Checking in on 99.99-year-old Jimmy Carter, my free throw shooting godfather, my two failed attempts to see the White Sox make history, and another memorable Jon Bon Jovi moment.
One of my grandfathers lived to 106, but I try not to make a statistic of a man's lifespan, or regard his approach of an age milestone as a game (not that you were doing that). But yes, when I ordered the biography of Carter, I thought people would think I was doing it because he was soon going to pass away, or would think I had started it only after he had passed away (which I assumed would happen before I finished the 670-page book, which I had slated for only occasional evening reads). In truth, I ordered the book not for the moment, but just because I was interested by Carter and Jonathan Alter. As it has happened, I have finished the book, and I enjoyed it immensely. Carter, of course, is still with us.
That Jimmy Carter run is truly in his honor. The Alter book says he did middle-distance runs at a clip of 6:30 miles while in the White House in his mid-50s. That's really, really good, particularly for somebody who went decades without running. He also got his resting pulse down to 40 (his running ability and low pulse are a couple of the very few things I was able to identify with Carter on). Ironically, Carter became known as a hapless runner because he assigned to himself a race over a brutally tough course, and passed out (or close to that) without finishing. Indicative of some of his larger public relations troubles, one might say.
In regard to free throws. Maybe the NBA should mimic MLB's designated hitter and use a designated free thrower. That would open up some nice lucrative jobs for folks like you and Mr. Steury who seem to have an exceptional but singular talent.
In regard to the White Sox pitiful performance. The 1962 NY Mets (of whom I witnessed live at Shea), were an expansion team. So they had an excuse. Plus, they had an amusing cast of characters such as the great former Yankee manager Casey Stengel (now the manger of the Mets), and Marvelous Marv Throneberry (who famously was known for being beaned while trying to catch a simple pop up at first base). Of course Casey was known for his famous "Stengelese" as well. Anyway perhaps one of Casey's iconic questions regarding the "Amazin' Mets" is also appropriate to the not so amazin' Sox: "Can anyone here play this game?"
One of my grandfathers lived to 106, but I try not to make a statistic of a man's lifespan, or regard his approach of an age milestone as a game (not that you were doing that). But yes, when I ordered the biography of Carter, I thought people would think I was doing it because he was soon going to pass away, or would think I had started it only after he had passed away (which I assumed would happen before I finished the 670-page book, which I had slated for only occasional evening reads). In truth, I ordered the book not for the moment, but just because I was interested by Carter and Jonathan Alter. As it has happened, I have finished the book, and I enjoyed it immensely. Carter, of course, is still with us.
That Jimmy Carter run is truly in his honor. The Alter book says he did middle-distance runs at a clip of 6:30 miles while in the White House in his mid-50s. That's really, really good, particularly for somebody who went decades without running. He also got his resting pulse down to 40 (his running ability and low pulse are a couple of the very few things I was able to identify with Carter on). Ironically, Carter became known as a hapless runner because he assigned to himself a race over a brutally tough course, and passed out (or close to that) without finishing. Indicative of some of his larger public relations troubles, one might say.
In regard to free throws. Maybe the NBA should mimic MLB's designated hitter and use a designated free thrower. That would open up some nice lucrative jobs for folks like you and Mr. Steury who seem to have an exceptional but singular talent.
In regard to the White Sox pitiful performance. The 1962 NY Mets (of whom I witnessed live at Shea), were an expansion team. So they had an excuse. Plus, they had an amusing cast of characters such as the great former Yankee manager Casey Stengel (now the manger of the Mets), and Marvelous Marv Throneberry (who famously was known for being beaned while trying to catch a simple pop up at first base). Of course Casey was known for his famous "Stengelese" as well. Anyway perhaps one of Casey's iconic questions regarding the "Amazin' Mets" is also appropriate to the not so amazin' Sox: "Can anyone here play this game?"
Correction: Faulty memory on my part. I witnessed the "Amazin's" in 1964 at Shea. In 1962 - their inaugural tear - they played at the Polo Grounds.