Grab Bag Fridays: Let's Play 10 Questions
(1 Cent): I'll Take "The Penis Mightier" For $300, Alex ...
So, again I have just one comment/question for you people ... but this is a 10 question comment which should be fun. So, go grab some popcorn, some juice, a napkin, sit back, and enjoy the show:
Q: “I am not sure where to post these questions but I feel like "twoandahalfcents" is the type of site where I can get some answers.
1. What is the average life span of a major league baseball?
2. What is Dennis the Menace's last name? (not important but want to test your knowledge)
3. In 1985, the St Louis Cardinals squandered a 3-2 series lead and eventually lost the World Series to the Kansas City Royals. In Game 6, the first-base umpire ruled Royals' player Jorge Orta safe at first, even though he was clearly out. Which umpire made the call that shifted the momentum of this World Series?
4. In 1980 George Brett flirted with the elusive .400 season. What was his final batting average that year?
5. Which closer set a record for the most saves in a single season, when he recorded 57?
6. From the 23 drafts from 1980 to 2002, which NCAA College/University had the most players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft?
7. What former Major League player set the record with 6 'Grand Slam' home runs in one season, eclipsing the previous record of 5 in a season held by both Jim Gentile and Ernie Banks?
8. Joe Dimaggio set a Major League record with a hit in 56 consecutive games. What player tied Willie Keeler for 2nd all-time with a 44-game hitting streak?
9. What NBA team originally drafted Kobe Bryant?
And Finally # 10 ... 10. You may know who the silhouette on the NBA logo is: Jerry West. Now how about MLB's logo? It ain't Babe. Here are five options :
Carl Yastrzemski
Harmon Killebrew
Al Simmons
Rod Carew
Vince Vaughn
Thank you for all of your knowledge.” -- Lmach
HCP: Holy crap, I have a midterm. Hey, I won’t complain – this is the comment/question of the year (up to date). Well, at first I thought it would be fun to try to answer these questions by myself … just to test my “real” knowledge. Then, of course, since I can’t let you down Lmach … I’ll Google and Wikipedia my brains out and come up with the real answer. I can’t be giving out too much false info, ya know? Okay, wish me luck.
Q 1: What is the average life span of a major league baseball?
HCP Answer: I would say 5 pitches … I mean, there’s tons of foul balls, some home runs that occur, some pitches in the dirt that make the pitchers want a new ball … of course, there are also some strikeouts with some full counts mixed in … I still say 5.
Real Answer: Multiple answers on Google say between 6 and 7 pitches. Dag, I was close!! I’m feeling good about the rest of the questions. Bring it on.
Q 2: What is Dennis the Menace's last name? (not important but want to test your knowledge)
HCP Answer: Ahh, want to test my knowledge, eh? I don’t know if remembering a last name from a comic/cartoon/movie is a good way to “test my knowledge” but hey, I’ll give it a whirl. Hmm … I knew the neighbor he bugged was Mr. Wilson … hmm … I think his full name is Dennis Q. Claremount, Esquire.
Real Answer: Mitchell!! That’s right!! That’s what Mr. Wilson always called Dennis’ dad, wasn’t it? Dang it. Feeling deflated.
Q 3: In 1985, the St. Louis Cardinals squandered a 3-2 series lead and eventually lost the World Series to the Kansas City Royals. In Game 6, the first-base umpire ruled Royals' player Jorge Orta safe at first, even though he was clearly out. Which umpire made the call that shifted the momentum of this World Series?
HCP Answer: Uh, I couldn’t even name you the umpire that botched a call in last year’s playoffs (with the Chicago White Sox/Anaheim Angels series) … let alone an umpire that screwed over the Cards when I was about 4 years old. I know it was the “Show Me Series” …I’ll throw out a name … David Dickenson.
Real Answer: Don Denkinger. Hey, I got the initials right! Kind of creepy, no? Ahh, yes, now I remember … Don used to be affectionately called by his fellow umps as “Double D’s” ….
Q 4: In 1980 George Brett flirted with the elusive .400 season. What was his final batting average that year?
HCP Answer: Now, I think I saw this once on one of those ESPN shows … he was pretty close … methinks it was something like .394?
Real Answer: .390 … well, I was .004 off … and have never felt so wrong.
Q 5: Which closer set a record for the most saves in a single season, when he recorded 57?
HCP Answer: This might be because I’m jaded with my Dodgers, but methinks it was their closer by the name of Eric “Game Over” Gagne.
Real Answer: Bobby Thigpen. Dang it! I knew it would be a Cub … well played, Lmach. Well played. I guess Gagne had the record for most consecutive saves in a row, which continued from the middle and end of one season, to the beginning and middle of the next.
Q 6: From the 23 drafts from 1980 to 2002, which NCAA College/University had the most players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft?
HCP Answer: Well, my memory of NBA drafts don’t go much further back than the early 90’s … but I do know more recently, like the past 5-9 years, schools like North Carolina and Duke have put out a lot of players … I’m going to go with NC, because just last year there was 4 players drafted from that school … and I’m sure there were many more before that.
Real Answer: (Note: I couldn’t find the easy way in any search engine or NBA.com, so I had to just add them up manually going to each year from 1980 to 2002 … and I’m not even getting paid). I counted 25 players from North Carolina, and the second closest was Duke with 17 … if I missed a school that had more than 25 players in it, then I’m sure you’ll let me know. So, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve got one right!
Q 7: What former Major League player set the record with 6 'Grand Slam' home runs in one season, eclipsing the previous record of 5 in a season held by both Jim Gentile and Ernie Banks?
HCP Answer: Hmm … former, eh? That means he’s not playing anymore. But I thought the Indians guy, Travis Hafner, set it this season? He’s still playing, as far as I know …
Real Answer: Ha. I was semi-right. Travis Hafner tied Don Mattingly for most grand slams in one season just this year. Was this a trick question? Are you getting your facts from last year’s almanac? Keep up with the times, Lmach!
Q 8: Joe Dimaggio set a Major League record with a hit in 56 consecutive games. What player tied Willie Keeler for 2nd all-time with a 44-game hitting streak?
HCP Answer: Wasn’t this record almost broken this year? Methinks by Philly 2B Chase Utley … but my answer has to be … Pete “I’ll Bet On It” Rose …
Real Answer: Oh, it was a trick question! Or, you’re getting sloppy. Keeler had a 45 game hitting streak … Rose had a 44 game hitting streak … so, in actuality, nobody has tied Keeler with 44 … he’s all alone at #2 (and by the way, Utley wasn’t even close … he had a 35 game hitting streak snapped this year).
Q 9: What NBA team originally drafted Kobe Bryant?
HCP Answer: Ahh, now you’re talking about my boy The Black Mamba? I don’t even need to look this one up: Charlotte Hornets, 13th pick in 1996, out of Lower Marion High School, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divic. There’s some added info.
Real Answer: HCP is right and I’m not going to insult myself by looking it up.
Q 10: You may know who the silhouette on the NBA logo is: Jerry West. Now how about MLB's logo? It ain't Babe. Here are five options:
Carl Yastrzemski
Harmon Killebrew
Al Simmons
Rod Carew
Vince Vaughn
HCP Answer: Well, I did know West is the NBA logo … that’s actually his nickname (“The Logo”). Now, are you giving me the 5 options because the answer is one of them, or are you just trying to screw with my head? Hmm … let’s see. Well, the last option, Vince Vaughn, is a modern day comedic genius, but not the logo. I believe Al Simmons was born Aloysius Szymanski … so he can’t be it. Carew was too new (70’s and 80’s). Hmm … I believe I was with my dad when he got Carl Yastrzemski’s autograph in a baseball card store … although he bats lefty and the logo is lefty, no “Logo” would be chilling in an old baseball card store. That leaves Killebrew, who is an old enough player to be considered it, but he was right handed. The MLB logo is left handed. Actually, come to think of it, I don’t think it is based off of anybody. Another trick question?
Real Answer: Ha. It was a trick one. I found the quote from MLB.com stating, "No one player has ever been identified as the model of the 1969 Major League Baseball batter logo". But, I did read that it was “rumored” that Killebrew was the model for the logo … but that’s folklore or something.
Phew. That was intense and time consuming. I loved it. I didn’t do too shabby, did I Lmach? Did I know more than the average bear? Are you mildly impressed? Has your trust in me been shattered? And, you are welcome (for my knowledge).
(2 Cent): True Confessions Vol. 1
I've decided to start another little mini-article idea for Grab Bag Fridays called "True Confessions" which will divulge either slightly embarrassing moments or stupid things that have happened to me that should make for good stories.
Back in high school, about Junior year, my friend G.R. and I were on our way to lunch. I don't recall exactly where we ate ... it could have been Jack In The Box or a 50's diner called Meral's (where they had killer milkshakes). I think we took turns who drove and on this particular day, he was at the wheel. For some reason, he didn't have his car and was using his girlfriend's truck. It was a grayish Mazda or something like that ... just a simple little two passanger pick up.
On the way back from grubage, we were about a mile away from campus stuck at a red light. It was rather warm, so we had the windows down (methinks the AC didn't work or something). After a couple of seconds waiting for the light to turn green G.R. and I hear honking behind us, to which I immediately looked up at the signal. Still red. Then, more honking followed with the added yelling from the car's driver, "Fags! Faggots!" Now, I'm confused. I looked around and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Light was still red. I was wondering who they were yelling at. I quickly glanced at them and they were definitely looking at us. I was starting to get angry. "Are they yelling at us? Why? What's going on?" I questioned G.R. "I don't know," he replied. I mean, there wasn't a girl with us, but that shouldn't be reason enough to call us fags.
We drive off after the signal turns green, both of us still perplexed. Then, it hits G.R. "Oh my gosh ... I know why they were calling us fags ..." "Why?" I inquired. "... because this is my girlfriend's truck and she has a license plate frame that says, 'Girls Will Be Girls and Boys Will Be Their Toys.'"
Oh my freakin' gosh ... that's the reason! Two guys ... sitting in a small two person pick up truck ... with a license plate that has something a female should have ... equals us being fags. We had a good laugh the rest of the drive to campus, the rest of the day, and even now brings a sheepish grin to my face. Needless to say, I drove to lunch from then on.
(1/2 Cent): Faster Than FedEx
Again, thanks to Lmach for writing in his questions and to all the readers who take the time to humor me and read my blog. Hopefully, I'm able to make you laugh at least once during the week. Check back on Monday to see how my MLB predictions went and what CD I'm already crowning as "Best CD of the Year."
If you would like to write in questions or comments, e-mail me at HCP2007@gmail.com or click the Comments link below. It's easier than not clicking and not writing anything ... or something like that. Have a great weekend, ya'll. This week's sign off: A-B-C-ya!
HCP
So, again I have just one comment/question for you people ... but this is a 10 question comment which should be fun. So, go grab some popcorn, some juice, a napkin, sit back, and enjoy the show:
Q: “I am not sure where to post these questions but I feel like "twoandahalfcents" is the type of site where I can get some answers.
1. What is the average life span of a major league baseball?
2. What is Dennis the Menace's last name? (not important but want to test your knowledge)
3. In 1985, the St Louis Cardinals squandered a 3-2 series lead and eventually lost the World Series to the Kansas City Royals. In Game 6, the first-base umpire ruled Royals' player Jorge Orta safe at first, even though he was clearly out. Which umpire made the call that shifted the momentum of this World Series?
4. In 1980 George Brett flirted with the elusive .400 season. What was his final batting average that year?
5. Which closer set a record for the most saves in a single season, when he recorded 57?
6. From the 23 drafts from 1980 to 2002, which NCAA College/University had the most players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft?
7. What former Major League player set the record with 6 'Grand Slam' home runs in one season, eclipsing the previous record of 5 in a season held by both Jim Gentile and Ernie Banks?
8. Joe Dimaggio set a Major League record with a hit in 56 consecutive games. What player tied Willie Keeler for 2nd all-time with a 44-game hitting streak?
9. What NBA team originally drafted Kobe Bryant?
And Finally # 10 ... 10. You may know who the silhouette on the NBA logo is: Jerry West. Now how about MLB's logo? It ain't Babe. Here are five options :
Carl Yastrzemski
Harmon Killebrew
Al Simmons
Rod Carew
Vince Vaughn
Thank you for all of your knowledge.” -- Lmach
HCP: Holy crap, I have a midterm. Hey, I won’t complain – this is the comment/question of the year (up to date). Well, at first I thought it would be fun to try to answer these questions by myself … just to test my “real” knowledge. Then, of course, since I can’t let you down Lmach … I’ll Google and Wikipedia my brains out and come up with the real answer. I can’t be giving out too much false info, ya know? Okay, wish me luck.
Q 1: What is the average life span of a major league baseball?
HCP Answer: I would say 5 pitches … I mean, there’s tons of foul balls, some home runs that occur, some pitches in the dirt that make the pitchers want a new ball … of course, there are also some strikeouts with some full counts mixed in … I still say 5.
Real Answer: Multiple answers on Google say between 6 and 7 pitches. Dag, I was close!! I’m feeling good about the rest of the questions. Bring it on.
Q 2: What is Dennis the Menace's last name? (not important but want to test your knowledge)
HCP Answer: Ahh, want to test my knowledge, eh? I don’t know if remembering a last name from a comic/cartoon/movie is a good way to “test my knowledge” but hey, I’ll give it a whirl. Hmm … I knew the neighbor he bugged was Mr. Wilson … hmm … I think his full name is Dennis Q. Claremount, Esquire.
Real Answer: Mitchell!! That’s right!! That’s what Mr. Wilson always called Dennis’ dad, wasn’t it? Dang it. Feeling deflated.
Q 3: In 1985, the St. Louis Cardinals squandered a 3-2 series lead and eventually lost the World Series to the Kansas City Royals. In Game 6, the first-base umpire ruled Royals' player Jorge Orta safe at first, even though he was clearly out. Which umpire made the call that shifted the momentum of this World Series?
HCP Answer: Uh, I couldn’t even name you the umpire that botched a call in last year’s playoffs (with the Chicago White Sox/Anaheim Angels series) … let alone an umpire that screwed over the Cards when I was about 4 years old. I know it was the “Show Me Series” …I’ll throw out a name … David Dickenson.
Real Answer: Don Denkinger. Hey, I got the initials right! Kind of creepy, no? Ahh, yes, now I remember … Don used to be affectionately called by his fellow umps as “Double D’s” ….
Q 4: In 1980 George Brett flirted with the elusive .400 season. What was his final batting average that year?
HCP Answer: Now, I think I saw this once on one of those ESPN shows … he was pretty close … methinks it was something like .394?
Real Answer: .390 … well, I was .004 off … and have never felt so wrong.
Q 5: Which closer set a record for the most saves in a single season, when he recorded 57?
HCP Answer: This might be because I’m jaded with my Dodgers, but methinks it was their closer by the name of Eric “Game Over” Gagne.
Real Answer: Bobby Thigpen. Dang it! I knew it would be a Cub … well played, Lmach. Well played. I guess Gagne had the record for most consecutive saves in a row, which continued from the middle and end of one season, to the beginning and middle of the next.
Q 6: From the 23 drafts from 1980 to 2002, which NCAA College/University had the most players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft?
HCP Answer: Well, my memory of NBA drafts don’t go much further back than the early 90’s … but I do know more recently, like the past 5-9 years, schools like North Carolina and Duke have put out a lot of players … I’m going to go with NC, because just last year there was 4 players drafted from that school … and I’m sure there were many more before that.
Real Answer: (Note: I couldn’t find the easy way in any search engine or NBA.com, so I had to just add them up manually going to each year from 1980 to 2002 … and I’m not even getting paid). I counted 25 players from North Carolina, and the second closest was Duke with 17 … if I missed a school that had more than 25 players in it, then I’m sure you’ll let me know. So, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve got one right!
Q 7: What former Major League player set the record with 6 'Grand Slam' home runs in one season, eclipsing the previous record of 5 in a season held by both Jim Gentile and Ernie Banks?
HCP Answer: Hmm … former, eh? That means he’s not playing anymore. But I thought the Indians guy, Travis Hafner, set it this season? He’s still playing, as far as I know …
Real Answer: Ha. I was semi-right. Travis Hafner tied Don Mattingly for most grand slams in one season just this year. Was this a trick question? Are you getting your facts from last year’s almanac? Keep up with the times, Lmach!
Q 8: Joe Dimaggio set a Major League record with a hit in 56 consecutive games. What player tied Willie Keeler for 2nd all-time with a 44-game hitting streak?
HCP Answer: Wasn’t this record almost broken this year? Methinks by Philly 2B Chase Utley … but my answer has to be … Pete “I’ll Bet On It” Rose …
Real Answer: Oh, it was a trick question! Or, you’re getting sloppy. Keeler had a 45 game hitting streak … Rose had a 44 game hitting streak … so, in actuality, nobody has tied Keeler with 44 … he’s all alone at #2 (and by the way, Utley wasn’t even close … he had a 35 game hitting streak snapped this year).
Q 9: What NBA team originally drafted Kobe Bryant?
HCP Answer: Ahh, now you’re talking about my boy The Black Mamba? I don’t even need to look this one up: Charlotte Hornets, 13th pick in 1996, out of Lower Marion High School, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divic. There’s some added info.
Real Answer: HCP is right and I’m not going to insult myself by looking it up.
Q 10: You may know who the silhouette on the NBA logo is: Jerry West. Now how about MLB's logo? It ain't Babe. Here are five options:
Carl Yastrzemski
Harmon Killebrew
Al Simmons
Rod Carew
Vince Vaughn
HCP Answer: Well, I did know West is the NBA logo … that’s actually his nickname (“The Logo”). Now, are you giving me the 5 options because the answer is one of them, or are you just trying to screw with my head? Hmm … let’s see. Well, the last option, Vince Vaughn, is a modern day comedic genius, but not the logo. I believe Al Simmons was born Aloysius Szymanski … so he can’t be it. Carew was too new (70’s and 80’s). Hmm … I believe I was with my dad when he got Carl Yastrzemski’s autograph in a baseball card store … although he bats lefty and the logo is lefty, no “Logo” would be chilling in an old baseball card store. That leaves Killebrew, who is an old enough player to be considered it, but he was right handed. The MLB logo is left handed. Actually, come to think of it, I don’t think it is based off of anybody. Another trick question?
Real Answer: Ha. It was a trick one. I found the quote from MLB.com stating, "No one player has ever been identified as the model of the 1969 Major League Baseball batter logo". But, I did read that it was “rumored” that Killebrew was the model for the logo … but that’s folklore or something.
Phew. That was intense and time consuming. I loved it. I didn’t do too shabby, did I Lmach? Did I know more than the average bear? Are you mildly impressed? Has your trust in me been shattered? And, you are welcome (for my knowledge).
(2 Cent): True Confessions Vol. 1
I've decided to start another little mini-article idea for Grab Bag Fridays called "True Confessions" which will divulge either slightly embarrassing moments or stupid things that have happened to me that should make for good stories.
Back in high school, about Junior year, my friend G.R. and I were on our way to lunch. I don't recall exactly where we ate ... it could have been Jack In The Box or a 50's diner called Meral's (where they had killer milkshakes). I think we took turns who drove and on this particular day, he was at the wheel. For some reason, he didn't have his car and was using his girlfriend's truck. It was a grayish Mazda or something like that ... just a simple little two passanger pick up.
On the way back from grubage, we were about a mile away from campus stuck at a red light. It was rather warm, so we had the windows down (methinks the AC didn't work or something). After a couple of seconds waiting for the light to turn green G.R. and I hear honking behind us, to which I immediately looked up at the signal. Still red. Then, more honking followed with the added yelling from the car's driver, "Fags! Faggots!" Now, I'm confused. I looked around and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Light was still red. I was wondering who they were yelling at. I quickly glanced at them and they were definitely looking at us. I was starting to get angry. "Are they yelling at us? Why? What's going on?" I questioned G.R. "I don't know," he replied. I mean, there wasn't a girl with us, but that shouldn't be reason enough to call us fags.
We drive off after the signal turns green, both of us still perplexed. Then, it hits G.R. "Oh my gosh ... I know why they were calling us fags ..." "Why?" I inquired. "... because this is my girlfriend's truck and she has a license plate frame that says, 'Girls Will Be Girls and Boys Will Be Their Toys.'"
Oh my freakin' gosh ... that's the reason! Two guys ... sitting in a small two person pick up truck ... with a license plate that has something a female should have ... equals us being fags. We had a good laugh the rest of the drive to campus, the rest of the day, and even now brings a sheepish grin to my face. Needless to say, I drove to lunch from then on.
(1/2 Cent): Faster Than FedEx
Again, thanks to Lmach for writing in his questions and to all the readers who take the time to humor me and read my blog. Hopefully, I'm able to make you laugh at least once during the week. Check back on Monday to see how my MLB predictions went and what CD I'm already crowning as "Best CD of the Year."
If you would like to write in questions or comments, e-mail me at HCP2007@gmail.com or click the Comments link below. It's easier than not clicking and not writing anything ... or something like that. Have a great weekend, ya'll. This week's sign off: A-B-C-ya!
HCP
posted by HCP @ 11:40 AM
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