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The Daily Dose/June 30, 2008
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
From The Photo Department: Pics will return! Honest! It's late and dinner's ready! Cut us some slack!
More (long) notes from around the Human Experience. Heavy America's Pasttime action, but also relevant stuff, too!
THIS JUST IN: The Los Angeles Dodgers became the fifth team in major league history to win a nine-inning game in which they didn't get a hit, beating the Angels 1-0 at Dodger Stadium Saturday night. The only run came in the fifth, when Matt Kemp got on after an error by pitcher Jared Weaver. He stole second, took third when the throw went into center field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blake DeWitt, whoever that is.
Dry, Technical Matter: The staff here isn't spending a whole lot of time dwelling on this - and you shouldn't either - but officially the Angels are not credited with a no-hitter because the Dodgers didn't bat nine times, which under rules promulgated by Major League Baseball in 1993, are not counted, though there are separate sections in the record book for no-hitters that go less than nine innings, or are broken up in extra innings.
Get Out Your History Books: This resulted in Ernie Shore's retiring of 26 straight batters after starting pitcher Babe Ruth was ejected after walking the leadoff batter being struck from the perfect game roster, as well as Harvey Haddix's retiring of 36 straight batters only to lose in the 13th inning in 1959. Other no-hitters and perfect games that were shortened because of rain or because the game was only scheduled for seven innings were, appropriately, stricken as well.
But we don't know about this one. I mean, the Dodgers didn't bat nine times because they didn't need to because they were the home team and were winning after eight-and-a-half innings. It was a regulation, full length, ballgame.
Get Out Your History Books II: This isn't the first time the Dodgers have won a low-hit game at Dodger Stadium. On Sept. 9, 1965 the Dodgers exploded for a seventh inning double of Chicago's Bob Hundley in a 1-0 victory. And that hit had nothing to with the unearned run in the fifth, which came on a walk, a sacrifice, a stolen base and an error.
Oh Yeah: Sandy Koufax pitched his perfect game that night, and this remains the only major league game with one hit.
TOO MUCH TIME ON OUR HANDS: You know, we don't spend a whole lot of time thinking about Supreme Court opinions. From time to time one will interest us enough to go read the opinion and dissents, but that doesn't happen too often.
And While We're At It: And we certainly don't spend a whole lot of time discussing them with others, mainly because we don't spend a whole lot of time hanging out with people who enjoy regular, in-depth discussions on the Supreme Court.
But some guys I know brought up the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the Second Amendment this week. Enthusiastic gun owners, they were both pleased the Second Amendment was upheld, though, non-readers of this column (imagine that!) they weren't completely familiar with the Court's decision or the specifics of the case they heard. They were just happy the Constitutional right bear arms had been upheld.
For More On The Story: So they asked me my thoughts. I said that I, too, supported the Court's decision. We've discussed this before here, the Second Amendment is very clear on the matter, stating, en toto:
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Now some, including the four members of the Supreme Court who dissented, feel bearing arms is to be interpreted in the context of arming a state militia. I don't particularly buy that, and neither did the guys I was discussing this with, and the conversation appeared to be heading towards broads and sex when one guy asked me what kind of heat I packed.
"Uh, none," I said. "I don't pack."
They were surprised, the theory being if I supported the right of my fellow citizens to bear arms it should follow that I would exercise that right.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Firearms weren't kept around the house as a kid because dad, a quiet, amiable sort, simply could not envision a situation where he would need a gun. We never went hunting or shot at targets; guns were something police and bad guys had. They were not implements used to provide or recreation.
Memory Lane: The first weapons I fired were in the US Navy and, after that, I went almost 20 years before qualifying on various small arms for a private security job. Like dad, I can see no situation where I would need a gun. I lead a quiet life and don't make a habit of annoying people who have a gun and if a situation where someone introduces a gun with which to accent whatever interaction we were having, well, that's my bad luck. These things happen. That's the way the world is built.
The Bottom Line: Just because I don't own a gun doesn't mean others should be denied that right. For regular readers of this crap, this is a familiar theme. There is no reason to forbid free people from doing things that have no affect on anyone else.
Quote That Sucker: Abraham Lincoln, among others, said every individual has the right to do what he wants as long as it doesn't infringe on anyone else's right to do what they want, and this Supreme Court ruling is in step with that principle. Unless you choose to shoot me with it, you possessing a weapon in common use for a lawful purpose really doesn't affect me too much. I can still live my life as I see fit.
This Whole Column Is Dry, Technical Matter: Another good example is assisted suicide, which we droned on about at length last week. Supporters of an assisted suicide law in Washington state are trying to gather sufficient signatures to put such an initiative on the November ballot. An article we came across talked about how this is touching some religious folks at the very heart of their faith.
So what? If a terminally ill church-goer doesn't favor assisted suicide, they don't have to take part in it. Just because something is legal doesn't make it mandatory.
The Big Picture: Does a terminally ill person seeking help to kill themself affect me? No, of course, it doesn't, and it doesn't affect you, either.
The Dark Side: Not everybody agrees with that philosophy, though. There are people who will work towards having this measure defeated simply because they do not agree with it.
Final Answer: This is wrong. There are many other examples of things that are against the law that really don't affect me when others engage in it. For example, my neighbor doing his fave recreational drug, doesn't really affect me, nor does my neighbor - or, better yet, my girlfriend - engaging the services of a hooker.
A Friendly Reminder: Just because something is legal doesn't make it mandatory, and the staff of the Writer's Shack is not in the habit of engaging in either of the above activities. Other people do, though, and they shouldn't be criminals for it.
ON THIS DATE: In 1859, French acrobat Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Falls on tightrope in front of an audience estimated at 5,000.
Editor's Note: In honor of the 100th anniversary of the last Chicago Cubs World Series title, On This Date is pleased to present a look at the 1908 Chicago Cubs season.
Uh-Oh: The Cubs lost their second straight to the Cincinnati Reds, 4-2 at the Palace of the Fans in Cincinnati.
On The Scoreboard: Elsewhere in the National League, New York defeated Brooklyn 3-0. With the loss, the Cubs fall to a full game behind idle Pittsburgh. The Cubs, at 37-23, have the fewest losses in baseball and are actually a game up on the Pirates in the loss column, but Pittsburgh, at 40-24, has played four more games than the Cubs (their tie with Boston is not counted for this purpose), so the Pirates, getting a half game's credit for each extra game played, are a game up.
In The Other League: The St. Louis Browns are in first place, a half-game up on Cleveland. They will be in second place tomorrow and will not be in first place this late in the season again until 1922 when they are three games up on the evil Yankees. Despite having first baseman George Sisler leading the league in hitting with a .420 average, the Browns finish the season in second place, a game behind the Yankees.
Oh Yeah II: Also on this date in 1908, Cy Young threw his second no-hitter, blanking the Yankees 8-0. The only blemish on what would have been Young's second perfect game was a walk. He also drove in four runs.
Lights, Camera, Action: The Guiding Light debuts on television on this date in 1952. It had been on radio since 1937. It is the longest-running soap opera, drama and scripted show in television history.
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: Rod Hundley of West Virginia was the first #1 pick in the NBA draft, in 1957. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals, who had just moved to Rochester. The Royals are now, after a stop in Kansas City and Omaha, the Sacramento Kings.
Today's Stumper: What is the longest running show in television history? - Answer next time!
Threats? Recipes? Trivia question answers? Email The Writer's Shack Here!
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