Mountain View
Larry E Lambert
Opinion: How David Ross Cost the Cubs a Wildcard Spot in the 2023 NL Playoffs
And how Craig Counsel can help in 2024. Before the Cubs signed Cody Bellinger, there was much wringing of the hands on the part of Cubs fans. A common sentiment was the Cubs were an 83 win team last season, and that was with Bellinger. Well. that’s not quite true. They were a team that won 83 games, but metrics indicate that the team should have won somewhere around the high 80s. And David Ross was part of the reason the team underachieved.
Jed Hoyer Gets his Man
Cody Bellinger signs a three-year deal with the Cubs. Cubs' fans woke up to the news that the team had signed Cody Bellinger to a three-year contract. The contract calls for $30 million for the next two seasons, $20 million for the 2026 season, with opt out after the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Cubs get some immediate help for the 024 season, and Bellinger gets a chance to go back into free agency after the 2024 season.
Facts About the TV Show, "Perry Mason"
It’s synonymous with Raymond Burr. As far as I can tell, Perry Mason was the first lawyer TV series that was a huge hit. And I don’t know if I have ever watched a full episode. I do remember it being on the TV when I was very young, it just didn’t get my attention. It was in black and white and didn’t have a lot of action. The first lawyer series that really got my attention was L. A. Law, but I’ve already written about that.
Satire: Old Fears Seem Silly Now
Some stuff just seems trivial. I’m at the point in life to where the temptation is to look backwards, and not forward. Generally speaking, that’s not a good thing to do. But if we do look backwards maybe we can learn from the past. I recently looked at the past via old TV commercials. I discovered the things people used to stress over seem so trivial now.
Facts About George Peppard
He had an excellent careerin the movies and TV. Peppard is perhaps best known for his work as John “Hannibal” Smith in the TV series, The A-Team. He also had another TV series, though not as well remembered, Banacek. Not surprisingly, I remember him best from a western.
Satire: Has a Nigerian Prince Reached Out to You for Help?
Plus, some other scams to be aware of. The quintessential scam artist is the unknown Nigerian Prince. It seems His Highness has often had to resort to relying on the kindness of strangers to help him get over some rough spots in his life. Often The Prince often has trouble accessing his funds. So, what’s a prince to do when he can’t access his funds? Access your funds.
Facts About Robert Culp
Anybody else remember him from "I Spy?" I have vague recollections of watching Robert Culp team with a then popular Bill Cosby in a TV show called” I Spy.” The show combined action and humor as well as excellent chemistry between Culp and Cosby. In addition, Culp played in a number of westerns, so that helped his visibility, at least with me.
Satire: Trivia Questions They'll be Asking in 2050
See if you can answer them now. Are you good at trivia? Are you good at Jeopardy? How good would you be if the questions were being asked in 2054? Let’s find out. This trivia quiz is like Nostradamus meets the late, great Alex Trebek. With no further ado, let's play Futuristic Trivia 2054!
Facts About Denver Pyle
In addition to acting, he made a lot of money in oil. If you watch a lot of old TV shows, Denver Pyle has a huge presence. He’s perhaps most known as Uncle Jessie from The Dukes of Hazzard though he did a lot of work on Gunsmoke. In addition, he had a significant role as Mad Jack in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.
Opinion: The NBA All-Star Game is an Embarrassment to the League
In the NBA All-Star Game, the East prevailed over the West 211–186. Or was it the over way around? Who cares? Certainly not the players themselves. I can’t remember the last time I actually watched the NBA All-Star Game. A long time ago, in a seemingly far away planet, I used to watch the NBA All-Star Weekend. Of course, that was when some of the players at least tried to give the illusion of caring.
Opinion: Cubs Remain Patient Despite Pressure to Sign Cody Bellinger
And that's not a bad thing. While the Boras Four remain at large, the Cubs, and all of the other 29 teams are going about their business. And that’s a two-edged sword for Boras and his crew. While an injury could create an urgency for Boras’ high-profile clients, teams will also have an opportunity to examine other inhouse options.
Opinion: The Most Disliked Guy in Chicago Sports Wants $1 Billion for New Stadium
Somehow, this reminds me of Dr. Evil. When I used the word, “disliked” in the title, it’s because I’m reluctant to use the word, “hated.” The vast majority of White Sox fans would love to see a change in ownership. The fan base, in general, feels like they are held hostage by an owner who is unwilling, or incapable of doing what it takes to put a winner on the field.
Satire: John Wayne Would have made a Terrible Marriage Counselor
Consider a couple of his movies. I have to admit a fondness for John Wayne movies. Having said that, I also admit that as the years roll by, I enjoy them less. It could be because after seeing them about 40 times, the thrill is gone. Another possibility is that as I have gotten older, I see things in a different light. Before we go any further, I should clarify, as I talk about John Wayne, I’m talking about John Wayne the character, not John Wayne the man. Of course, it’s possible I’m splitting hairs.
Cringe-Worthy Medical Practices from Days Gone By
Going to the doctor could get you killed. We all dread going to the doctor. And we often complain about different aspects of medical care, be it the wait, the red tape, insurance hassles, or any one of a number of other things.But, as Billy Joel said, “the good old days weren’t always good.” And that really applies to medical care. So here are some medical practices that have thankfully gone by the wayside.
Facts About Fred Williamson
He was another guy who transitioned from sports to movies. I’m probably one of the few people who remember Fred “The Hammer” Williamson more for his football career than his acting. Fred was a pretty good cornerback in the old AFL, actually playing for the Chiefs in the first Super Bowl, which wasn’t called the Super Bowl back then.
Facts About Stuart Whitman
When I hear Stuart Whitman’s name, two of his projects came to mind. First, The Comancheros, one of John Wayne’s better westerns, and least in my opinion. Then, there was a TV series, Cimmaron Strip. Cimaron Strip was a good, though not great TV western. Which is a shame, because it had some elements that could have made it great, including Whitman himself.
Satire: You are Never Too Old to Spend Money Poorly
Here are some examples of bad investments. We’ve all seen examples of celebrities who have invested large sums of money and watched their investment go up in smoke. And we will talk about some of them. But it’s not just rich people that spend money poorly. Even poor guys like me do it all the time.
Facts About George Reeves
His death is one of Hollywood's enduring mysteries. When I was a kid, George Reeves was Superman. I read a few of the Superman comic books but didn’t really get into them. While not a huge fan of the TV series, I watched in part, because of limited options. Also, WGN played the show fairly often, sometimes before a Cubs or White Sox game, so Superman was sometimes something of a pregame show for me.
Opinion: Is Scott Boras Losing his Touch?
The Boras Four seem to have lost some bargaining power. Scott Boras is known as one of the toughest negotiators in MLB. Generally, he extracts top dollar for his client. And generally, for a long period of time. When teams sign a Boras client to a long-term deal, it’s generally a given that the last few years of the contract will be a huge overpay. But it hasn’t played out that way for all of the Boras clients this year.
Larry E Lambert
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You probably don't know my name, but you've likely seen or heard my work. I've written for various syndicated cartoonists and TV standups. My gags have appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, Barron's, Parade Magazine, and the Saturday Evening Post. The comedians I've sold to include Jay Leno for the Tonight Show. In addition, I've written for radio stations and ad agencies. I hope you enjoy my work.
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