A Day That Will Go Down in Infamy

It's my birthday, foos! Holla!

...And Down the Stretch He Comes!

I told you earlier and it has rang true. Bernardini gets my vote for horse of the year and the three-year old champion after Saturday’s romp in the Grade I Travers Stakes. His impressive 7 and ½ length victory has set it up like concrete for me. After setting the time at every fraction, Bernardini pulled away down the stretch with the kick of a closer, much like he has done in the three year old standings. This sets him up for a showdown with Lava Man, the best in the West.

Lava Man’s last win in the Pacific Classic proved he was the best out of the Sunshine State. The fabled match-up, with what will be one for the record books, has the excipients of legend. You have the older, proven horse in Lava Man and the untested, youngster Bernardini wishing to seal his fate as the horse of the year. This is something that I would not want to miss. It almost seems like a modern day Seabiscuit sequel. And I can’t wait.

Tiger did it again. He won the Bridgestone Invitational on the final day after four play-off holes with Stewart Cink. Four tournaments, four wins. On Mike and Mike in the Morning, Greenie and Golic brought up some nice Tiger-stats. Tiger has played in 198 tournaments since turning pro. He has won 52 tournaments since turning pro. The rest of the top five golfers in the world, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, and Retief Goosen, have 52 total wins. Tiger has won half as much money as those four players combined. Nice.

And speaking of golf, I played yesterday with Dad, David, D. Kyle, Ance and Jimmy Lee over at Southwind in Winchester. Ance was my playing partner and for as much crap as I give Ance about his conversational stylings, it was quite a pleasant round. Sorry Ance. I had to give a dose in one aspect, though. I out-drove him with his own driver. He kept asking me to try it out, so I did. Three hundred and seventy yards later (ask Ance if you don’t believe me), we both concluded two things. One, the drive was the longest drive I had ever hit, and two; the smack was the longest drive we had ever seen in person. The result on the hole was disappointing, I three putted for a bogey. Good times, nonetheless.

On a sadder note, one of my good friends from college was on Comair Flight 5191 when it crashed Sunday morning at Lexington Bluegrass Airport. Erik “Frank” Harris was a great guy and always had a smile on his face. Even if you had just seen him an hour before, he was just as happy to talk to you the next time he would see you. His family and friends will surely, miss him. I would like to ask a favor of you, if you would, to please say a prayer for his loved ones. This one is for you, Frank!

On the lighter side, Happy Birthday, Alex Thomas! I hope you have as great a birthday as the law will allow in Knott County!!!

Hold That Tiger!

Now, that I have effectively brought to surface your inner feelings about Wal-Mart and its business model/ethics/misappropriations, I would like to have your input on your thoughts concerning the enigma that is Tiger Woods.

Eldrick T., as I affectionately call him, has his hands, once again, firmly of the reigns of domination in the world of professional golf. Many discounted the Era of Tiger after his failure to make the cut in the U.S. Open. Many said that now was the time of Phil Mickelson. But, Hefty Lefty (not to confused with Jared Lorenzen) has since proved his masterful craft of choking which leaves Tiger no choice but to accept the number one spot.

Tiger is still cramming the long ball along with a few other newcomers such as J.B. Holmes (U.K. alumni) and Bubba Watson. This is bringing on a whole new evolution to the game in playing style and courses. With all the new golf technology recently introduced (lighter, longer clubs and new ball compositions), players are ripping the covers off the ball just to get closer to the green. Usually with longer drives comes an increase in errant shots. These players are gouging out of the rough to reach the green, hence the name Bomb and Gouge golf. I have always played that way, but not by choice, merely circumstance. That and I roll like Uncle Ance.

"I don't pay for golf just to lay up."

The reaction of the PGA and golf course designers around the world is to increase the total yardage of courses to keep the scoring down and retain more players in contention. Even older, established courses are lengthening their holes to make it tougher on these guys. Is this the proper way to go? What about us amateurs? I wouldn’t have a chance on courses like these. I will confess that I don’t have a habit of playing championship courses, but in the event I ever do get that habit, I would like a chance and not have my aspirations torn to pieces by shotty play. What is the solution?

Enough golf talk, let’s get some updates in on the fun. This past weekend, Beth and I went to Louisville for a weekend with the Pedens. We took in some state fair action. We saw all kinds of neat displays. My particular favorite was the antiques and memorabilia. I saw the largest rabbit I had ever seen in the livestock area. It would make Chloe look like a kitten (and you know how big Chloe is). As for the state fare, I had a corndog, a ribeye sandwich, and a funnel cake. No, I didn’t eat all that at once. We were there from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

After a brief rest at Paige and David’s, we went to Fourth Street Live for dinner. This was a very interesting place, which appeared to cater to the younger and more single crowd. It wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea, mostly because it wasn’t like my garage. We ate at the Red Star Tavern. I think I was the only one who enjoyed the food, but the service was horrid. We were there for close to two hours and I had one Bud Light when I sat down. About ten minutes later, I ordered a gin tonic. Forty-five minutes later, the gin tonic was served and five minutes later the food was served. Nice.

Sunday morning we went to Lynn’s Paradise Café for breakfast. I heard about this place while watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the food network. Fortunately, what I saw on TV was still on the menu. I really enjoyed it while the others did not. Figures.

I missed a few bets on Sunday for the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs and the Pacific Million at Del Mar. No biggie, though. I am ready to nail them this weekend for the King's Bishop and Travers Stakes at Saratoga. The Bernardini express will be coming through! All aboard!!!

Paige and David, we had a great time hanging out with you this weekend and I am looking forward to our Gatlinburg trip. Later on.

P.S. I was intentionally trying to get you to discuss Wal-Mart when I wrote about country music. Just like sheep. Ha!

*No, I didn't get the idea to post about Tiger because the guy on The Sports Huddle did. Mine was out before his. JDA 8-22-06

You Can't Handle the Truth

“I don't know why I keep on believin’ you need me,
When you prove so many times that it ain't true,
And I can't find one good reason for staying,
Maybe by leaving would be the best for you,

But these rose colored glasses, that I'm looking through,
Show only the beauty, cause they hide all the truth,

And they let me hold on to the good times, the good lines,
The ones I used to hear when I held you,
And they keep me from feeling so cheated, defeated,
When reflections in your eyes show me a fool.

These rose colored glasses, that I'm looking through,
Show only the beauty, cause they hide all the truth,

So I just keep on hopin’, believin’ that maybe,
By countin’ the many times I've tried,
You'll believe me when I say I love you and
I'll lay these rose colored glasses aside,

These rose colored glasses, that I'm looking through,
Show only the beauty, cause they hide all the truth.”
-“Rose Colored Glasses” by John Conlee

I had to reference the entire song because today is Mr. John Conlee’s 60th birthday. This is, hands down, my favorite country music song to date. There could be a future song written that could top this one, but the direction of country music (if that’s what you want to call it) currently pretty much shoots that down.

Sad to say, the newest country music album I own is a Trace Adkins greatest hits album. And I am not saying that is sad on my part. I am saying, without flinching, it is sad on the part of the country musicians laying down tracks today. Sure, Montgomery Gentry has some entertaining hits that I really dig, but really, it’s just not country. This is where I will give a little history.

The forefather of the “That Ain’t Country” movement was a fellow by the name of Charley Rich. He had a few great songs like “When We Get Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”. During the 1975 Country Music Awards, Charley was announcing the winner of the Male Entertainer of the Year. As he read the envelope announcing John Denver as the winner, he casually flipped open his lighter and burned the envelope right there on stage. This all appeared to be a stab at the Music Row-controlled Nashville Sound.

A perpetuator of the movement in more current years (and one of my favorite musicians) is Larry Cordle (writer of “Highway 40 Blues” performed by Ricky Skaggs and “Lonesome Standard Time” by Kathy Mattea). Larry, a Paintsville, Kentucky native, penned a now famous tune sang by the likes of Alan Jackson and later recorded by himself on the album titled the same, “Murder on Music Row”. Here is a sample of his distaste for today's country music:

“Nobody saw him running from Sixteenth Avenue
They never found a fingerprint or the weapon that was used.
Someone killed country music.
Cut out its heart and soul.
They got away with murder down on Music Row.

The almighty dollar and the lust for worldwide fame
Slowly killed tradition and for that someone should hang.
They all say “Not Guilty”,
But the evidence will show
That murder was committed down on Music Row.

For the steel guitars no longer cry
And you can’t hear fiddles play,
With drums and rock-n-roll guitars
Are mixed right up in your face.
Well, Ol’ Hank wouldn’t have a chance
On today’s radio.
They’ve committed murder down on music row.”

This is probably the main reason that I am a huge fan of Larry Cordle. He is quite the traditionalist. I feel we see eye to eye. He was an accounting classmate of my father’s at Morehead State. Dad told me one time Larry showed up for an early Monday morning class looking like warmed over hell. Larry said to Dad, “Randall, this music is gonna kill me!”
That’s how I feel about the subject.

This past weekend was a heck of a time. We had some fun in Lexington for sure. I slayed some ribs on the grill this weekend. They were nothing less than funktastic. We even got in a few games of cornhole. Alex, you’re one of the best cornholers I’ve seen. Joel, you’re the worst female cornholer I’ve seen. Yeah, take it, 899. We were 2301!!!
Got to go.

This Picture Speaks for Itself

If ever there was a horse that was “Da Man”, I am pretty sure it would be Bernardini. For those of you not familiar with the name, I will drop some knowledge for you. Bernardini was the horse that ran away with the Preakness Stakes after the mighty Barbaro pulled up and suffered the career ending injury to his right hind leg. Several people, mostly people who aren’t regular horseplayers, said Bernardini would have been a nice second place horse to Barbaro in the Preakness if his disaster had been averted. I say neigh, neigh.

Bernardini, the Thomas Albertrani-trained colt out of A.P. Indy and Cara Rafaela, stormed away this past weekend at Saratoga with another 9-length strike on the field in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes. A horseplayer would ask me, “Don’t you think it is a bit early to be calling Bernardini ‘Da Man’? This is only his fifth race and none against older horses.” Nope and I’ll tell you why. During previous races, Bernardini preferred to stalk the pace, usually suspending himself on the rail near fourth or fifth position. He (and when I say “he”, I am referring to horse and jock as one) would wait until the three-eigths pole and make his move. During the Jim Dandy, Bernardini held the lead at the first turn and never relinquished it the entire race.

Another question ensues. “Horses do that all the time. What makes this special coming from Bernardini?” Tell me what you think about this fact? (Answering a question with a question, that has to tick off this guy asking the questions, huh?) Javier Castellano never raised the whip to his ride the entire race. There was no urgency in Javier’s ride the entire home stretch and, as a matter of fact, I am pretty sure he let Bernardini coast in his final eighth for the 9-length win. That is why Bernardini is “Da Man”.

My time served in state traffic school was the easiest stretch I have had to pull so far. The previous stints I spent in this class consisted of me staring at the clock and wishing to be elsewhere. Why should I have cared? I didn’t pay for my car insurance at that time. It was just one speeding ticket I got because a police officer got lucky. I could get a few more and still not lose my license. No, this time, I must say, was quite different. To start off, I can honestly say that I was quite embarrassed for having to be there in the first place. In high school, it was almost a cool rite-of-passage as a teenager to attend traffic school. You would discuss it with your buddies like you were the reason Rebel Without a Cause was written. No, I was really disappointed in myself.

My instructor was State Police Captain Tim Lucas. He is the supervising officer over the Kentucky State Police Academy. Since recently attending the graduation ceremony of the State Police Academy, I was well aware of who he was. After mentioning Joel was my brother, Captain Lucas immediately paid extra attention to myself. He also asked me to speak with him during the break so he could catch up with how Joel was doing at Post 13. “Great,” I thought to myself. As the class started, my instructor seemed to have an intense knowledge of the facts and arguments he presented to us. This made the ordeal seem more interesting.

I found myself paying a great deal of attention and barely even noticing the clock. Each time the class was called for a break, I looked forward to the short conversations with Captain Lucas about my brother. Before I knew it, the time had already reached that golden moment when it was time to adjourn. As I was leaving, I thanked Captain Lucas for the pleasure to make his acquaintance and how I wished it had come under a far better circumstance. He laughed. I was a free man, fully atoned for my highway sins. And felt better for doing so.

Well, this weekend should be pretty interesting. Joel and Alex, I am looking forward to your visit this weekend. I am sure we will have a great time in the flood zone that is called Island Pond.