A Steve Garvey Story

Above, a vintage Steve Garvey baseball card.

Now that former Dodger and Padre Steve Garvey is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in California against Rep. Adam "Pencil Neck" Schiff, it reminds me of a story that took place at work back in the 1980s.

At the time, Garvey and his first wife Cyndy split up and she started dating composer Marvin Hamlisch. A group of us were at lunch in the lunchroom talking about her being with Hamlisch. Another co-worker, Norma, walked in on the discussion.

She hadn't heard about Cyndy Garvey being with Hamlisch and when she heard our discussion, she exclaimed out loud,  "Marvin Hamlisch?! That's like being with Wally Cox!"

Naturally, this was met with laughter from the group.

Animal Rights Groups Sue To Stop Rodeo In San Diego

Animal rights wackos are suing the San Diego Padres to stop a scheduled rodeo at Petco Park.

According to NBC 7 San Diego:

Animal rights groups have filed a lawsuit to stop a three-day rodeo planned next year at Petco Park, which the groups allege will lead to the abuse of animals featured in the event.

The lawsuit against the Padres and C5 Rodeo, the company operating the San Diego Rodeo, was filed Thursday in San Diego Superior Court. The San Diego Rodeo is planned for Jan. 12-14, the first-ever rodeo to be held at the ballpark and the first time a rodeo has been held in the city of San Diego since the 1980s.

The plaintiffs, the animal rights groups Animal Protection and Rescue League and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, allege the rodeo company conducting the event, C5 Rodeo, utilizes electric prods and similar devices to shock animals.

“The rodeos tie tight bucking straps around their abdomens and then they often actually shock the horses before they ride into the arena with a rider on their back and that’s why they’re bucking wildly and they sometimes fall down,” said Bryan Pease, the San Diego attorney who is representing the animal rights groups in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also alleges that the Padres and C5 Rodeo are violating San Diego’s municipal code which prohibits non-service animals from being at Petco Park during a Padres event.

In a statement to NBC 7, a spokesperson for C5 Rodeo said: “In our preparations for the San Diego Rodeo, we have worked with industry professionals to establish and implement animal safety measures. We are committed to providing the very best care for the contestants and livestock and abide all California laws regulating the treatment and use of animals.”

To read the full article, go here. 

Two Baseball Greats Go To The Golden Ballpark In The Sky

Baseball has lost two of its greats in recent days. Both were younger than me and both were very familiar to me when I was a rabid baseball fan and practically lived at Dodger Stadium. I used to attend at least one game per homestand.

First, Bob Welch, the Los Angeles Dodger pitcher who famously struck out Yankee slugger Reggie Jackson in Game 2 of the 1978 World Series. I remember watching that game live. Amazing! He died June 9 at age 57 of a heart attack. Much too young for this two-time Cy Young Award winner.

In honor of Welch, the above video is of that strike-out of Jackson. Farewell, Welchie!

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Whenever the San Diego Padres faced the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tony Gwynn was in the on-deck circle, I always thought, "Here comes trouble!" He was THAT good a hitter and is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Gwynn died today of cancer at age 54. Again, much too young.