From the Bleachers
with Rich Summers
I have been informed by various readers that my critique of the Pittsburgh Pirates in this space last week was a bit harsh. After hearing a few MLB TV analysts giving a more positive description of the return the Bucs received in the Cole and McCutchen trades I have decided to postpone my personal boycott of Pirate telecasts, at least until the all-star game. Or until they hit fifty losses, whichever comes first.
I have not watched a lot of college basketball this year so this weekend was not a good one for televised sports. The NFL Pro Bowl is awful and the NHL all-star game is nearly as bad but neither approaches the disaster that is the NBA all-star game. I am mildly interested in the slam dunk contest and the three point shoot-out but the actual basketball game is so stupid I can’t even stand to turn it on.
One of my all-time favorite performers, Elton John, has announced he is embarking on his final tour which is unsurprising considering he is seventy years old and has a voice that only remotely resembles what he had in his prime. But he is taking three years for his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour,” which is a bit excessive but also not surprising.