Deep thoughts, cheap shots & bon mots
Watching the Giants lurch and stumble down the stretch, I suffered a concussion in my oblique.
Those of us who favor baseball going to computerized calling of balls and strikes would like to thank Cowboy Joe West. Or as we like to call him, Exhibit A.
Still anonymous, the security man at Levi’s Stadium who fought off three burly cowards seemingly intent on killing a Vikings fan after the 49ers’ season opener. We do know that Unknown Security Man is 18, and judging from video, he’s not real big. Gets my vote for 49ers’ MVP.
Here’s Charles Woodson telling me how doctors/trainers popped his left shoulder back into the socket after the Raiders’ opening game. “I laid down, let it hang a little bit, and they kind of massaged it back into place.” Sounds soothing, like a Swedish massage. Candles, anyone?
Jordan Spieth should get PGA Tour Player of the Year, because our Ron Kroichick says so. Jason Day has been piling up victories, but he says of Player of the Year, “I still think it’s Jordan.” That’s such a magnanimous sentiment that I’m going to switch and give Day my vote.
The Hot New Thing every quarterback has to have: eye discipline. How do QBs develop that? I don’t know. Take their wives to the beach?
Tiger Woods, out of action after a back operation, says on his website, “This is certainly disappointing, but I’m a fighter.” On the list of things you should never say about yourself, No. 12 is “I’m a fighter.”
Fun facts: Marlon Byrd is (granting poetic license in spelling) the only major-leaguer ever with a fish-fowl name. Unless, unbeknownst to the world, Ducky Medwick married Dizzy Trout and took Dizzy’s surname.
How close is Buster Posey to Bryce Harper in the National League batting race? Posey has 172 hits. He would have needed 181 in the same number of at-bats to be ahead of Harper (.340 to .339).
What is the Giants’ outlook for the rest of the season? (O)bleak.
Steve Kerr hiring Steve Nash as a drop-in coach, that’s so Nash can coach up Stephen Curry, right? “Not just Steph,” Kerr said Friday. “I think (Nash) can help Klay (Thompson) in a big way. And Harrison (Barnes) ... Steve was the most efficient player I’ve ever been around. My hope is that he can help make our guys more efficient.”
Michael Crabtree’s reemergence as a go-to receiver with the Raiders is another bullet point for those who would argue that every move Jim Harbaugh made was not dipped in brilliance. Then there’s Colin Kaepernick’s odd statement about being allowed to be himself this season. So far, nobody on or around the 49ers seems to be pining for the Harbaugh Happy Dayz. But it’s early.
Stephen Vogt, on the psychological difficulty of getting back behind the plate after his horrific injury from a foul ball to the groin: “It’s a hurdle I want to get over sooner than later.” Please don’t try to skim that hurdle too low.