Deep thoughts, cheap shots & bon mots ...

Politics is so confusing. Is the Mike Pence who tweeted Friday, “We will always stand for the right of Americans to peacefully protest and let their voices be heard” any relation to the Mike Pence who stormed out of an NFL game in 2017 because some players took a knee in silent protest during the national anthem?

Name a robotic tool that can be instantly reprogrammed to clean up messes. Roomba? OK, that’s one.

Pence and his boss might get the opportunity to show their support for peaceful protesters this coming NFL season.

Maybe sooner, when NBA action resumes. NBA players stayed out of that protest stuff before, but times change.

The ESPN documentaries on Michael Jordan and Lance Armstrong were interesting. Now how about a documentary or two on people who become superstars without being bullies and jerks? Just to show the kiddies that it can be done that way.

Hey, documentarians, here’s a quick starter list for you of Bay Area figures who did not need anger and bullying to rise to greatness: Stephen Curry, Rick Welts, Steve Kerr,

Richard Sherman (a jerk to outsiders, but not his teammates), Nnamdi Asomugha and Tim Lincecum.

And how about that guy Willie Mays? The Say Hey Kid was no less a superstar than Jordan, and Mays had to overcome more than just a high school coach he didn’t like.

A sensational documentary would be the story of Bill Spiller, the black golfer who kicked off the battle to integrate professional golf. It started at the 1948 Richmond Open, when Spiller was denied the entry spot he had earned. The rest is forgotten history. Like Jordan, Spiller could be unpleasant and illtempered, but at least he didn’t have to invent his enemies.

The late pitcher and “Ball Four” author Jim Bouton had an interesting idea for major league baseball: Eliminate team owners. Bouton believed teams should be owned by the people, by the fans, with all profits plowed back into the ballpark and the team. If John Fisher owned the Golden Gate Bridge, he’d pocket the toll money, skimp on painting, and the bridge would soon rust into the bay.

Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson? Boring. Give viewers the golf match they really want to see: Obama vs. Trump.