Sports this 'n' that

 Open Channel D. 

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

The connections of Preakness winner Napoleon Solo had to be fans of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., even if it was the box office bomb, and not the 1964-8 series that aired on-----wait for it----NBC, which carried Saturday's Preakness......

No truth to the rumor that there was anyone named Waverly among the owners. 

I'll move on.

When part 1 of the 2026 Subway Series began Friday, fans figured that the Yankees, despite a slump of their own, would lord it over the Mets, what with the injuries that have plagued the Amazin's. Friday's Yankee win came at a price for the Mets, who lost starter Clay Holmes, the ex-Yank, to a broken leg.

But, if there is a word that describes the Mets now, after a horrid start to the season, it's resilience.

The Mets came back and won Saturday. Today, after Freddy Peralta fell into a hole with 6 walks in 5 innings, the Mets fought back. Tyrone Taylor smacked a 3-run homer off Yankee closer David Bednar to tie it in the 9th. In the 10th, Yankee manager Aaron Boone gave his detractors some fuel by moving one of his outfielders into the infield to cut off the winning run. Rookie Carson Benge hits a chopper that causes a collision between two infielders, and the Mets win the game, 7-6. Devin Williams, last year's Yankee closer, picked up the win.

The teams will meet again in September.

Weasel of The Week: Elon Musk & Matt Walsh

 Christopher Nolan's latest, an adaptation of Homer's legendary poem, The Odyssey, doesn't hit theatres until July. Conservative scum are forwarding false rumors about some of the casting, and the world's richest man, South African emigre Elon Musk, has gotten headlines for reposting and sharing such false opinions.

Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire, a shameless piece of human trash, slammed Nolan's pick of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy. Transgender actor Elliot Page has been cast in an undisclosed role after rumors surfaced that Page would play Achilles. Rapper and pariah to WWE fans Travis Scott has a small, undisclosed role. Musk posted his agreement with Walsh's sentiments.

Well, here's a reality check for you guys. In 21st century Hollywood, filmmakers make casting choices based on, and this is the important part for you conservative peabrains, the best actor or actress available for the part!!

Of course, part of the problem is the right wing obsession with eradicating DEI in everything, undoing decades of societal progress. To conservatives, diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) are dirty words. Yo, jobronies! It's 2026, not 1946. Get a clue! A whole box of them.

"The Odyssey", as a summer blockbuster, will overcome the haterizing, and likely make a ton of money when it opens in 2 months' time. Walsh & Musk get the Weasel ears for formenting unnecessary hatred because of their closed mind mentality on today's Hollywood. They'll be sending you plates of crow come July.

That time Muhammad Ali fought a jobber (1976)

 Ahead of his boxer vs. wrestler match in Japan vs. Antonio Inoki, Muhammad Ali fought a 3 round exhibition against a lesser known wrestler, Buddy Wolfe. Fred Blassie was in Ali's corner, and Dick The Bruiser was in Wolfe's, with AWA legend, and future Hall of Famer, Verne Gagne, wearing his warmup suit as the ref.

Hearing Blassie shouting instructions to Ali, it made me think of what might've been had Blassie auditioned for a supporting role in "Rocky". Of course, we all know that "Rocky" was a mammoth hit, with film legend Burgess Meredith as Mickey opposite Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa.

I think this might've been the first time Gagne was in the same building with Vince McMahon, who conducted a post-fight interview with Ali & Blassie.

Musical Interlude: 19 (1985)

 In 1982, ABC News produced the documentary, Vietnam Requiem, more than a decade after US troops had left Vietnam. Three years later, Paul Hardcastle scored a UK #1 hit, and reached the top 40 here in the US, with "19". Veteran commercial voiceover artist Peter Thomas narrated Requiem, and some of the dialogue was sampled on "19".

Thomas, after a bazillion commercials in the 70's & 80's, would narrate Forensic Files years later.

Many thanks to Chuck Miller for the tip.

Hmmmm, this came out around the same time as Max Headroom with the digital stuttering. 

What Might've Been: The Spike Jones Show (1954)

 Bandleader Spike Jones and his City Slickers landed their first television series as a mid-season replacement in the winter of 1954 on NBC. Small problem. Jackie Gleason was already an established draw over on CBS, and Spike was sent packing after 5 months. Jones would return with three more short-lived series between 1957-61, this time on CBS.

In addition to the City Slickers, Jones also had his wife, Helen Grayko, as a featured vocalist, and recurring regulars including Bill Dana, Len Weinrib, and, in this next clip, Billy Barty.

For those of you who may only know Billy from his work for the Kroffts in the 70's, as well as his later TV & film work (i.e. "Under The Rainbow"), this is a treat in and of itself. And now you know why Billy was so at home in primetime when he made appearances on Donny & Marie (like the Osmonds, Barty was a Mormon).

Spike made a number of Soundies in the 40's, including a hysterical number, "Clink! Clink! Another Drink!", with Mel Blanc. We'll bring that out another time.

No rating. Just a public service.

Wild West Wednesdays: Gold Raiders (1951)

 The Three Stooges (Moe & Shemp Howard and Larry Fine) join forces with veteran action star George O'Brien in 1951's Western farce, "Gold Raiders". The Stooges are traveling salesmen out west, and O'Brien, a former lawman, has transitioned to being an insurance agent.

Co-author Ellwood Ullman & director Edward Bernds were no strangers to the Stooges, having worked on several shorts. The film clocks in at a speedy 56 minutes, which would be good enough to fit into a syndicated package of Westerns in the 70's & 80's if it was needed.

The Stooges, with Joe DeRita succeeding Shemp, would cowboy up again 14 years later in "The Outlaws is Coming", with Adam West. We'll try to locate that one for another day. 

An amazing resemblance. Steven Cheung actually looks like a supervillain

 White House communications flack Steven Cheung is one of the most miserable men on earth, just like his boss.

Welp, on Tuesday, Cheung lashed out at Brett Bruen, a former National Security Council official under President Obama after president Trump had left for China. According to Bruen, however, Trump, as usual, didn't bother bringing anyone with any experience in foreign affairs, thinking that his pitbull mentality as a negotiator would carry the day for him (as if).

Bruen called out Trump, stating that the immature president should've had an expert on China and/or an experienced NSC or State Dept. official on hand for briefings. Cheung, covering for his dimwitted boss, complained that Bruen was, in his eyes, a moron.

The more I read about Cheung, the more I get the feeling I've seen someone like him before somewhere. Then, it hit me. Cheung, a California native, bears some resemblance to a comic book villain.

Presenting Elihas Starr, aka Egghead, a Marvel Comics villain dating back to 1962. Not to be confused with the made-for-TV Egghead, memorably played by Vincent Price on Batman between 1966-8.

Unlike Starr, Cheung has not been held accountable for his lying and false accusations. It kinda fits, doesn't it?