Adison Justis Makes Her Debut, Lane Kiffin Deep Sea Fishing & Dan Bilzerian Visits His Grandma

Ever have one of those days where you learn stuff about people you know that blows your mind?

Growing up pre-Internet, I played high school baseball with a kid whose dad had Major League experience, but being young and dumb and without Baseball-Reference, I had no idea about Fred Scherman’s background in the sport. Fred was Fred Jr’s quiet dad that you respected, but you didn’t go asking him about his 1971 season with the Detroit Tigers when he saved 20 games, good for 6th in the Majors. We had no idea Fred was sitting on all this baseball history. He was just the really soft-spoken former baseball player who would give pointers to the high school baseball players and a dad who would let us play pool in his living room here and there.

I didn’t have Fred Scherman baseball cards laying around. We didn’t have game logs that told us Fred knocked down Reggie Jackson twice in the 1972 ALCS and pretty much set the stage for Bert Campaneris launching his bat at a different Tigers pitcher later in the game. It wasn’t until maybe 15 years ago I dug into Fred’s stats to learn he had more than a cup of coffee, but I still didn’t fully appreciate his baseball life story — until Friday when I came across a 2018 interview Fred did where he spent a half-hour telling it.

Here was Fred talking about his relationship with Billy Martin, those moments facing Reggie Jackson and breaking down Tigers rosters that included Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan & Mickey Lolich. Mind-blowing stuff, especially now that I can respect what he’s talking about. Would 16-year-old Joe understand the significance of what I was being told? Of course not. I did have a deep love of baseball, but I didn’t know about the Tigers. We lived in Reds country. Big Red Machine yearbooks were passed down like family Bibles.

What does it all mean? I have no idea other than I guess we have plenty to learn about people that might not go around throwing it out there that they had 346 MLB appearances and had a role in one of the more memorable moments (for a few generations) in MLB playoff history.

• Tim in Friendswood, TX sent an email with what sounds like an incredible football league:

It’s awesome because every year I end up rooting for teams I hate (like the Cowboys, because I’m a human being and all human beings hate the Cowboys) and I follow them all year. Unlike fantasy football, which requires weekly maintenance, the Gauntlet requires no adjustments. It’s just you and 7 guys you can’t wait to tell about how wrong they were when you snagged the lowly, surprise team from the AFC East and they overpaid for the overhyped, returning NFC champion.

I have a waiting list to get into this league. It’s not season tickets to Lambeau, but I can tell you no one is leaving this league any time soon. I hope to spread the word, so people can find another group to latch onto, and leave me alone about joining my group. 

• Brian J. has a TNML question:

• Commish response: TNML has a rule that states “…you do you.” What’s it mean? Well, it means you’ve busted your ass to buy property and a house. You’ve saved up for that down payment. You pay the taxes. If you want to cut barefoot, you do you. Personally, I have mulch everywhere and going barefoot would risk wood spears launching into my feet which probably wouldn’t feel good. Now, Brian might have a lush field of grass free of foreign objects. Go for it. Free those toes. Dig them into the turf. Be one with nature.

• James writes:

I don’t have an article to share as much as an observation that the entirety of our sports media is missing a great sport. That sport being rugby. So here’s the idea: cover rugby. Be the guy who covers this beautiful sport and introduces William Webb Ellis to America.

Be that guy.

Numbers from :

Shohei Ohtani of the @Angels now has 16 home runs in his last 21 games.

That's the most HR by any player over a 21-game span in a single season in American League history.

— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) July 10, 2021

Stuff You Guys Sent In & Stuff I Like:

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⁦@OleMissFB⁩ getting the job done everywhere!! ⁦@Rfing2⁩ #Louisvillenext #catchandrelease #freedivebluehole #LongIsland pic.twitter.com/NybtyBrI07

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) July 9, 2021

pic.twitter.com/4Fj8YMVfrx

— Welcome to the Ump Show (@umpjob) July 9, 2021

"Came here to hit dingers and have a good time."

Same, kid. pic.twitter.com/uaPXuGlPUM

— Joe Kinsey (@JoeKinseyexp) July 9, 2021

.@mlb_cc 😳 pic.twitter.com/onkG3EX67L

— Jonah Rosen (@jonahrosen10) July 9, 2021

@JoeKinseyexp pretty sure, everyone will NOW, watch the John Deere Classic… pic.twitter.com/ovFalipTAa

— lanaevoli (@lana_evoli) July 9, 2021

Weekday: Weekend: pic.twitter.com/WbLZcQN49R

— David Portillo (@D_Portillo_0) July 9, 2021

Always a rush … pic.twitter.com/N01Neu46VF

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) July 10, 2021

Presented without comment pic.twitter.com/pXqjFsikUc

— ABC7Error (@abc7error) July 10, 2021

Born Oct. 15, 1970, as Elgin Baylor Lumpkin, R&B star Ginuwine put out a record called 'The Senior' in 2003. Today, he's 18,530 days old, matching Wilford Brimley's age on the day 'Cocoon' was released. Congrats @Ginuwine! You've reached the Brimley/Cocoon Line. pic.twitter.com/rGkMZ9KxNV

— Brimley/Cocoon Line (@BrimleyLine) July 10, 2021

Seen at Atlanta airport 😂 pic.twitter.com/xdnKMsu4EH

— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) July 9, 2021

@JoeKinseyexp #TNML Cut my lawn last night in Monclova and the Gods rewarded me with something pic.twitter.com/WnBt7snRyG

— Drama419 (@Drama419) July 9, 2021