Frank Russo: Captain: The Thurman Munson Story

Source:The Daily Journal

I'm not an expert on Thurman Munson, he died in 1979 and I didn't start watching baseball until 1983 but what I've heard about Thurman Munson, is that there's not nearly enough information or reporting about him one of the most underrated and under appreciated baseball players of all time. We are talking about one of the best all around Catchers of the 1970s, right there with Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench. Same skills as both players but ran better and could hit for a better average. 

This was a catcher who was a 300 hitter and back then that almost never happened. Besides I'm a Baltimore Orioles fan and the New York Yankees are our arch rivals and Orioles fans hate the Yankees and we had a very good rivalry with each other in the 1970s and 80s and the Yankees cost the Orioles a three division titles in the mid and late 1970s, 76-78. But again what I've heard and know about Munson, is a great all around catcher who was headed to the Hall of Fame. 

And even though he only played eleven seasons 1969-79, again since he was one of the best all around catchers of an entire decade that alone should be enough to give Thurman Munson consideration for the Hall of Fame. Anytime you're one of the best players at your positions and one of the best players in the game for an entire decade, that alone should give you strong consideration to be in the Hall of Fame. But thats not up to me but it took a plane crash in the Summer of 1979 to keep Thurman Munson out of the Hall of Fame because he's a player that played in pain constantly, similar to Mickey Mantle another great Yankee and who was headed to the Hall of Fame.

If you want to know if Thurman Munson was a great baseball player or not, you need to know what makes a great baseball player. To me thats someone with no glaring weakness's and at least with a few glaring strengths and you show these skills consistently for a solid period of time, 5-7 or ten years to me for a catcher to be a great Catcher, you can't just be a guy that calls a great game, defends his position well and throws the ball well, Rick Dempsey of the Orioles did all of those things very well. 

And for about ten years about as well as they could be done. But he was basically a 230 hitter with very little if any power and not much of a run producer his entire career. But he was a good clutch hitter in the playoffs but that alone even with being a great Defensive Catcher. Doesn't get you in the Hall of Fame, the reason why Thurman Munson was a great catcher because he did everything that Rick Dempsey could do if not better. 

But he was also a 300 Hitter who drove in runs. Who also had solid power but not great power but definite threat to go deep. In the American League the two best catchers in the 1970s were Carlton Fisk and Thurman Munson and you could go either way and for that decade I would lean towards Munson, because he played through injuries without losing production. Fisk missed a lot of time because of injuries. When I think of the term captain as it relates to sports, I think of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers who his teammates called Cap. 

But captain also fits Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees who was not only the captain of his teams but the leader the quarterback, the on field coach of that team that his teammates knew they better do their jobs or the captain was going to get on them. Who always did whatever he could to make sure his players were in the best position that they could be so they could play as well for the Yankees as possible. Thurman Munson was the Captain of the New York Yankees.

1987-88 Los Angeles Laker Back to Back

Source:The Daily Journal 

The Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s were a great dynasty for several reasons and more reasons because they had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin Johnson and Pat Riley as their head coach and Jerry West as their general manager. They had the best center of all-time, the best point guard of all-time, one of the best head coaches of all-time in Pat Riley, one of the best executives of all-time in Jerry West. And a great chief executive in Jerry Buss, again one of the best ever. All these people are Hall of Famers and in Jerry West a Hall of Famer as one of the best players of all-time as well as one of the best general managers of all-time.

And you add in James Worthy another Hall of Famer and a guy who played both small forward and power forward at 6'9 225 pounds the size to play both positions and you throw in their fast break, I believe the best ever with their ability to defend, rebound, run the floor. Kareem, Magic, Riley and their fast break is what they are known for, but these are just some of the reasons why they were a great dynasty. 

You had Jerry West putting the teams together, Pat Riley leading the teams and then Kareem and Magic, both two of the best players of all-time not just at their positions and you can make a good case for both of them that they are the best basketball players of all-time period as their lead players, with Worthy backing them up, who on most other teams in the NBA would be the best player on the team, but since he played for the Showtime Lakers he was the third best player.

The Showtime Lakers had three of the best players in the league all on the same team with the best head coach in the league at least at the time in Pat Riley with their three franchise players. One or two of them even could have a bad game, not in a championship game, at least not two of them and the Lakers could still win. Because two or just one of them was great enough to pick up the slack for one or two players. The Celtics back then were the only other team in the NBA that had that.

With all that, that's still not enough to be NBA champions, that's most of the pieces, but not all of them. They had great role players as well, Byron Scott great outside shooter and defender, Michael Cooper the same thing and with the ability to play both guard positions and small forward. Kurt Rambis excellent post defender, rebounder and ran the floor very well and a great hustle player. AC Green another excellent rebounder and post defender who ran the floor very well and could score a little as well. Mychal Thompson a great third big man, the ability to play both center and power Forward. Could rebound defend, score and ran the floor very well as well.

The Showtime Lakers are known for their fast break, but what doesn't get mentioned is why they are a great fast break team. Back then the Lakers were also one of the best defensive teams if not the best defensive team as well as a very good rebounding team and the best passing team in the league. Their defense and rebounding led to their fast breaks, with Earvin Johnson the best Point Guard the NBA has ever seen running the Laker show. 

But with Kareem, Magic, Worthy, their outside shooters, they were also a great half court team. The Showtime Lakers were like a great movie or TV show with a great producer, director, great lead actors and great character actors with everyone knowing their roles and playing them up to their best ability. Which is why I believe the Showtime Lakers are the best NBA dynasty of all time. 

Larry King Live: Bill Maher Remembers George Carlin (2008)

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on Larry King Live in 2008, talking about comedian George Carlin.

Source:The Daily Journal 

"Bill Maher remembers George Carlin" 

From Van 

"Bill Maher remembers George Carlin" 

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on comedian George Carlin.

From Van  

This photo is from a YouTube video by someone who goes by Anti-Conformist. But the video that this photo is from not currently available right now online because it was either deleted or blocked. 

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on Larry King Live in 2008.

George Carlin isn't my favorite comedian but he's one of them. I don't consider him to be the best comedian but definitely one of them. But he's my favorite satirist and I consider him to be the best ever at that at least the best I've ever heard of. 

I guess all comedians are satirists, they all get their material from what they see in life. But Carlin to me is a satirist first, a great political satirist and a fair political satirist. He takes on both sides, that alone doesn't make him fair but the fact that he takes on the weakness's of both sides does because he hits people regardless of party where they deserves to be hit.

I try not to listen to political satirists from the right or left, unless they say something ignorant. Sarah Palin and yes thats what she is, she's a satirist and pretty funny one. But she's may favorite target on the Right. But I prefer to listen to satirists like George Carlin, Jon Stewart, Dennis Miller (a real Conservative) , Adam Carolla, a Libertarian satirist people who take on the establishment but in satiric form. 

If you're going to take on the establishment, you shouldn't pick on one side and treat them like the Devil. People who are completely incompetent and treat your side like its a God not capable of making mistakes. You should be able to hit both sides when they mess up, especially when they are hypocritical, perfect example of this. 

When someone like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann, both have a future in comedy if they want it. Rush Limbaugh a big fat target, that a blind person could hit would be another one, when Sarah, Michele and Rush go off on Democrats for supporting Big Government, whether the Democrats they targeting support Big Government or not, they're generally being hypocrites. These folks may want big government out of our wallets, but then put big government in our homes to make sure we're living what they would call a moral, Christian life. 

But what separates George Carlin from everyone, is his honesty, bluntness and credibility. He has all of those things, he goes after everyone he believes deserves to be critiqued. Both Democrats and Republicans, as well as Independents and the voters as well. He doesn't blame politicians for the problems in the country. But the people that voted for those politicians and then voted for their reelection. Which is what separates George Carlin from the pack.

The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Joan Rivers Standup (1984)

Source:The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson- Joan Rivers standup in 1984.

Source:The New Democrat 

"Joan Rivers stand-up Tonight Show - hilarious monologue 2 - 1984. Joan guest hosts in 1984.

From Musical Atmosphere 

Speaking of annoyances in life, how about Joan Rivers. After listening to that performance (the whole damn thing, by the way) I feel like I just got back from a Judas Priest heavy metal concert. And I was not only in the first row, but right in front of the speakers listening for two-hours straight. Looks like I'm going to the ear-doctor tomorrow, because I can't even hear myself think. So if this post sounds strange it is because I might not know what I'm saying, because I can't even hear myself think. Joan was very funny, but her act was loud (to put it mildly) that is just sort of how she spoke to people and performed.

As far as what Joan was talking about: filthy people, who likes filthy people especially if they live right next door to you, or worst even in your home? Wait, I think I got it, filthy people like filthy people. Could you imagine a filthy person getting on someone for being filthy? That would be like an alcoholic getting on someone who smokes too much. It would be a little hard to put up with without making fun of a the tiny hypocrisy there. But the part of that is funny, is that she also doesn't like to clean, but with the money she had, she probably had her own cleaning crew. So it worked out for her.

Joan doesn't like cooking, so I guess going to her place for dinner meant bringing your own food. Unless she ordered out for both of you, or perhaps had her cooking staff prepare a meal for you. 

Aging, you know this is going to sound as obvious as saying when you jump in a lake, you're going to get wet and perhaps will sound easy coming from a guy, especially a guy who is not an athlete or divorced, but if you want to live a long time and I mean really live and not just be alive and do it for a long time, you're going to age. Speaking about facts of life.

The Ed Sullivan Show: Joan Rivers- On Dating (1967)

Source:The Ed Sullivan Show- comedian Joan Rivers in 1967.

Source:The New Democrat 

"Joan Rivers performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on April 23, 1967. Subscribe now to never miss an update:Ed Sullivan." 

From The Ed Sullivan Show 

I never got Joan Rivers putting down her physical appearance, especially with the style icon that she has become with her own clothing line that I'm sure is worth in the hundreds of millions of dollars.  

Is Joan Raquel Welch, well does it snow in Houston, Texas in July: same answer to both questions. But most women are not Raquel Welch with that great of a physical appearance where they can make women young enough to Raquel's granddaughter jealous of her looks. But Joan Rivers is sure as hell not Janet Reno either and if she was, the only thing she would be famous for would be kicking the hell out of NFL players with her butch appearance and presence. Actually Janet Reno is famous for putting away tough guys, but in a more legal fashion. 

I saw Joan as a cute little Jewish blonde (not to get too ethnic) but from New York. With a damn quick wit that comes from that community and city. And never understood why she was always putting herself down. Other than to get great laughs, which she was great at.

The Tonight Show With Joan Rivers: Angie Dickinson (1983)

Source:The New Democrat

On a personal note and perhaps just the only one. I could watch and listen to Angie Dickinson until it snowed in Miami, Florida. Sitting in Miami, Florida in July waiting for it to snow and getting so tanned and sunburned that I make John Boehner look like the Snowman. By the way, Snowmen aren't real. I hate to break that to you kids and seriously retarded adults. People just make fake men out of snow. Sort how women see fake men as real men and then act horribly surprised when their man turns into a bastard.

But back to Angie Dickenson before I lose anymore followers. Ha, my followers are back already. I could literally listen to her read off of a phone book and go through the thousands of Joe and Mary Smith's who live on Main Street near Bob's Diner and Gas Station and it would sound fascinating coming from her. She has this adorable and yet sexy vibe from her that everything she says and talks about just grabs you. The women could also look hot in pajamas and an orange baggy prison jumpsuit. She has this quality about her that is incredible that is hard to explain that you simply don't see on a regular basis.

Froma Harrop: Progressives Don't Need Washington All That Much

Source:CNN-

Source:The New Democrat

There's a tiny little state in New England right next door of New Hampshire which is happens to be the Libertarian Republic of New Hampshire and just south of Maine called Vermont. Or as I and a lot of others like to call the Socialist Republic of Vermont. Of course if you are an American you already know that unless you live somewhere thousands of miles from Vermont with no access to any media. But I say this because Vermonters do what so-called Progressives in Washington especially in Congress and so-called progressive activists say they want to do, but never actually get done, but do it differently.

What I'm getting to is that Vermont is nicknamed the Socialist Republic of Vermont because they have the highest percentage of Socialists or socialist supporters in America at least outside of the San Francisco area. And they have been able to establish the polices and programs in their tiny little state of seven-hundred-thousand people or so, that today's so-called Progressives inside of Washington and their supporters have been talking about doing for decades. But haven't had any real success at it at least since the Great Society in the 1960s.

Vermont has single payer health insurance and affordable health care for everyone. They have a pension system that is for everyone. And they have a boatload of other taxpayer funded state-run social services for their residents for everyone. And haven't asked Congress or the Administration for the funding for them or permission to run federal services in their state. Because they already have them at home. Vermont is the perfect example of why Progressives and Social Democrats should embrace federalism. Because they've shown they can enact progressive policies in their state without Washington.

Now today's so-called Progressives who in a lot of cases are really Social Democrats or Democratic Socialists, would be the last people you would expect to be Federalists. If there's anyone who believes in big centralized government, it would Progressives and Social Democrats. The inventors of the New Deal and Great Society. But people with the same ideological perspectives as they relate to both economic and social policy in Vermont has shown how federalism can be used in a progressive way and make it work for everyone in their state.

The lesson for today's Progressives and Social Democrats when it comes to the 2014 midterm elections, is that they don't need Washington to enact their progressive and socialist policies. Minimum wage increases and marijuana reform happened at  the state level on Tuesday. Not at the federal level and states like Vermont, Massachusetts and California have proven that Progressives know how to govern in their states and give people the public services that they want. And that they know how to pay for them and run them.
Source:CNN