Jul 7, 2023·edited Jul 7, 2023Liked by Paul Daugherty
The Reds...my Heros. You never know who is going to be the Hero for the day and that's half the fun. They are so connected...it's beautiful. It's like a movie that always has a happy ending. Who wouldn't want to watch that?
Music...wow that is a huge subject for me. Elvis was a big favorite when I was really young...In the 70's Little River Band, Bert Bacharach, Alan Parsons, Carol King, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, songs like Scotch and Soda & Smoke Gets in Your Eyes... and classical like Canadian Sunset, Greensleeves, Rhapsody in Blue...endless. Dreaming & Music keep me going for sure. When you think your emotions are gone, go listen to some music and feel alive again. Loved Chicago...great song today.
Doc, outstanding observation about the culture originating out of the minors! I moved to Atlanta out of college in 1991 and this Reds team reminds me the most of that first year of sustained excellence for the Braves after years of futility. A historically great GM and manager really worked well shaping a positive culture for a very young and talented team. Look forward to seeing if these Reds can replicate that organizational success.
I'm just glad the Reds are fun and that there appears to be some semblance of cohesion and a vision from top to bottom. I hope this keeps up when I see them play the Diamondbacks in Phoenix next month.
I know you hate them, but "Red Barchetta" by Rush. My mom constantly played the Moving Pictures album in our car (remember cassette decks?) when I was growing up.
Jul 6, 2023·edited Jul 6, 2023Liked by Paul Daugherty
Great one today, Doc! And as for your "Tune of the Day" ...
Chicago is and was a great band. In the early days they were more or less fronted by the great Terry Kath, who no less than Jimi Hendrix declared to be the best guitarist in the universe
. Chicago was a different band with Terry, up until his untimely and tragic death from an accidental gunshot (some say it was intentional, I don't believe it).
And then there's their song about writer's block ... very appropriate for writers in any form. For many it's perhaps their biggest hit ... "Twenty Five or Six to Four." It was written about the band staying up all night trying to find a song. The words are all about trying to write with nothing coming to mind (sound familiar?). "Waiting for the break of day. Searching for something to say." The title refers to the time of day ... it was "twenty five, maybe twenty six until four in the morning" when Robert Lamm, the band's keyboardist, came up with the idea for the song. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Anyway, for some throwback fun, check out the live YouTube version of early Chicago playing "Twenty Five or Six to Four" with Terry Kath on guitar. His live solo is amazing and makes you wonder if perhaps Jimmi wasn't right.
Great writing today. I never knew Chris and Martina were close friends until today. One of the warmest sports friendships I'm aware of was Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes. The care and compassion of Twyman was a great example for all of us. Twyman was a member of our parish and would frequently bring Stokes to mass on Sundays and I recall Maurice was always smiling.
My song that takes me back to my youth is 'We're Not Going to Take It" by the Who as it was performed at Woodstock. I was in a rock band at the time and we learned this song the week after the album was released. It showcased the talents of our band, especially the 'See Me, Feel Me' vocals. I was also happy that Roger Daltrey made curly hair 'cool', so I finally stopped unsuccessful attempts to keep it straight. We also played 'Beginnings' and several Santana songs you would have liked.
Doc, Welcome home. Did I miss the trip report? Want to comment on your request for Nick Krall to go big. I agree we need 2 starters but.... Do you trade an India to get one? I'm afraid any major moves will mess up the Karma in the clubhouse. These guys are all in their 20's. (except Votto) . How will a mid 30's starter fit in and who goes back down. I agree we can't count on band-aids and call ups but this last time through the rotation we got 3 Quality starts and 2- 5 inning jobs. You don't offer Strand or Novel to get a mid range starter. You don't get saddled with a long term contract for average production. I'm not sure we don't have enough to get us through until the cavalry returns from the DL. Even when they do return we still may not have enough but I don't want to give away anyone to patch up for this year. We may get there anyway.
I’ve always been a fan of good Sports Journalism & newspaper scribes in general. I grew up reading the Indianapolis Star where writers like Bob Collins, Robin Miller & Phil Richards were king. My best friend’s Dad Tom Keating wrote a human interest column every day for The Indy Star that was beyond reproach. Then when I moved to Cincinnati I became a Daugherty fan. I personally write 12-14 letters per week to friends & family who might need a little pick me up. It’s become a dying art form but glad to see that Paul is still putting pen to paper. As Ken Broo likes to say we need to hear your voice!
David Roth of the Defector (old Deadspin folks) touched on the Reds skill development coaches.... albeit in an article about why the Mets stink. That guy is becoming one of my favorites.
I've always stunk at writing. Never got great grades for my essays. Oh well. I like reading great writers, and it hasn't helped me... then again, I've never tried to improve. I dabble too much in exformation because I think it's fun.
Doc, you came up at the right time.... although you would have been successful in any era. How many papers are hiring fresh out of school sports reporters these days and paying them enough to cover the rent and groceries?
It's kind of unfair that both Sally and Dan Jenkins were the best of their time (imo), and yet such wildly different writers.
I'm a big anthology guy, too. Have all 30 years of the Best American SportsWriting series, plus the giant best of the 20th Century edition that includes some of those seminal magazine pieces that appeared on the likes of DiMaggio and Junior Johnson before the book series arrived on the scene.
I also like to go into the way-back machine to my Grantland Rice, Red Smith and Ring Lardner collections. And - at the risk of sucking up - Fair Game is frequently perused.
One of the best and funniest things I ever read was in a Garrison Keillor collection called The Book of Guys - The Midlife Crisis of Dionysius.
All of which is a long way of saying I'm looking forward to Kindred tomorrow. Glove Stories is right there in the mix with those other favorites.
I am reminded by comment by James Sprague to pick up MY signed copy of your Fair Game book. You are an inspiring writer and have been able to bring compassion and heart to many a column.
I read the article; I'm now going to binge-read Sally Jenkins.
I loved reading Mary Schmich, Royko, Reilly – and you. A song from my childhood: Cat Stevens' "Father and Son" because of the comfort it gave me while surviving an often-verbally abusive stepmother.
Think about this - Reds would have to go 12-62 the rest of the way to match last year's misery!
The Reds...my Heros. You never know who is going to be the Hero for the day and that's half the fun. They are so connected...it's beautiful. It's like a movie that always has a happy ending. Who wouldn't want to watch that?
Music...wow that is a huge subject for me. Elvis was a big favorite when I was really young...In the 70's Little River Band, Bert Bacharach, Alan Parsons, Carol King, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, songs like Scotch and Soda & Smoke Gets in Your Eyes... and classical like Canadian Sunset, Greensleeves, Rhapsody in Blue...endless. Dreaming & Music keep me going for sure. When you think your emotions are gone, go listen to some music and feel alive again. Loved Chicago...great song today.
Doc, outstanding observation about the culture originating out of the minors! I moved to Atlanta out of college in 1991 and this Reds team reminds me the most of that first year of sustained excellence for the Braves after years of futility. A historically great GM and manager really worked well shaping a positive culture for a very young and talented team. Look forward to seeing if these Reds can replicate that organizational success.
Almost mid July. About time for Alabama Rain as the tune of the day...
I'm just glad the Reds are fun and that there appears to be some semblance of cohesion and a vision from top to bottom. I hope this keeps up when I see them play the Diamondbacks in Phoenix next month.
I know you hate them, but "Red Barchetta" by Rush. My mom constantly played the Moving Pictures album in our car (remember cassette decks?) when I was growing up.
Great one today, Doc! And as for your "Tune of the Day" ...
Chicago is and was a great band. In the early days they were more or less fronted by the great Terry Kath, who no less than Jimi Hendrix declared to be the best guitarist in the universe
. Chicago was a different band with Terry, up until his untimely and tragic death from an accidental gunshot (some say it was intentional, I don't believe it).
And then there's their song about writer's block ... very appropriate for writers in any form. For many it's perhaps their biggest hit ... "Twenty Five or Six to Four." It was written about the band staying up all night trying to find a song. The words are all about trying to write with nothing coming to mind (sound familiar?). "Waiting for the break of day. Searching for something to say." The title refers to the time of day ... it was "twenty five, maybe twenty six until four in the morning" when Robert Lamm, the band's keyboardist, came up with the idea for the song. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Anyway, for some throwback fun, check out the live YouTube version of early Chicago playing "Twenty Five or Six to Four" with Terry Kath on guitar. His live solo is amazing and makes you wonder if perhaps Jimmi wasn't right.
Brilliant ! One of your Best
Great writing today. I never knew Chris and Martina were close friends until today. One of the warmest sports friendships I'm aware of was Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes. The care and compassion of Twyman was a great example for all of us. Twyman was a member of our parish and would frequently bring Stokes to mass on Sundays and I recall Maurice was always smiling.
My song that takes me back to my youth is 'We're Not Going to Take It" by the Who as it was performed at Woodstock. I was in a rock band at the time and we learned this song the week after the album was released. It showcased the talents of our band, especially the 'See Me, Feel Me' vocals. I was also happy that Roger Daltrey made curly hair 'cool', so I finally stopped unsuccessful attempts to keep it straight. We also played 'Beginnings' and several Santana songs you would have liked.
Doc, Welcome home. Did I miss the trip report? Want to comment on your request for Nick Krall to go big. I agree we need 2 starters but.... Do you trade an India to get one? I'm afraid any major moves will mess up the Karma in the clubhouse. These guys are all in their 20's. (except Votto) . How will a mid 30's starter fit in and who goes back down. I agree we can't count on band-aids and call ups but this last time through the rotation we got 3 Quality starts and 2- 5 inning jobs. You don't offer Strand or Novel to get a mid range starter. You don't get saddled with a long term contract for average production. I'm not sure we don't have enough to get us through until the cavalry returns from the DL. Even when they do return we still may not have enough but I don't want to give away anyone to patch up for this year. We may get there anyway.
I read that column- one of the best I have seen
I’ve always been a fan of good Sports Journalism & newspaper scribes in general. I grew up reading the Indianapolis Star where writers like Bob Collins, Robin Miller & Phil Richards were king. My best friend’s Dad Tom Keating wrote a human interest column every day for The Indy Star that was beyond reproach. Then when I moved to Cincinnati I became a Daugherty fan. I personally write 12-14 letters per week to friends & family who might need a little pick me up. It’s become a dying art form but glad to see that Paul is still putting pen to paper. As Ken Broo likes to say we need to hear your voice!
David Roth of the Defector (old Deadspin folks) touched on the Reds skill development coaches.... albeit in an article about why the Mets stink. That guy is becoming one of my favorites.
I've always stunk at writing. Never got great grades for my essays. Oh well. I like reading great writers, and it hasn't helped me... then again, I've never tried to improve. I dabble too much in exformation because I think it's fun.
Doc, you came up at the right time.... although you would have been successful in any era. How many papers are hiring fresh out of school sports reporters these days and paying them enough to cover the rent and groceries?
It's kind of unfair that both Sally and Dan Jenkins were the best of their time (imo), and yet such wildly different writers.
I'm a big anthology guy, too. Have all 30 years of the Best American SportsWriting series, plus the giant best of the 20th Century edition that includes some of those seminal magazine pieces that appeared on the likes of DiMaggio and Junior Johnson before the book series arrived on the scene.
I also like to go into the way-back machine to my Grantland Rice, Red Smith and Ring Lardner collections. And - at the risk of sucking up - Fair Game is frequently perused.
One of the best and funniest things I ever read was in a Garrison Keillor collection called The Book of Guys - The Midlife Crisis of Dionysius.
All of which is a long way of saying I'm looking forward to Kindred tomorrow. Glove Stories is right there in the mix with those other favorites.
Sister Golden Hair and Kodachrome
I am reminded by comment by James Sprague to pick up MY signed copy of your Fair Game book. You are an inspiring writer and have been able to bring compassion and heart to many a column.
I read the article; I'm now going to binge-read Sally Jenkins.
I loved reading Mary Schmich, Royko, Reilly – and you. A song from my childhood: Cat Stevens' "Father and Son" because of the comfort it gave me while surviving an often-verbally abusive stepmother.