For an intro to this series, click here. For the original series way back in 2009, click here.
It is only fair and just that we mention The Pogues on this most Irish of days. Now, most Pogues songs are inappropriate for one reason or another. But I wanted to mention one that is currently being used in an inappropriate sports context: the title track from If I Should Fall From the Grace of God.
You may have heard this tune in a Suburu ad featuring a busy mom and her brood of hockey playing young’uns, all of whom are very ginger-y. So the choice of song vaguely makes sense–as long as you’re ignorant of the lyrics, which concern completely bottoming out and dying in the gutter. That’s a great minivan song, Madison Ave!
For an intro to this series, click here. For the original series way back in 2009, click here.
Earlier this week, Charlie Brooker (hilariously acidic skewerer of British media) put up a tweet that said, “Possibly the most powerfully seductive record of all time.” The link led to this bizarre ditty from Northern Irish comedian/showman Frank Carson. I think you’ll agree it is quite sexy. What woman could resist golden pipes like this?
The mere mental image of a batter striding to plate as Carson sang IP, DIP, CHIPPERDY DIP makes me crack up. Bless you, Mr. Brooker.
The earliest form of baseball was played in ancient Mesopotamia. Called Dak-tar, the object of the game was for the players to project their own personal failings and fears of death onto their children.
At various times, the game has been known as bases-ball, based-ball, basted-ball, butter-ball, churn-ball, hide-the-goblin, flip cup, Sacajawea, and water polo.
Early incarnations of baseball required every square inch of the playing field to be covered by a person. By the late 1700s, rosters for each team were whittled down to a lean 85.
Alexander Cartwright was considered the father of baseball not because he codified the game’s modern rules, but because he sired enough illegitimate children to field an entire league’s rosters.
Abner Doubleday did not invent baseball in Cooperstown, NY, as legend has it. The West Point graduate was given the honorary title of the game’s inventor in recognition of his service when defeating The Great Child Labor Rebellion of 1871.
