Musings on a Friday Morning
The alliterative titles for this post stop NOW.
As always, this is a collection of things that struck my fancy during the week, but weren’t really enough to merit a post on their own. Enjoy?
One of my favorite podcasts, for years, has been the Around The NFL podcast, that’s put out by the NFL Network. I like it so much that for some time, I moderated the Around The NFL subreddit on Reddit. But recently they did an episode about their questions going into the 2023 season and Gregg Rosenthal, of who I’m a huge fan, did something I keep seeing in the national press. He said he can’t wait to see what happens in San Francisco, since there’s a legitimate question on who will be the quarterback - regardless of how healthy Brock Purdy is.
He’s certainly not alone at a national level in this view, it is something I continue to hear. But that doesn’t make it true. The team - both John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan - have said Purdy is the guy as long as he’s healthy. That should be the end of the discussion. But for some reason it isn’t - some of that is who is behind him, two guys taken with the third pick overall in Trey Lance and Sam Darnold. And it also has to do with the fact that Shanahan could make a good QB out of almost anyone not named Josh Johnson. I think some of it is that all the statements Lynch and Shanahan have made COULD be interpreted as vague. But that’s because folks hear what they want to hear. For now, Purdy is being criminally underrated.
I’ve not only been a 49ers fan for years, but a San Francisco Giants fan for almost as long. But I’ve never liked baseball as much as football. And in recent years that’s been more and more true. I’ve written about how MLB was its own worst enemy but - as many know - they made changes this year that purists may not like, but indisputably makes the game better.
Every other sport should be looking hard at this and see how they can change for the better.
If you’ve spent anytime on this here substack, you’re aware I like golf a lot, and I like traveling to new spots to play golf. I take an annual golf trip with my friends from graduate school, and next year we’re returning (sort of) to where it all started, Myrtle Beach. Here’s why I mention this now - as we start nailing down plans, I looked at airline tickets. It’s early yet, so prices are a bit wacky - but…I’m planning to fly into Charleston, South Carolina.
There are no non-stops from San Francisco to Charleston. I noticed that one flight stops in Charlotte, North Carolina and the layover was so long I could essentially drive to Charleston instead of waiting for a plane. So I looked at just the direct flight to Charlotte. And .. it was MORE expensive than the Charleston route. That is, going from San Francisco to Charlotte to Charleston is CHEAPER than just getting off the plane in Charlotte. This is both because nonstops are more desirable than one-stops, but also because United needs that plane in Charleston. I get it, but it’s stupid. And somehow, someway, I’m paying for this inefficiency.
Oh, did you mention golf? How convenient, as this is the week of The Open. I get exceptionally excited for The Masters, of course, and the U.S. Open is always great (the PGA Championship is great but solidly and indisputably the fourth best golf major of four). But the very best has to be The Open, often referred to by boorish Americans as “The British Open.” It takes place outside the United States on true links courses, and there’s only a small handful of courses deemed worthy of the privilege to host. Only 14 courses have EVER done this, and only nine are still in the “rota,” which includes Turnberry - which seems unlikely to host until ownership isn’t an apricot tinged traitor who demands more attention than the golf course. (All this said, Turnberry is distressingly awesome.) This year is at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake,England.
It’s one of the lesser known courses in the rota (which are, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Muirfield, Turnberry (Ailsa), Royal Troon, Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England; Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club. If you think there’s a preponderance of “Royal” courses here, apparently all that a course needs for that is for a member of the royal family to like it and anoint it a royal course. That’s it. (The monarchy is a foolish institution, but I digress.) It probably SHOULD be more well knownn - the course is incredible, and it’s already baring its teeth at some of the worlds best golfers even without a ton of weather or wind. Links golf absolutely rules and watching the best golfers in the world fight it out is always the best. Plus, the time zone means the tournament is over at a time that allows us West Coasters to still do things that day! Win win, baby.
Finally, we are watching and truly enjoying Hijack with Idris Elba on Apple+. It’s a basic thriller show but it’s fairly smart and has some unique twists. It’s well worth your time.
Skiplagging, my guy. Look into it. (Though, you'd have to rent golf clubs, so nevermind)