Spring and sports musings
F1, baseball and March Madness — It’s a great time for this washed-up sportswriter
Thoughts for the day
The first televised Formula One race weekend practice session of the season is one of my favorite days of the year. I’m a huge F1 fan, and the winter drought is a long slog for me. Now it’s over and it’s Go! Go!!! Go!!!
But today, I get a twofer. It is also the first Phillies game of spring training. Sure, it’s a month late, and all is certainly not forgiven when it comes to the work stoppage, but baseball is my elixir of life. After 2020, another lost summer would have been unbearable. A little Franzke and L.A. on the radio is just what the doctor ordered.
And even if my March Madness tourney bracket was more or less busted by the end of last night, it’s just a great time for this washed-up sportswriter. Besides, who can really be that upset with those Peacocks? We all love a giant slayer.
One of the benefits of working from home is no one can complain that the radio is too loud or that I have the TV on in my office. And it’s warm and sunny, so the windows are wide open. After a hectic week, what a joy to be reminded that Sunday is the first day of spring.
Happy weekend, folks!
The Six
No. 1
Ukraine roundup: The Wall Street Journal reports on how a counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces have pushed back the Russians and relieved the port city of Mykolaiv. Meanwhile, The Pentagon says Russia still struggles to feed troops and fuel tanks three weeks into its invasion, according to Stars and Stripes. That hasn’t held back Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, who appeared at a rally at a Moscow stadium, praising his troops in “biblical terms,” the Associated Press reports.
No. 2
Permanent daylight saving time — what would that look like? The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang breaks it down.
No. 3
NASA’s Artemis 1 rocket reached Launch Complex 39B Friday morning for a dress rehearsal of a planned June launch — an unmanned test of the rocket and the Orion crew capsule's capabilities. It’s the first time in nearly 50 years that a rocket intended to eventually carry men to the moon has been on a launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.
No. 4
In a story that gets more tragic the more that is learned, The National Transportation Safety Board said a 13-year-old boy was behind the wheel of the truck that veered into a head-on crash that killed nine people Tuesday, including the boy and six members and the coach of the University of Southwest golf team. According to the NTSB, the Dodge 2500’s left front tire — a spare — blew as the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed. NewsWest9 reports.
No. 5
Fox News appealed a judge's decision to let voting systems company Smartmatic pursue a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against the network and countersued to recoup legal costs, saying the lawsuit is an attack on its constitutionally protected right to inform viewers about newsworthy events. Smartmatic alleges Fox falsely accused it of rigging the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
No. 6
Apparently, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame isn’t like the Academy Awards. It’s an offer you can’t refuse. The Washington Post reports: Dolly Parton rejected her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination. The Rock Hall rejected her rejection.
Quote of the Day
“It kind of would be like putting AC/DC in the Country Music Hall of Fame. That just felt a little out of place for me.” — Dolly Parton on bowing out of her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination while appearing on Fox & Friends Thursday.
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About
Christopher Six is a passionate advocate of community journalism with more than 30 years in the media, corporate communications and marketing. An award-winning designer, columnist, illustrator, photographer and newsroom leader, he is a respected voice in journalism ethics. A veteran reporter, he has created and taught news writing seminars for community colleges and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Editor’s Note
Pick Six is published most Mondays-Fridays. Sharing of stories does not equal endorsement, however, personal thoughts and commentary on those stories are 100 percent my own.