Left Coast Sports Babe

Picture is from about a year and a half ago at Borough Market.  Three Americans, two Brits.  We were strangers but bonded around closing time at New Forest Cider, where they ended up letting us buy an extra pint.  And we spent an hour teaching each other British and American slang equivalents.  Most memorably deciding that “wanker” equaled “douchebag.”    I’d go back tomorrow if I could.

If US is “the land of the free & the home of the brave” how come English are so much more defiant & less afraid after terrorist acts?

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As Americans send our thoughts and prayers to London…our President’s initial reaction “We need the travel ban.”  Or the whole tweet  – “We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!”

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But apparently “extra level of safety” doesn’t include sensible gun regulations?

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Today’s “crooks are stupid” story: In Northern California, two people were arrested for allegedly stealing computer equipment including 18 GPS devices. Guess how police found them.

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Pence said today that Trump “is more concerned with Des Moines than Denmark” Uh, Hillary won Des Moines as well as Pittsburgh.

There are clearly more important things in the world, but the #StanleyCup finals aren’t even on network TV in the US? #WTF?

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Marlins #EdinsonVolquez threw the first no-hitter of the year today. Amazingly, it wasn’t against the #SFGiants.

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Thinking free speech means Bill Maher has a right to use the “N” word. It also means we have a right to say it was f*cking stupid.

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You cannot make this stuff up: Today’s (small) “Pittsburgh not Paris” rally by Trump supporters in Wash. DC was held in Lafayette Park.

Nikki Haley “President Trump believes the climate is changing and he believes pollutants are part of the equation.”.. But “we’ll do it under our own terms” So pulling out of Paris really just was a middle finger to the rest of the world. #Becausehecan

Trump trying to privatize air traffic control. So if planes don’t move fast enough on the runways, ATC can just start dragging them off?

In Texas, a man who got a “Jesus is my Life” tattoo, and was warned to avoid sun and swimming for 10 days, promptly went swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, got an infection, and died.

Even God is going “Jesus Christ!”

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From Marc Ragovin “Some advice for all those going nutso over Trumps decision to pull out of the Paris Accord: sit back, relax, take a deep breath …. oh wait, we can’t do that anymore:”

While we wait for game 2 of the NBA finals, sometime in the next week….

If you’re not a sports fan you may not know about Enes Kanter. He is Turkish, the center for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and an outspoken critic of President Erdogan. The government revoked his passport recent, and today he tweeted ” MY DAD HAS BEEN ARRESTED by Turkish government and the Hitler of our century He is potentially to get tortured as thousand others.”
So where’s the outraged tweet from Trump on this one? #terrorcomesinmanyforms.

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Hackers apparently broke into “OneLogin,” a centralized password manager. Which reminds me why I don’t use password managers, and of an old joke. A guy visits his son at college, where the young man tells him he is working in a lab trying to create a universal solvent. Dad’s response “When you find it, what are you going to keep it in?”

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Give the man credit for putting his money where his mouth was: ESPN via Sportsnet.ca reports Blue Jays OF Kevin Pillar, suspended 2-games for an anti-gay slur, will donate his forfeited salary Toronto-area LGBTQ organizations.
“It’s not lip service. It’s easy to come out and make your apologies and hope people forget, but I meant what I said when I said hopefully I’ll be made an example of.”

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So clearly  Austin Slater was needed to ignite SF Giants offense. #NerdNation #GoStanford

As much as  SF GIants miss Madbum,  his replacement Ty Blach might be their best pitcher.

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Would if have helped if instead of using the phrase “pull out” world leaders had begged Trump not to abort the Paris Accord? #prolifemyass

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Kellyanne Conway says Trump might use executive privilege to keep Comey from testifying. Somewhere Nixon is going “You can do that?” #WTF

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Putin to Megyn Kelly “even children could hack an election.” So that’s what Russia does with their child labor?

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Dear Kathy Griffin – In this case, if at first you don’t succeed. STFU.

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From Marc Ragovin ” Some advice for all those going nutso over Trumps decision to pull out of the Paris Accord: sit back, relax, take a deep breath …. oh wait, we can’t do that anymore.”

Whoever thought that the 2017 SF Giants would be the lead story on Sportcenter over a hit?   Especially one by Strickland on Harper?

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Giants fans hope it won’t be the biggest hit of the year.

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Just thinking that both SF Giants s AND Nationals are glad Madison Bumgarner was on on the  DL & thus not allowed to get on field during that brawl.

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Watching Hunter Strickland and Bryce Harper after seeing Hamilton makes  you glad the US has outlawed duels.

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And of course no one will ever really know what Strickland intended to do with that pitch that hit Harper square on the thigh..   But anyone who has been watching the Giants knows, if  Hunter’s control was THAT good, he’d be the team closer.

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Tiger Woods arrested for DUI. ! So he’s even having issues driving off the golf course?

Maybe Tiger Woods’ sponsor  Nike ought to partner with Uber/Lyft with the slogan “Just do it – call a ride.”

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And well, at least Tiger Woods wasn’t driving an Indy 500 pace car this weekend.

JFK would have been 100 today, Meaning he would have been almost old enough to run as a Democrat for President in 2020. #JFK100

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A newly engaged couple in Canada escaped without serious injury after he proposed in a hot-air balloon, which then crashed into a tree. Well, that’s one way of getting the “for worse” part out of the way early.

Tuning into #TheBachelorette to be reminded of those days when most outrageous regular insanity in US at least seemed to be on reality TV.

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And wasn’t it nice when joining a televised competition  “for  the wrong reasons” was only something we worried about for a dating show instead of the presidency?

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Rumors are that Trump may overturn President Obama’s loosening of restrictions for travel and tourism to Cuba.  Forget healthcare, has Donald asked his base what they think about giving up Cuban cigars?

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Bummer, Frank Deford. 78, has passed away. In the pre-ESPN days when you grew up with just the local paper and Sports Illustrated, his words helped guide many of us off on a lifetime love of sports.

Somehow it doesn’t seem quite right to say “Happy Memorial Day.”

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Would like all these MLB camouflage hats for Memorial Day Weekend more if they didn’t feel like just another way to sell stuff.

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Pitchers who kinda sorta rake. Cueto had a sacrifice fly Sunday  for SF Giants. They will take it.

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SHN sends email thank you notes to everyone who buys Hamilton tickets after the show and suggests posting on social media about #HamiltonSF to spread the word. Right. Because they’d hate to have lots of empty seats for the rest of the show’s run? #WTF

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The long lull between the Western and Eastern conference championships and the NBA finals continues…  Why, this is enough of a break for players to start and finish a relationship with a Kardashian.

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People at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom were waiting in line six hours or more to enter the new “Pandora – the World of Avatar” land this morning.  Wonder how long some of these folks would wait in line to vote.

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Eight dead in #Mississippi. Not terrorism, just regular American gun violence. Move along, nothing to see here.

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From “Ivanka Trump HQ” verified Twitter account  “Make champagne popsicles this #MemorialDay”

They go so well with all that cake we’re supposed to eat.

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Give @realDonaldTrump credit for one thing on his foreign trip – a unified Europe

Trump tweets were so abnormally calm and measured last week, then so “normal” Sunday can only assume someone convinced him Twitter didn’t work in Europe?

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John Kelly, the Director of Homeland Security who will make the decision if Americans can continue to take their laptops, iPads and Kindles on international flights without checking them in luggage, also said last month “a border wall is essential” because of “tremendous threats” such as drugs and individuals coming into the US.

Now I feel much safer . #sarcasm

So if you’re at a play and miss hearing the SF Giants bullpen looking at first like they might blow another game, but the team hangs on…is it still torture?

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California Senator Kamala Harris and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown have bet cases of good beer on the Warriors and Cavs for the NBA championship. So will they next bet cases of generic beer on if the 49ers or Browns will end up with next year’s #1 NFL draft pick?

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Newark Airport was partially evacuated today after a “suspicious pressure cooker” was found in a shopping bag. It turned out to be harmless. But thinking if you are flying to a wedding and thinking of giving someone a pressure cooker as a present this summer, maybe best to have it shipped

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RIP Gregg Allman, 69. Not sure what’s worse for baby-boomers, having had music heroes die young, or having them die from at least somewhat age-related causes.

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British Airways canceled all flights Saturday from London after what say is “a major IT system failure.” And United might be quietly smiling – “what a drag.”

What would we give to hear what other world leaders were privately saying about Trump when he went off to give solo troop speech in Italy?

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Trump on his foreign trip “We hit a home run.” As SF Giants fans have sadly learned for too much of  2017.  – One or two home runs a week means you are losing, bigly.

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In Europe are they now feeling like Americans do when that really obnoxious house guest you really didn’t want is finally gone?

So how long until we find out someone in Trump White House has their own email server too? “If the President does it, it’s not illegal.”

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Trump’s am tweet “I will make my final decision on the Paris Accord next week!” So he’ll tell us, “after the break?” #realityshowpresident

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Quite a tweet storm Saturday from @realDonaldTrump. But about awful #Portland killings by anti-Muslim extremist – crickets. Why am I not surprised?

If your killer is undocumented you warrant major attention from Trump but not if your killer is white supremacist? #Sad #ReallySad #Portland

Wonder how many sports journalists are hoping athletes aren’t paying enough attention to get the idea that bodyslamming is an acceptable response to questions.

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Madison Bumgarner soon to start playing catch in rehab from dirt bike accident. Not sure what @SFGiants miss most – his pitching or his bat?

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Apparently both Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness winner Cloud Computing may skip the Belmont.    This news will devastate casual horse racing fans who planned to watch the race – both of them.

An Akron hospital just removed mandatory pantyhose w/ dresses & skirts from employee dress code. Millennials are going “what are pantyhose?

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Nothing says “America First” like wearing a $51,000 Italian dress to the G-7 Summit.

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But ah, those pictures of #EmmanuelMacron and #JustinTrudeau. Millions of women just changed their computer screensavers….

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A Turkish newspaper reports the government has issued arrest warrant for outspoken OKC center Enes Kanter – for being a member of a “terror group,”
Just guessing Gregg Popovich might want to take Istanbul off his travel list.

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Washington Post said Jared Kushner “suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in US for communications.” But at least  he didn’t use private email server.

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Trump condemned the most recent attack in Egypt and said “the bloodletting of Christians must end.” How about the ‘bloodletting’ period?

Killing children sucks. That is all. #manchester

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But back to jokes etc, not because they are more important. But because if we stop laughing, the bad guys win.

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Kevin Durant after Warriors ‘ game 3 win against Spurs. “If you don’t like it don’t watch it.” Well that should have done wonders for tonight’s ratings.

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A small test for anyone who claims they are a Predators fan: name one player on the team.

Of course, many might read this and go “Who are the Predators?”

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Enes Kanter, whose passport was canceled for criticizing Turkish Pres. Erdogan, wants to become an US citizen. Paging Gregg Popovich #Spurs

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Story broke yesterday that Khloe Kardashian is trying to convince Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson to marry her. And the Cavs lost their first game of the playoffs. Coincidence?

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Late night on West Coast – time to start a pool on just what Donald Trump will say tomorrow where he tweeted exact opposite last year?

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USA Today reports Homeland Security said “More than 600,000 foreign travelers who legally entered the United States in 2016 overstayed their visas and remained in the country at the end of the year.
“Visa overstays” make up an estimated FORTY PERCENT of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US.
So we’re going to build a wall on runways too?

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MSNBC has now leapfrogged both CNN & Fox in the ratings. So there’s one American company Trump has made great again.

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Infowars (Alex Jones) touting new WH Press Credentials with statement – “Alternative media has establishment running scared.” Alternative media? Didn’t they mean alternative facts?

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Media carefully didn’t say country in Russian intelligence story. Trump “I never mentioned #Israel.” Pres would be really bad at Password.

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Press release on Trump’s goals in Mideast -“Promote the possibility of lasting peach.” Make America Grape Again?

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Trump to Israel’s President after his flight from Riyadh “We just got back from Middle East.” Not sure Trump’s college major, but guessing not geography.

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A Fox News columnist is outraged that California Democratic Party chair John Burton led delegates in a brief chant of “F*ck Trump.” Now, we can argue about whether Burton’s language was appropriate or not. But where was the Fox outrage over chants of “Lock her Up” or memes/signs suggesting physical violence to Hillary Clinton?

Large sinkhole has formed in front of Mar-a-Lago. Well, that’s one potential way to get rid of the Michael Flynn problem.

Just for comparison, Cloud Computing’s winning Preakness time of 1.55.98 would’ve only put him behind Secretariat by about 14-15 lengths.  (1.53 in 1973.)

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Unhappiest people who didn’t bet on Always Dreaming?  Advertisers who bought TV time during the Belmont Stakes.

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Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas is out for remainder of post-season.  Sad for Boston fans but at least it’s only one game.

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Cavs beat Celtics 130-86 before Lebron found out he isn’t a finalist for NBA MVP. Now what happens in game 4  now that James has a chip on his shoulder?

3 players out including Spurs MVP. If NBA coaching was about choosing up sides w/ random players Gregg Popovich would win every time.

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Russia reportedly bragging about the Flynn connection helping them make inroads with Trump, Trump reportedly saying that firing Comey “eased great pressure…” Some wannabe novelists are thinking if they submitted some of these plot elements their manuscript would be immediately refused as unrealistic.

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Trump will nominate Callista Gingrich as US ambassador to the Vatican. Because nothing says revering Catholic values and the sanctity of marriage like being a 3rd wife who started dating her husband when he was married to his 2nd.

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Not sure about Trump voters but folks who really have to feel ripped off bought TV ad time for 4th quarters of #Cavs #Celtics games.

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John Burton, stepping down as California Democratic Party chair, ends speech in his inimitable style. “All together now, F*ck Donald Trump.”.

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So with Trump’s first foreign visit being to the Saudis wonder if his staff  warned him not to ask to meet Lawrence of Arabia?

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There are so many things more worth worrying about, but this tweet is still worth sharing “Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted.We have enuf enemies
— (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2015”
Do you think anyone ever told Trump the internet is forever?

Open note to my fellow Democrats. It’s not ever a call to unity when unity means “do it my way and we’ll all be fine.”

Tom Brady has signed a deal with Aston Martin to endorse a car that starts at $211,995 . Will the slogan be “If you spend over $200,000 on a car, you really should be checked for concussions?”

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A high school sports literature class got out of their final exam when a student got Aaron Rodgers to retweet him.  And a lot of high school and college football players are going “what’s a ‘class’ and ‘final exam?”

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On a #bustohell note about Times Square, did anyone really think a serious terrorist would have used a Honda Accord?

If Comey was disgusted by a “Trump hug” how do men think all those women who have been grabbed etc for years feel?

Comey to testify publicly before Senatel committee. No doubt it will be shown live on  all major networks except Fox,  which probably will do a show recapping the allegations on Hillary’s emails.

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Trump called Comey a “Nut job” That ought to make him even more popular with the FBI.  #WTF?

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Apparently everyone’s trying very hard to keep President happy on his 1st foreign tour. So will they put “Trump” signs on all the hotels?.

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So should we start a pool on which country @realDonaldTrump will insult most on his World tour?

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Jeb Bush on Trump “When I ran for office, I said he is a chaos candidate and would be a chaos president.” Did he follow the statement with “Please clap?”

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Does this craziness w/ Trump make others glad they didn’t accept VP role, or sorry they didn’t take chance to be appointed President?

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So now Russia probe has reached “a significant person of interest” who is “close to the President.” Well that lets out Melania & Tiffany.

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Ah, for those more innocent days when “He went to Jared” was just a stupid jewelry commercial. #Russia #PersonOfInterest

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Once again, Trump is reminding us – never trust a man who doesn’t like animals and had never had a pet.

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Utah GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who was chair of the House Oversight Committee that will investigated Trump’s firing FBI Director Comey, said today that he will resign from Congress in June, citing a “mid-life crisis.”
Right. and then will Chaffetz join the speaking circuit on the subject of personal responsibility?

TC, on Goodyear putting their logo on Cavs uniforms next year. “So who will be featured on the blimp, Snoopy or Charles Barkley?”

DC residents of mixed minds on Turkish president #Erdoğan‘s thugs beating up protestors outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington.   Half were appalled. Half want them signed by Redskins.

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American Airlines is changing their upgrade priority to give more weight, not just to your frequent flier status, but to how much you have actually spent in the last 12 months, followed by how much you spent on the flight you are trying to upgrade.
In other words, the less you need a free upgrade, the more likely you are to get one.

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Really? On a Bigelow teabag packet -“Tea is a gluten-free beverage.” What’s next, the same message on a bottle of water?

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Now Ann Coulter may be turning against Trump. Who knew Coulter had cojones? Oh wait, never mind.

This just in, taking notes has been banned in the White House. #ComeyMemo

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I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, he’s a good guy.” If President does it it’s not meddling. #WTF?

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Trump doesn’t want White House leakers.  He must be thrilled Kimberly Guilfoyle talking about being Press Sec. while Spicer still has job.

So NY Times reporting that President told Comey he “should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information.” Can’t imagine how some people consider Trump a wannabe authoritarian dictator.

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Don’t look now, but there are already two teams in MLB with worse records than the SF Giants.  San Francisco is on a 5 game win streak, only 7 games away from .500.

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As a Spurs fan even before game 2, I get it, the Warriors have more firepower and were deserved favorites to win this series.
But for all those talk radio and other types slamming the Spurs for collapsing in game 1 and then whining… right. I am sure if Golden State had already lost Curry and then suddenly lost Durant for the game on a controversial play involving a Spurs reserve, I am sure they would have played through it and shaken off the incident as “just basketball.”

(for what it’s worth, I think Tom Tolbert, who is a Warriors fan, has it right. The play wasn’t dirty but it was reckless.  If someone does that foot move and no one gets hurt call it a foul, maybe a flagrant 1.  If someone gets hurt, Flagrant 2 and ejection.  That way he thinks players will figure out more careful footwork.)

Lots of fans in blue in bleachers tonight at #ATTPark. Can’t be real #Dodgers fans though, they were there in first inning. SFGiants

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The Dodgers fan group actually brought a large LA banner they’ve been displaying out in center-field. Seems to have inspired Giants offense.

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Don’t recognize this 2017 SF Giants team lately. Many of them including Bochy have been actually smiling.

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#A‘s put out an upper-deck seat deal $19.99 for all games in a MONTH.    If #SFGiants hadn’t started playing better they might’ve have had to pay more.

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Lane Kiffin offered a scholarship to Kaden Martin, son of USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin. Kaden is 13 years old. Shocking. Nick Saban didn’t get to him first?

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Some controversy this morning because Kris Jenner posted a Mother’s Day picture of her entire family but included her late husband Robert and air-brushed or deleted Bruce-Caitlyn out. Ah for the days that the Kardashians were the most outrageous regular stories on social media.

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Can argue whether or not the  Zaza play that took out Leonard was dirty, and whther or not if Spurs would win even 1 more game regardless, but to hear that Warriors would have made up that  23 point mid-third quarter deficit even with  Kawhi in the game?  WTF?

Have to figure a lot of folks hope @Spurs win at least a couple games vs @Warriors just to hear Popovich keep talking about Trump.

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Some complaining that ABC canceled TimAllen’s comedy “Last Man Standing” not because of the show’s ratings drop last season, but because Tim Allen is a Republican.
Uh, does ANYONE in this country seriously think the networks these days would cancel ANY show with good ratings? #followthemoney

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“At long last have you left no sense of decency? Guess we know the answer to that question for some in GOP:
Idaho Sen. James Risch, defending Trump on alleged leak of highly classified information to Russia :”The minute the President speaks about it to someone, he has the ability to declassify anything at any time without any process.”

The latest Trump-Russia story on leaking intelligence almost makes the Valerie Plame story seem quaint.

Hackers reportedly are claiming access to an unreleased Disney movie and are promising to release it in sections if they don’t get paid ransom. Might have been more lucrative had they first hacked “King Arthur – Legend of the Sword” and tried to get Warner Bros to pay them to destroy it.

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At what point does FBI or U.S. intelligence set a canary trap for Trump?

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Right about now figure Trump really has to be tempted to shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue. He’s gotten away with everything else.