From 1985 to 1997, a group of fans gathered in Kansas City to participate in a draft for a “Home Run Derby.” Steve Roling won the trophy three times, so the trophy was named “The Rolling Cup” (Steve’s name being misspelled). Then the Derby went dormant for 23 years. Roling kept the trophy and sent this recent photo. Continue reading
On April 1, the 2021 MLB season began. On April 2, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred pulled the All-Star game from Atlanta. The broader story dates back to 1963.
Atlanta, Coca-Cola and Henry Aaron (1963-2021): In July of 1963, Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen did something that almost no Southern politician would do. He testified before Congress in support of civil rights legislation. “We cannot dodge this issue. We cannot…turn the clock back to the 1860s.” Continue reading
Tomorrow is April 1. April Fools’ Day. Not kidding.
More importantly…it will be Opening Day for the Royals!
And unlike last year, the Royals season is starting on time (and pleasingly over-budget, thanks to some free-agent spending by John Sherman and his co-owners). Continue reading
As previously reported, Rita and I are thrilled to have our Pfizer vaccination shots.
And now we have an added reason to celebrate – Kauffman Stadium will have fans in the stands this season. Can’t wait to get back to the K. Continue reading
The position players have now joined the pitchers and catchers, spring training is in full swing. In the words of the great reliever and poet Dan Quisenberry…
Rituals of spring training
Running of sprints
A gaggle of grown men laughing at sore muscles
Omnipresence of coaches, general managers, fans, scouts…
If I close my eyes and listen
I hear the pop of ball hitting bat
Ball smothered in loved leather
And even the whoosh of ball
Spinning with raised seams cutting through air
We are now in the “Sports Gap” in Kansas City. The time frame between the last Chiefs game and the start of Royals spring training. For more years than I care to remember, the gap was about five weeks because the Chiefs were either not in the playoffs or made an early exit if they were. But in the Mahomes era, the Sports Gap has shortened, first in 2019 when the Chiefs made it to the AFC championship game. Then, in the 2020 and 2021 Super Bowl seasons, the gap was reduced to a mere 10 days. I prefer short gaps. Continue reading
As we await the battle between Brady and Mahomes… Continue reading
I had a good Wednesday. Inauguration Day for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Got my first vaccine shot. Very optimistic about a return to normal.
This is my 20th annual message for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The first, in 2002, was an internal email to the lawyers and staff at the Polsinelli law firm. We had added the MLK holiday at the firm, and I sent out King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” as a reminder of why we celebrate the holiday. The annual message has grown in length and circulation over the years, and since 2016, it has been merged into my Hot Stove posts. All of the prior MLK messages are at this link on the Lonnie’s Jukebox website. Continue reading
As we await the Georgia election results and tomorrow’s Congressional farce, how about some sports? Continue reading