has been joyful inside and relatively calm outside. National media, not just Fox News, is acting disappointed.

GOP Swiftboated Purple Heart winner John Kerry over his service

Trump derided John McCain over his service.

Now GOP is attacking 24 year National Guard veteran over his service.

Why do Republicans hate our military?

For those who remember Eric and Tami Taylor.

And for those who have never heard of them.

–

Get ready for Tim and Gwen Walz…

–

Aside from all the other joy in the United Center tonight during the Democratic Roll Call..

How cool was it to learn about what mattered to each state.. and how what music they chose?

Michelle Obama has made it 100% clear that she is not interested in running for office

–

But with speeches like tonight, you understand why people wish she thought otherwise.

Barack Obama:

“The vast majority of us do not want to live in a country that is bitter and divided. We want something better, we want to be better.”

Sometimes people ask why I’m a Democrat; , one reason is that I’m an optimist. And I want to believe that Obama is right.

–

Also Barack Obama – “We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos. We’ve seen that movie before, and we know the sequel is usually worse.” Hope the DNC is using super-strong mics, because they’re getting dropped this week. A lot.

–

Jason Carter “My grandfather can’t wait to vote for Kamala Harris.” Jimmy Carter will be 100 in October. To anyone on the fence about voting in 2024 “What’s your excuse?

–

One of the most chilling, brave and true lines yet about the need for reproductive rights in this country. Incest-rape survivor Hadley Duvall, pregnant at 12 by her stepfather: “What is so beautiful about a child having to carry her parent’s child?”

Meanwhile, while the Democratic National Convention is a joyful optimistic lovefest, DonOld is talking about possibly appointing RFK Jr. to role in his administration if Jr endorses him. Okay, that’s pathetic and beyond weird..

What’s sadder, that Steve Kerr said as part of his DNC speech ” Young people, google Michael Jordan?”

Or that some young people did have to google Michael Jordan

–

Not a Warriors fan and so while I like Kerr I have found Curry’s “night night” gesture annoying. Not, however, admittedly when Kerr used to to illustrate what we could tell Donald Trump in November.

–

So much love in that DNC convention tonight. Can anyone remember any moments of love in that other convention in Milwaukee last month? Asking for a country.

–

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, elected to Senate Jan. 5, 2021, spoke tonight.

(f you missed it, find a clip. A couple excerpts…)

“We must choose between the promise of January 5 & the peril of January 6.” Of Trump “He endorsed a Bible as if it needed his endorsement; he should try reading it.”

There’s a reason Rev. Warnock is now the pastor of MLK Jr’s church.

–

Absolutely stunning that MSNBC was part of the loud chorus attacking President Biden over his age and telling him to step down…. but while they turn a blind eye to their own Andrea Mitchell.

–

Hillary Clinton- “I want my grandchildren and their grandchildren to know I was here at this moment… This is our time America, the future is here, the future is within our grasp…. Let’s go win it!”

–

Amy Klobuchar with Wolf Blitzer nails it on Kamala Harris’s candidacy .. “In 28 days, come on, she launched Presidential campaign,.raised over $300 million, picked great running mate… She’s filling up arenas with 15,000 people, and pissing Donald Trump off in the process…”

–

Jamie Raskin remindeds us tonight about Jan 6, 2021, the injuries, the deaths, & “hang Mike Pence.”

“Someone should have told Donald Trump the president’s job under the constitution is to make sure that the laws are faithfully executed, not that the vice-President is executed.”

–

Rick Scott actually said “Trump is a business guy who understands how businesses work. Harris has no earthly idea how businesses work.”

Donald ‘s companies declared bankruptcy 6 times. Scott’s company HCA paid $1.7 billion in largest Medicare fraud case in history. Define “work”

–

As Stephen Colbert said the DNC first night was an extraordinary night that went extraordinarily long…

“Technically we just rolled over into the beginning of the 2028 campaign.”

–

(Joe Biden made it up late… though wonder with his speech ending about 12:30a Easter, how many voters didn’t)

Made it to the last Bay Bridge series game today in Oakland between the As and the SF Giants.

Will say that while I feel for die-hard baseball fans in Oakland, when they started doing “The Wave” in the late innings at the game today, I felt a little less sympathetic.

True story from 1989, when Candlestick Park started shaking before game 3, my initial thought was “bleeping As fans doing their bleeping Wave in our park..”

–

The Chicago White Sox have officially been eliminated from playoff competition. August 17. They are 30-95 with 37 games to go.

So yes, the Miracle Mets 40-120 record is reachable.

Meanwhile the Seattle Mariners and NY Mets have been announced as teams for the 2025 Little League Classic, which takes place during the Little League World Series.

Wonder if the White Sox were considered for the LLWS itself.

–

We justifiably judge leaders on their hiring choices. Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz. Donald Trump chose J.D. Vance. Enough said.

–

CNN reports DonOld posted fake picture of Kamala Harris speaking in front on Communist symbol. Twitter policy is against sharing “synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media that may deceive or confuse people & lead to harm” Elon hasn’t flagged/removed the post. I am shocked.

–

Amy Klobuchar on with Jen Psaki this morning, talking about delightful differences between the two tickets. “he’s talking bird cemeteries and they’re in ‘brat’ summer.”

And Amy on the DNC convention Monday night: “There is going to be so much love for Joe Biden…everyone’s going to want to give him a big hug.” She’s right.

How much is this going to drive DonOld crazy? Nobody wants to hug him.

–

Random question … Can some reporter find out who’s getting paid to make those 10 commandments signs that now have to be posted inn Louisiana schools?

–

Nothing is certain except death, taxes, and that anything Maureen Dowd writes now will be a petty “mean girl” attack on Democrats.

–

Kroger says if their merger with Albertson’s is allowed to go through they will lower prices. And at the same time will Krogrer unveil “a big beautiful healthcare plan” for their employees?

–

Donald Trump is back in Pennsylvania for the eighth time this year. Partly because he knows the state is important for the election. But also because for Donald as an elderly man it’s an easy trip from his resort home in Bedminster New Jersey.

–

But in Pennsylvania Trump, talked about how he believes he twice won Minnesota… Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, if you’re honest, you know if DonOld was your elderly relative, you’d be scoping out assisted living places.

–

Do let’s see, GOP under Donald Trump and J.D Vance these days hates cats, dogs, women, children, immigrants, people of color. Everyone who isn’t a rich white man. And they aren’t actually that fond of each other either.

 Can’t the Olympic committee just give bronze medals to both Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosuand American Jordan Chiles?

–

Friday the SF Giants didn’t get a hit with RISP.

But at least this time they didn’t disappoint their fans. The team had an off day.

-.

Good news. The WNBA is back after their Olympic break.

Better news. Millions of sports fans now actually care that the WNBA is back.

–

Now there’s reportedly a group called “Swifties for Trump.” Wonder where both of them meet?

–

When you listen to Kamala Harris and Tim Walz speak you feel good about the United States of America. When you listen to Donald Trump & J.D. Vance speak you feel like we live in a sh*thole country. If you needed yet another reason to vote blue this November.

–

Kroger claims it will lower grocery prices by $1 billion, IF they are allowed to merge with fellow grocery giant Albertsons.

And how LONG will Kroger lower prices? A week, a month? We know darn well once the merger is approved eventually Kroger will raise prices higher than they are now. That’s what monopolies do!

–

Why isn’t this a bigger story? Trump attacks immigrants. While he’s bankrolled by German-born Peter Thiel South Africans David Sacks & Elon Musk Sri Lankan Chamath Palihapitiya & Israel’s Miriam Adelson Plus Donald’s major support from Australian Rupert Murdoch’s’ Fox News.

MLB is looking at rule changes down the road to require starting pitchers to throw at least six innings, with exceptions for injuries, throwing 100 pitches, or giving up 4 or more earned runs.

So the Colorado Rockies would be off the hook.

–

Thought seriously, I’ve long complained about a “quality start” being considered six innings, three or fewer earned runs. (4.50 ERA) But seriously, how many pitchers get six innings how with ANY amount of earned runs.

–

Is corporate billionaire owned media finally getting it? Or getting that their orange goose who laid the ratings egg might finally be cooked? This is CNN’s top website headline. “Trump’s fury at Harris is increasingly driving his campaign.”

–

Why is Trump so furious at Kamala Harris? Because she’s kicking his (ample) derriere.

–

Not the Onion. Trump actually said “I think I’m entitled to personal attacks on Kamala Harris.” I’m sure this will go over real well with women voters.

President Biden, talking about lowering Presciption drug prices today. “I served in the Senate for 270 years…” “For a long time I was too damn young, now I’m too damn old…”

And – “Let me tell you what our Project 2025 is… Beat the hell out of them.” Dark Brandon is really on a roll…

–

=

NY Times at it again. Headline “Tim Walz’s Bumpy Road to Gun Control.” If you actually read article it points out that Walz still supports 2nd amendment but after an increasing number of mass shootings. “Like America, I’ve seen enough of this. I’ve seen enough of this carnage.”

Personally, think one great quality in a leader is the ability to learn and evolve positions as the situation and facts change. And Walz has that quality.

–

Trump rails against immigrants. While some of his biggest, and richest supporters are Elon Musk, David Sacks and Peter Thiel all from South Africa, and Chamath Palihapitiya, born in Sri Lanka. Not to mention Rupert Murdoch. Every accusation is a confession

The 28-93 Chicago White Sox are planning to drop ticket prices in 2025.

So how much are they going to pay fans to get them to show up?

–

Yes, admittedly I cut Gabe Kapler a lot of slack because he’s one of the few outspoken Democrats in baseball.

And yes, also he made some analytics decisions that didn’t pass the eye test.

But could the team have been much less interesting with Gabe managing? At least the post game press conferences would have been more fun.

–

=

Trump didn’t give an economic speech Wednesday, he gave another rambling rant of attacks and grievances. Though maybe the rant was really about how he’s getting boring and losing ratings.

–

In his rant accusing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz of being “beyond socialist,” Trump just attacked Tim Walz because Walz’ only adult jobs before he ran for Congress were being in the National Guard and being a teacher.

I call both those professions heroic.

–

Royce White is now GOP nominee for US Senate vs Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota. He’s a misogynist conspiracy theorist, who’s allegedly misused campaign funds, is friends w/ Steve Bannon & calls women “mouthy.”

Can’t imagine how GOP thinks anyone would vote for someone like that….other than for President.

–

WTF? Asked about Hannibal Lector, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung “Pres Trump is inspiring & gifted storyteller. Referencing pop culture is a reason he can successfully connect w/ voters. Whereas VP Harris’s as relatable as a worn-out couch.” Yes, Trump campaign brought up a VP & couches.

Why does Trump keep talking about how we were doing four years ago? Four years ago we were all stuck at home, canceling everything from travel to weddings to funerals. And over a million Americans are permanently unavailable for comment.

–

Anyone in the media who has participated in one of the press events where Donald Trump ignored questions and rambled on with unchecked lies, should just STFU about Kamala Harris having a press conference.

Now that the Olympics is over, we can all go back to admitting we have no clue about the fine points ofs gymnastics and platform diving. (okay, except for the fact that “no splash” is good.

–

Meanwhile, in baseball,, is this the way the playoff world ends for the SF Giants? Not with a bang but 1 for 17 over two days with Ruinners in Scoring Position.

(and 2 losses by one run in the 10th inning.)

—

In all seriousness, now that the Olympics are over, can anyone point to a Republican leader who has been joyfully celebrating USA successes? Certainly their Presidential nominee has spent the last couple weeks in a hate-filled orange fog.

–

Although has Donald Trump said yet if he had competed how many Olympic medals he would have won?

Royce White just won GOP primary to run against Amy Klobuchar for U.S. Senate. He’s backed by Steve Bannon, Alex Jones & the My Pillow Guy.. Royce warns of “vast conspiracy to turn Americans into serfs or slaves as part of global economy.” Need any more proof GOP is a cult?

–

News outlets were sent leaked Trump campaign files. They chose not to publish them.

They didn’t exercise the same restraint when Hillary’s emails were hacked.

Wonder what they’d do if someone sent them leaked Kamala Harris campaign files?

(Two of these things are not like the other..)

–

Fox News has a top headline saying President Biden exaggerated when he claimed today he’d travelled 17,000 miles with China’s President. Gosh, for some reason there’s no headline about DonOld Trump’s claims last night with Elon Musk.

–

I love Tim Walz “Can you imagine Donald Trump working at McDonald’s trying to make a McFlurry or something?” If DonOld were forced to do it, he’d probably give up in 30 seconds, possibly break the machine, and blame someone in the deep state for sabotaging him.

–

And note, Tim Walz is such a decent man he’s not attacking his opponent for only serving four years and not seeing combat either. He said simply to Vance “Thank you for your service and sacrifice.” We are going to have such a good man as our Vice President.

Anyone else notice that GOP loves to attack Democrats when they evolve on issues, but Republicans shrug off when their own leaders are on record with very different positions in the past – especially when it comes to former attacks on DonOld Trump?

=

Now CNN was actually speculating as to if Donald Trump might drop JD Vance.

Thinking DonOld won’t do it. Because Vance has been so bad and so unpresidential JD might be insurance against the GOP actually deciding to drop HIM.

–

So didn’t and won’t listen to the delayed Musk-Twitter interview. But I do know that Twitter crashed. And that Musk alleges the crash was the result of a ‘DDOS attack on X’

Uh, my money’s on “firing all your best engineers and not replacing them.”

Hey media:

You can’t both attack Kamala Harris, who is campaigning nonstop, for not doing traditional press conferences while you praise Donald Trump AT THE SAME TIME for using unorthodox new ways to reach voters (like his train wreck of a Twitter conversation last night.)

Since Donald Trump can’t tel the difference between Kamala and Camilla, let me as an Anglophile make it clear: Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen of England, would also kick Trump’s derriere in a debate.

Does it make me an old fogey if I don’t understand why Breaking should be an Olympic sport?

Per USA Today’s Christine Brennan, American women.”are winning medals at such a terrific rate that if they jettisoned the guys, they would be third in the overall medal standings, behind only the full U.S. team and China. “

How cool would it be to see all these women at the first woman US President’s inaugural in January

–

Saturday’s USA win in the women’s 4 by 400 relay – by FOUR seconds, reminds me of being a kid watching Secretariat in the Belmont.

–

To put it in baseball terms, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is looking like the relatively unknown trade deadline pickup who catches fire and makes an already good team look like a World Series favorite

–

While some are arguing whether Trump’s emails were hacked by Iran or leaked by a disgruntled staffer, can we also discuss whether using Celine Dion’s “My Heart will go On” without attribution at Donald’ss Montana rally was just illegally using music or an equally disgruntled staffer putting an exclamation point on Trump’s campaign having become the modern-day voyage of the Titanic?

So now reports that Trump is calling Kamala Harris a *bitch.” 1. You don’t think as a strong woman Harris has been called worse by insecure men? 2. Tina and Amy were right on SNL Weekend Update

No, not a comment on Trump’s skin color.

But Team USA almost ended up playing for bronze this weekend, finally kicking it into gear against Serbia to win their semi-final game, with a huge late game from Steph Curry. They won by four after being down by as much as 17.

What did they think this was, a regular season NBA game?

–

Non political rant.

SF Giants closer Camilo Doval had a horribleibottom of the 9th nning, again & coughed up a 3 run lead against Washington Nationals with 2 walks then a 2 strike home run.

Giants won after a 4 run top of the 10th, so Doval got the win.

Can we change that baseball rule?

–

On a brighter note for SF Giants, at least they didn’t give Camilo Doval the big longterm contract he wanted last offseason.

–

-Noah Lyles, two days after testing positive for Covid, won a bronze medal in the men’s 200. Gutsy performance and good for him…. but uh, wonder how some of the Olympic staffers and volunteers he came in contact with over the past two days felt? Especially those with any health issues or family members with health issues.

–

If you were playing a drinking game taking a shot every time Trump said “crowd size” in today’s “press conference,” hope you drank a lot of water and took a couple aspirin before going to bed tonight.

–

When you go to your high school reunion, Tim Walz is the teacher you’re thrilled to see show up. And J.D. Vance is the guy who approaches you and you excuse yourself to head to the restroom.

–

J.D. Vance is actually fundraising with a picture of Kamala Harris wearing an expensive gold necklace – and attacking her as “elite.”

Assume necklace was a gift from her husband Doug, who’s a successful lawyer. But has anyone pointed out to J.D. how much Melania’s clothes cost?

—

Imagine if Joe Biden were still running for re-election, holed up in White House for week, then announced he would do one event, in “swing” state of Massachusetts. I’m sure media would be as tolerant & lowkey as they are now about DonOld Trump doing 1 rally this week in Montana.

And then a so called press conference today from his resort ballroom.

–

Today’s Trump event, It wasn’t a Press Conference, it was an SNL Cold Open.

–

The only “news” at this #TrumpPressConference was that Donald’s dementia is progressing rapidly.

“I don’t think the abortion issue is a big factor anymore.” Uh, Roevember is coming Donald, Roevember is coming…

–

Anyone else notice Donald at one point talking about “Kamala and her new friend….” Trump forgot Tim Walz’s name.

Media is missing something about today’s #TrumpMeltdown

Donald is usually in Bedminster in August. Mar-A-Lago is closed to members in summer, so it’s a lonely place. Too hot to golf.

Why is he down there? Is DonOld, is he hiding from the public? Is he hiding more documents?