Good evening, folks. Welcome to the latest round of Buffa's Buffet, where I tackle all kinds of topics ranging from sports equipment symbolization, kneeling, oversleeping, and a few other things.
Let's open this thing up and grab a plate. I'm sure you'll find something to your liking.
NFL says no to kneeling
This is a private corporation flexing its money muscle and feeling the pressure of their sponsors and investors. By overruling a player's desire to kneel during the National Anthem, the NFL is kneeling to the people who make them rich. Simple as that. The latest reason to not watch a single game or give the game a single cent of my money. Roger Goodell is a puppet, chapter 27.
Marcell Ozuna woke up the in the afternoon, Cardinal Nation lost it
A millionaire sleeping in until noon on a Wednesday? This wouldn't be news in Silicon Valley, but when a St. Louis Cardinals outfielder misses report time for a day game, there will be consequences. You see, when you play for the Cardinals, one instantly becomes a prince in the eyes of fans. My initial reaction was a minor outrage. Like finding out QT doesn't have any fresh iced tea. 12 hours later, I didn't care as much. We all sleep in and miss the bell. Heck, I slept ON the job one time while working for Whelan Security. They told the job was so easy, I could do it in my sleep. I was fired. Ozuna lives on.
One more thing. People wouldn't care if he wasn't slugging .331.
Morgan Freeman accused of misconduct by eight women
This sounds bad. At first glance, one may ask why the women came out so late about incidents that happened on movie sets and promotional tours, but the allegations are real. If they are legit, this outs one of Hollywood's most celebrated artists. This is where the movie lover in me begs them not to be true, but fears they are. Eight women have spoken up here. I'm disappointed going on appalled.
Wong, Martinez told by MLB to take off sleeves honoring their home
First, Jose Martinez was told to remove a sleeve worn during games that honored his family and friends in Venezuela, and not Kolten Wong, per a report from Derrick Goold of the Post Dispatch, is being told to remove one honoring his home, Hawaii. I hate this. If this is a simple brand issue, I still don't like it. Marcell Ozuna can wear an ugly neon green sleeve because it's Nike, but Wong and Martinez can't wear something that actually carries meaning. What's next? Scrape the tattoo off Wong's body or tell Martinez to be less happy? Baseball players are looked up to by young kids and teenagers. Seeing a player represent his home on the field shouldn't be barred due to a brand issue or anything. It's stupid. Again, the money tree of a league barking loud enough to be annoying.
Rob Manfred should get a drink with Goodell where the two of them raise a toast to an early retirement.
Jordan or Lebron? Who cares?
If there is one thing I hate in the modern world of sports analytics, it's deciphering who is the greatest of all time-or who is better between two players? Who cares? You can't measure Mike Trout against Mickey Mantle or Sidney Crosby against Wayne Gretzky. It doesn't work. They played in completely different times and eras of the game. Instead of extinguishing energy and oxygen on who is better between Michael Jordan and Lebron James, just be glad they both existed and blew our minds. Jordan had his dominance and James has his. Celebrate their work instead of demanding one be held over the other. It's almost as tiring as saying a young player will be the next (Blah, Blah). It's a stupid discussion.
Time flies when you are a parent
This isn't a knock on single folks who haven't reproduced, but a basic pull from my life. My son, Vincent, graduated from kindergarten on Tuesday. As I was sitting there watching him cross the stage, shaking hands with his teacher and looking as happy as ever, I realized that this whole thing is going way too fast. I complain daily about how hard parenting is, but I never forget the substantial weight that exists behind it. As parents, Rachel and I have to get this thing right. We can't mess up. Judging by our kid crossing a stage and what his teacher said about him, we are doing alright.
Alexander Ovechkin has a shot at a Stanley Cup and I'm thrilled
Whenever people ask me who my non-Blues favorite player is, the answer comes easy, because it hasn't changed in many years. Ovechkin. He's an action adventure film on the ice. One of the greatest goal scorers of all time will play for a Cup this month. After many years of leading teams that weren't good enough or were missing that secret ingredient, the Washington Capitals are there. I got a kick out of hearing Mike Milbury saying this was the first time Ovechkin had been a complete player in the playoffs for his team. Hey Mike, check the stats. In 116 career playoff games, Ovechkin has 58 goals and 54 assists with 19 power play goals. There was only ONE season where Ovie struggled in the playoffs, and that was 2012-13. Milbury need a new job. I'm rooting for the Great 8 to get his due.
Fun movies are currently in, so enjoy them
While I like the heartbreak motel of indie dramas (check out On Chesil Beach this weekend), I love a good old-fashioned FUN movie. Right now, there are a lot of those in the theaters. Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2, and the new Solo: A Star Wars Story. All of them are a rollicking fine time at the movies that don't ask you to crack your head open in examination or demand a heavy toll afterward. The film snobs may hate them because no one is crying or sad, but they are hilarious, easy-going fun. Go check them out.
Welcome to the Alex Reyes show
I'll dig into this more this weekend, but Alex Reyes is making a rehab start tonight, his last, in Memphis. If all goes well, Reyes will arrive in Milwaukee next week ready to thrill. The young man just happens to be the #1 pitching prospect for the Cardinals and he's almost all the way back from Tommy John surgery. Reyes has faced a lot of adversity in his young career, including the major surgery and a pair of drug violations in baseball. He's weathered the storm, lost weight, learned a lot, and has a cannon for a right arm. If you think the 2018 season is boring thanks to a lackluster offense, just wait for this featured attraction to arrive. To borrow from Harry Caray, HOLY COW!
Binge Brockmire next, please
If you loved Bob Uecker's Harry Doyle in Major League, you'll love Hank Azaria's Jim Brockmire on IFC's Brockmire. The half-hour television series follows Brockmire, a former Major League baseball announcer who torched his career when he told an entire ballpark about his wife cheating on him with multiple men through the loudspeakers. Equal parts hilarious in the gut-wrenching style and a heartfelt ode to the game, the comedy series is a crowd pleaser thanks to Azaria's acerbic portrayal. You'll love, despise, and feel contempt for Brockmire all inside one episode. So. so funny.
I'll finish this buffet with a question from the Twitter crowd:
From @CardinalsOKC: Why is John Mabry off-limits?
Good question. I don't think he is, actually. It's just a matter of time before Mabry is canned. If the offense is still struggling on July 1, you will see a change. Derek Lilloquist went last year, so Mabry is up. I don't put as much emphasis and weight into the role of a hitting coach as I do a pitching a coach, but Mabry isn't safe at all. Just a matter of time. He obviously has no impact on these hitters.
That's all for this week. Come back next week for a brand new stream of consciousness. The buffet is closed. Surrender your forks, knives, and take the saltine cracker packages out of your purse.
