Left Coast Sports Babe

England just voted out their Conservative government and today their soccer team got a goal in the 91st minute to send their team to the European Championship final. For those who believe that God cares and sends signs with sports.

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Tough night at Oracle Park. 10-6 loss for Giants to the Blue Jays. But on a brighter note for SF Giants fans, after SF Giants ace Logan Webb had the worst inning in recent memory, giving up seven earned runs. to Torono after getting one out in the fifth,, at least this means Webb probably won’t start the All-Star game. (Yes, it’s an honor, but historically it hasn’t gone well for Giants pitchers.)

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GOP Speaker Johnson said NATO world leaders he’s met with this week are privately telling him they’re concerned about President Biden & his ability to lead the US. Uh, this is same MAGA Mike who said God told him he was the new Moses. Take it with a large grain of Red Sea Salt.

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NY Times headline “How Mar-A-Lago Became the Center of Gravity for the Hard Right.”

Deeply buried lede “As Mar-a-Lago’s owner, Mr. Trump is the beneficiary of its profits — and the club’s evolution seems to have been good for his bottom line.”

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In California, Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center apparently dealt with over 100 firework injuries this Fourth of July. Including one patient who blew off his testicles. Does it count as a Darwin award if you survive but still remove yourself from the future gene pool?

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Meanwhile, if you want to see what federal government with no corporate regulations under second Trump administration might look like…

Take a look at GOP led Texas, two-days after Beryl, “Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses remained without power Wednesday across a swath of Texas.”.. With no estimations of when it will be restored for many of them….

Chris Hayes just complained that for all the scrutiny of President Biden that the media doesn’t cover the nonstop insanity spewing from Donald Trump’s mouth. Gosh, if only Chris Hayes knew someone in the media with a platform.

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Pundits love to tell us they think Americans would be unenthusiastic about voting for Joe Biden. But they don’t say, because they don’t know yet How unenthusiastic swing state Democrats might be about voting for a possible replacement? There is NO slam dunk answer here. Period.

SF Giants won recently on a walk off walk.

Not to be outdone, today they tied the game in the 9th with a seeing-eye single that went about 35 MPH through the infield, and a walk off wild pitch.

Baseball is a weird game.

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NY Times top headline. On Capitol Hill, Democrats Panic About Biden but Do Nothing Fixed it for NY Times: “On Capitol Hill, Republicans Panic Listening to Trump Rambling Again about Hannibal Lecter and do Nothing.”

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Non-citizens already do not vote in federal elections. What’s next, the GOP will write a bill demanding the sun set in the West?

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Anyone else wondering if Trump is still trying to figure out how to make Ivanka his running mate?

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CNN doesn’t have time to cover Trump’s Project 2025. But they have time to cover jury selection in Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial.

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While NATO leaders meet in DC, will someone please ask Donald Trump on camera this week if he stands by his comments about pulling the US out of NATO?

As media’s latest obsession is claiming Democrats are increasingly resigned but unhappy about backing 81 yr-old Biden. Why isn’t there more coverage of how many Republicans, including former Never-Trumpers are resigned but unhappy about backing 78 yr-old convicted felon Trump

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Stephen Colbert on RNC describing Milwaukee as “ground zero on the road back to the White House.”

“Uh, you know stuff doesn’t START at ground zero….?”

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Stephen Colbert also says if J.D. Vance is chose as Trump’s running mate he’d be the first VP candidate in 150 years with a beard. Must. Not. Make. Lindsey. Graham. Or. Tim. Scott. Jokes..

How cool is it that a brand-new SF Giants centerfielder is named an All-Star a month after Willie Mays passed away?

Heliot Ramos, age 24, was called up to SF GIants on May 8, two days after Mays’ 93rd birthday, and Ramos made a basket catch at Rickwood Field during the game that honored Mays. and he is tied or close to team lead in RBIs and home runs.

Concidence?

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In a crazy uncertain world I suppose there is some comfort in the fact that when the Yankees play the Red Sox fans of 28 other teams can complain they are ALWAYS on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

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And whatever else is going on in the world, how much fun will it be to see Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark as teammates on the WNBA All-Stars against the USA women’s Olympic team?

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Since Woodward & Bernstein played big part in getting Nixon to resign many in media want to emulate them.

Except Bernstein as brilliantly novelized by Nora Ephron in Heartburn is a misogynistic jerk.

Worse, Woodward hid interview w/ Trump on COVID being airborne – for book sales.

All you need to know about Maureen Dowd is that she never forgave Barack Obama for standing her up for an interview. She wasn’t fond of Bill Clinton either.

Marco Rubio, who wants to be VP, on CNN made claim that if Kamala Harris were the nominee she couldn’t run with Gavin Newsom because they are both from California. While shrugging off that he and Trump are both from Florida.

Sometimes it’s really hard to write satire.

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Judge Cannon was given one job by Donald Trump. To make sure his classified documents case never goes to trial before the election. And as bad a judge as Cannon is, she’s doing that job perfectly.

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Four people and three more in critical condition after a mass shooting at “birthday pool party” in Florence, Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati. And it barely makes headlines. It’s the guns, stupid.

Give me a bleeping break. Lindsey Graham: “I’m worried about Biden being the commander in chief for the next four months.” He supposedly isn’t worried about Vladmir Putin & Kim Jong Un’s good friend being commander in chief again? I hope John McCain is haunting Lindsey’s dreams.

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Gosh, for some reason Fox News seems to be ignoring the fact that in one week both Britain and now France have avoided putting their country in the hands of hard-right politicians.

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Stunning to think that with all the controversy amongst Democrats about President Biden right now, that we can count on one hand the number of leading Republicans who have called on Donald Trump – for either his crimes or dementia – to drop out.

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Bernie Sanders, 82, now one of Biden’s most vociferous surrogates.

This week he said Joe’s debate performance might have been “painful” but alternative is worse.

“I’m going to do everything I can to see Biden gets reelected.” He could have added. And Joe, 81,is such a nice young man.

Beginning to think if we knew for sure that Trump really did plan to emulate Hitler and Project 2025 is even worse than most of us can imagine, that CNN, NY Times etc would still decide it was worth trashing Biden and Democrats for ratings.

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Sadly seriously pointing out, this SCOTUS seems willing to go to any lengths to break precedent for conservative aims & to treat Trump as King.

IF Biden doesn’t run again & Harris becomes nominee, what’s to say they wouldn’t vote 6-3 that’s she’s illegitimate candidate & overturn her win?

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So remind me where in the US Constitution it says we should give judges OR journalists the power to decide who should lead our country?

WE THE PEOPLE.

(if we vote)

In 2024, the 4th of July, USA Independence Day is Election Day in England.

Also in 2024 the 5th of November, USA Election Day, is Guy Fawkes Day in England – (the day terrorists tried to blow up Parliament.)

England celebrates because the would be terrorists were stopped.

In Guy Fawkes case it was because he was caught. In the US it will be because we VOTE.

Logan Webb has pitched 7 innings or more 11 times this season for the SF Giants – the most by an MLB pitcher in 2024.

And Webb has never allowed a run in the 7th either. “

Siri what is an ace?”

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Scott Ostler has great piece in SF Chronicle on As playing next year in Sacramento. It’s 78 in Oakland now, 107 in Sacramento & field will have artificial turf. “Study at BYU found surface temperature of synthetic turf was 86.5° F hotter than grass & 37° F higher than asphalt.

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We do realize, if President Biden publicly takes a cognitive test, media will immediately demand he take another one in a few weeks. At most. All the way until November.

Whereas we take Trump’s word for “person, woman, man, camera, TV.”

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Rishi Sunak has conceded. Keir Starmer will be Britain’s next prime minister, ending 14 years of Conservative government. How long until Donald Trump calls Sunak a “sucker and loser”?

So after blowing a three games to zero lead, the Florida Panthers hang on against the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup in game seven.

Oh so close Canada….

(No Canadian team has won since 1993.)

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So you think your baseball team is having a bad year.

It could be worse. Unless you are a Chicago White Sox fan

Just how bad are the White Sox.

Not just that they are 21 and 59 though 80 games, but their run differential through 80 games…. is – 167, Yes, negative 167 – over two runs less per game.

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New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz was suspended for 10 games for having a “sticky discolored substance” on his hand. Diaz this year has just seven saves and a 4.70 ERA. So uh, if Edwin has been using something supposedly performance enhancing, it hasn’t worked.

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Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt kept accusing Jake Tapper of being pro-Biden. Kasie Hunt warned “I am going to stop this interview if you continue to attack my colleagues.” Leavitt didn’t stop & Kasie ended interview. Will this be Trump’s excuse to back out of CNN debate?

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Two years to the day after Roe was overturned.

Amy Klobuchar sums it up with Rachel Maddow: “50 years of freedoms thrown out the window. 1 in 3 women now living in state with an extreme abortion ban. That is our reality, but it does NOT have to be our future.”

Angel Reese vs Caitlin Clark give me Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird vibes. Both awesome players who push each other and are so good for their league

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Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces had already sold all their season tickets. Now they have sold out all their remaining regular home games – and the season has three months to go. If you play really good basketball, they will come.

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Sad that WIllie Mays died two days before the Rickwood Field gam in Birmingham Alabama at least partially in his honor.

On the other hand, at least Willie didn’t have to watch the last five games of this SF Giants road trip.

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Increasingly feeling lucky that President Barack Obama was very healthy while in the White House. Can anyone imagine if Dr. Ronny Jackson had to deal with any serious medical issues?

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Yes, Donald Trump actually said – twice -that he told Dana White, UFC President that he should have a competition featuring teams of “violent” migrants fighting for entertainment. A spokesman later said it was a “joke.” Trump. Does. Not. Joke.

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem indicates she hasn’t been formally vetted to be Trump’s running mate. Well dog gone it.

So while we know there is no debate audience we know FLOTUS Jill Biden wil be there for her husband Over under on if Melanie will show up?

One of the mass shooting victims in Arkansas was Callie Weems, a 23 year old woman. GOP does nothing but send her “thoughts and prayers.” If she’d been killed by an immigrant, GOP would be screaming “say her name,” and demanding laws be changed immediately

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Police officer Mike Hagar said today Callie Weems, 23, was killed while helping other Arkansas shooting victims. “Used her training as a nurse” to give aid to other victims & then became a victim herself…one of most selfless acts I’ve ever seen.”

Say HER name #CallieWeems

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Nobody thinks Trump would actually eliminate taxes on tips. (though there’s a reason I tip some in cash.)

Donald will probably forget the idea in a week.

But everytime he throws out idea off the top of his head it gets more media coverage than Joe Biden’s real accomplishments.

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Trump is obsessed by and scared of sharks. Again, can someone or some band show up outside the debate playing the theme from Jaws?

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Is it cynical of me to wonder who has the contract for making all those Ten Commandments posters they will need for Louisiana schools and who much they might have donated to Republicans in the state?

And if anyone who even casually followed the NHL and the Stanley Cup Playoffs says they expected this after the Florida Panthers went up 3-0 on the Edmonton Oilers…. well,drug test them or give them a llie detector test.

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Indiana Fever has won 4 straight to move to 7-10. Tickets for game Sunday at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena against the Sky are averaging $351 per Vivid Seats. Most for an WNBA game ever. She’s not close to the best player in WNBA yet, but Caitlin Clark is good for basketball.

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For anyone with friends who think Donald Trump really cares about black people, two reminders. 1. The man who never misses a chance for publicity said NOTHING about Juneteenth. 2. On a day when all of baseball pretended they were colorblind, he said nothing about Willie Mays,

On CNN State of the Union, only guest this Sunday will be Doug Burgum. A participant in Donald Trump’s reality show “Who wants to be my running mate?” No Biden surrogates, no Democrats talking about plans and what they & our President have accomplished..

Do better CNN

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Trump media stock has fallen 48% since he was convicted. And many say it is still wildly overpriced. If Donald is elected President will he demand the U.S. Government buy his stock? I wish I were completely joking.

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Lauren Boebert, kicked out of a theater for vaping and being loud while she fondled her boyfriend, and yes, the same Lauren Boebert who attended Trump’s trial but not court hearings for her son, says “We need morals back in our nation.”

You cannot make this stuff up.

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Hearing that the alleged Arkansas mass shooter is alive and in custody, didn’t need a picture to know he’s white.

Damn

The field of dreams has their forever center fielder.

RIP

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The SF game in Birmingham was to honor Mays and the Negro Leagues on Thursday. SF Giants just announced yesterday Willie would not be able to attend.

Also just announced earlier today, SF Giants Lamonte Wade Jr, who idolized Mays and is I think the team’s only U.S. born African-American starter really wanted to play in the game, but is on the IL and only at about 70% with a hamstring injury The Giants asked MLB if they could take him off the IL for one game only and were told no.

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Maybe out of respect for Willie Manfred should decide to act like a human who cares about the game and reconsider?

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Meanwhile, in the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers are still alive. Game six is Friday night

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Trump direct quote at rally today “Joe Biden’s forming granting mass finger”

Be honest. If this was your elderly parent you’d be looking into assisted living options.

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Senator Chris Murphy talking about bump stocks.

The Las Vegas Mandalay Bay hotel murderer fired 1100 rounds at crowd.

Killed 58 people & injured 500 1100 rounds fired, which took him 11 minutes. 90 shots every 10 seconds. Even Trump said this was bad in 2019.

In 2024, Trump & GOP are against all good things.

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Meanwhile, GOP’s Pete Ricketts, whose dad founded Ameritrade and whose family is worth billions,, was the Senator who Tuesday blocked Senate legislation banning bump stocks.

Ricketts was appointed by Nebraska Gov after Ben Sasse resigned in 2023. So Pete was chosen because he has a safe red seat, and doesn’t have to explain his turnaround as he wasn’t in Senate when Trump & GOP supported a ban?

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Deceptive ads are bad for democracy & hurt both sides. AI will make it worse.

Doesn’t get enough coverage that S.2770 – Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act is BIPARTISAN. Amy Klobuchar and Josh Hawley lead the bill. Yes, even Hawley realizes it’s NOT a partisan issue.