Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End
*Rangers' manager Ron Washington is taking a lot of heat for another September swoon, but he gets credit for picking the right pinch-hitter Thursday night. Needing a runner to start a rally in a must-win game to cling to hope in the AL Wild Card, Wash inserted Jurickson Profar over Lance Berkman. It was the right call, and probably also an easy one. Berkman hasn't had a hit since July 3. And Profar rewarded his manager with a dramatic homer. Profar, by the way, is only the second player in baseball history with a pinch-hit, walk-off home run before turning 21. The other? Jimmie Foxx back in 19 and 28. Needing to make up one game with three to play, the Rangers are embarking on a fun weekend.
*The rarest of all jerseys in the NFL are the Cowboys' blue roadies. They'll wear them Sunday in San Diego for the only time this year. They've worn them only seven times in the past five seasons. Probably a good thing, because in their 54-year history the Cowboys have only one - that's one, singular - playoff win in blue. Is there really a jinx? I detail the myth over at
NBC 5's Blue Star Blog.
*Took a lot of grief in comments Thursday for being happy about $2.99 gas in Fort Worth and saying that the ominous predictions of President Obama's incompetency pushing gas to $5 were simply wrong. I got called a "flaming liberal" and warned that - as a small business owner starting up Pizza Buzz - Obamacare was going to doom me and my dream. Fine, y'all be Old Man Potter in
It's A Wonderful Life. I'm content as George Bailey. If I'm ever lucky enough to have 50+ employees I'll gladly provide health insurance for my peeps. To me that would be a privilege, not a burden. Because when I sit in a rocking chair on the porch of my golden years, I'm going to reflect not on how many dollars I saved but rather how many lives I touched. You go ahead and protect your money. That's your right and I'll never criticize you for it. But me? I'll continue to donate my time and assets to
Make-A-Wish and
DFWRescueMe and
the fight against Alzheimer's. In fact, I'm walking Saturday morning in Allen at Celebration Park for my good buddy Trey Lee, whose father is fighting the horrible disease. See you - or at least your money - there?
*In a game we thought we were destined to remember for the epic four-error inning, the RangErs instead erased the mistakes with a fourth consecutive walk-off homer against the Angels and Josh Hamilton's beard. Going back to late July, that's back-to-back-to-back-to-back walk-off homers at home for the Rangers over Anaheim. Gotta be some kind of record. I'd look it up, but it's gorgeous outside today and it's been a long week. Let me know what you find out.
*Not trying to mist on your parade plans, but the Cowboys' two wins are against teams with a combined record of 1-6. And if you watched Frank Gore shred the Rams' defense for 153 yards last night you're a little less impressed by DeMarco Murray's 175 from last Sunday. On the other hand, Dallas' only loss is by one point, on the road, to an undefeated team. So maybe your glass is more than half-full?
*Yeah, I get it. Mariano Rivera is baseball's all-time saves leader and a class guy. His retirement is noteworthy, but to me - a life-long Yankees' hater - not the least bit sad. I'll be about as "sad" when Tim Duncan retires. But, seriously now, has any player in the history of baseball had a more out-of-whack send-off? For a player who was on the field only a half-inning per game and never appeared on more than three consecutive days, didn't his farewell go a tad overboard? And you get the feeling we'll get more of it over the weekend when New York travels to Houston.
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Hot.
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Not.
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*The State Fair of Texas opens today in Fair Park. It's always a weird day. It signals Fall, but it's also usually still - like today - 90-plus degrees. I wasn't one of those who got emotional about Big Tex's accidental burning at the stake last year, but I dig the big guy's new look. Or is it a different big guy altogether? Either way, let's meet at Big Tex for a Fletcher's corn dog, shall we?
*Cowboys haven't lost in San Diego in 30 years. Last regular-season loss to the Chargers in southern California was Nov. 13, 1983. Dallas has won its last three trips, but that day some quarterback named Ed Luther torched it for 340 yards passing as the 3-7 Chargers upset the 9-1 Cowboys. I'm sure I watched that game, but have zero recollection. A result of either old age or a good filter.
*Hey gun nuts, I found the kind of weapon I'll actually endorse.
The kind that won't fire. Folks at the McDonald's in Fort Worth are calling the would-be assassin's gun malfunction a "divine intervention" and a "miracle from God." Which, of course, begs the question: If God miraculously stopped this mass shooting, why did he/she/it allow the one at the Navy Yard? Selective miracling has always been a difficult practice for me to grasp.
*Speaking of guns, in Iowa you can now acquire and carry one even if you're ...
blind. I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say this is a terrible idea. Unless, that is, the gun owners let their guide dogs
pull paw the trigger.
*Cowboys' defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has dubbed tackle Nick Hayden with a nickname: "
Golden Cock." And, yes, it has to do with Hayden's angle and, um, position.
*TCU 31, SMU 17. Iron Skillet has to be the worst "trophy" in all of college football.
*Seriously, who does this? I've never ever never not flushed the toilet after, ya know,
using the bathroom. The thought never even crossed my mind. If I'm sitting on the throne and the building catches on fire, I'd probably flush, then escape. But yesterday at Panera Bread on Highway 377 I walked in on a full, polluted bowl. And then last night at Cheddar's at Greenville/635 Sybil suffered the same trauma. As she put it, "There's ones
and twos in there!" Other than a plumbing malfunction, there can't possibly be a legitimate excuse for this obscene inaction.
*
Happy Birthday, KXAS. The old station (and my relatively new employer) turns a ripe old 65 today. I grew up mesmerized by weatherman Harold Taft and his cutting-edge gauges. In JoCoMoFo, his forecasts were gospel.
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*In 1992 I walked into the Supercuts at Frankford/Tollway. I walked out with a haircut and a friend for life. For 21 years Lisa Santos has been there, offering advice, cooking food, managing my Facebook, jumping off my roof as her bikini top "accidentally" flew off, always injecting passion into life. We've laughed and cried and drank and danced and supported each other through everything from divorce and death. She's always been the freakin' Puerto Rican, yet our relationship has never been anything more than platonic. She still cuts my hair. And Saturday she turns 40. Happy Birthday to Santos, and her butt!
*
So the chairman of Barilla Group - the world's largest pasta producer - says his company would never feature gay families in advertisements for his product because he likes the "traditional" family. If someone disagrees, he says they can "eat another brand of pasta." Two of the biggest roadblocks to progress in this world: Tradition and Fear. Barilla is about learn its lesson about expression: Sure it's free, but it also comes with consequences.
*Cowboys 24, Chargers 20. Brian Waters starts. Manti Te'o debuts.
*
Linkin Park's new song = Awesome.
*Okay, the daily Whitt's End experiment has gone on for two weeks. Whatdya think? Honestly, I've been pleasantly surprised by the response. Unique visitors, pageviews and comments are up. But I'm a slave to customer feedback. So I welcome your assessment.
*I've said recently that I'm a bad judge of character, but professionally I align myself with some great peeps. Two of this blog's advertisers just won awards in the
Dallas Observer's "Best Of" issue:
Bob Lovell of HMS and
Baby Dolls Dallas. Congrats, partners.
*This weekend? Got the Alzheimer's walk Saturday morning and the birthday party Saturday night. Sunday is Cowboys-Chargers. Monday I'll be at Mavs' Media Day down at the AAC. Don't be a stranger.
Keep up the daily Whitt's End. It's become a routine for me in the mornings at work to read Whitt's End while drinking my Monster.
ReplyDeleteKeep it daily best read every morning thank you
ReplyDeleteIts reading is on my daily to do list. But in full disclosure, I was a regular reader before the change as well. Prefer the daily version but maybe with a different name Mon-Thurs
ReplyDeleteRichie, Whitt's End is great. Please keep it up. I have not missed one post since your blog went live. It is a must stop down on a daily basis. You are a really gifted writer. Once again, please keep up the fine work and the daily Whitt's End.
ReplyDeleteTake care buddy, Jory King
Thanks for the kind words/feedback. I love writing this blog, but makes it more rewarding if other folks like it as well.
ReplyDeleteI am conflicted. Whitt's End only shows up once a day. The other would sometimes make 2-3 appearances daily. If I vote OTHER, do I get to see multiple posts? If not, I kinda like the Whitt's End..
ReplyDeleteThe only reason the relationship is platonic is she isn't into you. You can't tell me you haven't been trying to hit that for the last 21 years
ReplyDeleteDoes she still work at that Sport Clips because I'm about to fire mine and hire a new one?
Congrats to Lovell and Baby Dolls huh??? As you said yesterday it's a committee of one big deal. Right RW?????
ReplyDeleteStorm
-I like the Whitt's end format, scrunching it all into one post. Can you add some things to the forum like unique logins and notifications? I'd like to be able to "follow" some of the crazy posters instead of checking back. I think even the hungry hugger had that on his failed blog.
ReplyDelete-Hey Lisa! Happy Birthday to your....butt. How many kids? If she has any, wow.
RW,
ReplyDeleteI say keep the Whitt's End. Much to my surprise, chocolate cake for every meal is really good. Keep up the fine work sir. Love the freakin' Rican!!
Sincerely,
40 year old white guy
aka NTDSLARS
Chocolate cake every day was my fear. Glad it's going down smooth. What?
DeleteI'm with you on the failure to flush thing. I work in a professional government building and I walk into that a few times a week! For the life of me, I don't understand why someone doesn't flush.
ReplyDeletePlumbing problems maybe?
DeleteDamn! Lisa Santos should have been your *HOT today
ReplyDeleteKeep Whitt's End - It's my daily news source
I agree. And I will.
DeleteI enjoy your blog Richie...as to your opinions on most non-sports related topics....not so much. As far as those opinions are concerned, I continue to believe that you WANT a certain amount of disagreement with you because it makes your blog more interesting.... If all people did was show up and kiss your ass and tell you how awesome you were then your blog would suck. So keep pissing people off and throwing out the troll bait Mr. Whitt....and whether it is right or wrong....you are definately doing something.
ReplyDeleteDave
Thanks. Done.
DeleteLook forward to Whitt's End every day now! Agree... more Lisa Santos!
ReplyDeleteI would in no way question your altruism or intent since I've seen the many charitible causes you have helped over the years, but on your willingness to lose money on politcal principle I'm calling BS.
ReplyDeleteAs you will soon find out, margins in the pizza business are slim and competition fierce. It's one thing to say you would lose money to provide health insurance to your employees, and another to offer your partners up for it. While you may be independently wealthy, there's a very distinct possibility your partners may want a return on their investment.
On another note, as you're going to the bank to withdraw another $500/mo to cover your business that is losing money because you have a huge expense your competitors don't, and you can't raise prices to cover it, if there's demand for your product enough to expand, and assuming your business is only unprofitable because you have a higher expense structure than your competitors, are you willing to expand the money losing business and provide more jobs? My guess is you wouldn't be, and your partners would crucify you if you suggested it. Are you being more altruistic providing livelihoods (jobs), or health insurance? In that particular case, you probably wouldn't be able to do both.
Are you sure you've thought this small business thing all the way through?
Rooster, let him crow "values". We'll never know the dollars and cents. The one thing he will get to know soon: disgruntled/non-productive employees, dissatisfied customers, the impact of variable costs (gas, food product, etc.), piss poor margins, the wrath of competition, and the big one...the tax man, at the local, state and federal levels. This on top of the investors/partners, as you say, who will dictate just how altruistic Whitt gets to be.
DeleteGood thing he has a blog for his employees to report back to the masses, huh? Even better thing he has someone to blame when he can't put the ACA into place.
Remember:
positive working capital ratio
free cash flow
operating margins
pay your taxes...on time
Good luck.
Losing money? $500 a month? Partner(s)? Piss poor margins? You guys have no idea of what's happening here do you?
DeleteSounds like they know more about running a business than you do, Richie.
DeleteWhy not provide health insurance to your employees immediately? Why wait until 50+ when the government forces you to? Put your money where your mouth is. You won't because of the reasons listed above...should taken a business class before going into business. Just my opinion.
I like the daily Whitt's End, since it touches on many subjects. I'm more interested in reading something with a variety of content like that, than 2-3 singular posts that maybe you'd have to force to be longer on their own. Keep up the good writing. As I've always said, don't always agree, but I enjoy the entertainment.
ReplyDeleteLove the Whitt's end, it's the highlight of my day, and used to be the highlight of my radio week. Don't stop the deeper articles, though; you have a gift that I want to keep benefiting from!
ReplyDeleteThat's something I definitely plan to dig back into. It's my favorite writing as well. Thanks.
DeleteI like the Whitt's End.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with the way the Yankees are treating Rivera's retirement. His total innings pitched don't equal one full season of play. But, in the day of the closer, it's not his fault. Being around for 19 years with one team and as dominate as he was, it's good to see him appreciated.
What I don't understand, is why do other teams have ceremonies and give gifts to a guy who has always been the opposition? I remember teams did this with Ripken too. I think baseball is the only sport that has these "victory lap" last seasons and every club seems to think they need to pay homage to a player who they were privileged to watch come to their stadium and defeat the home team. Give him a laurel, and hardy handshake and lock the door when he leaves.
Today's "Hot" = Top 3 for the Month! Awesome!! Daily blog is greatness. Going to disagree with your assessment of the Pasta Man. My Southern Baptist baseline sez he is 100% correct in his beliefs. He & his company will be blessed and will do wonderful. I'm going to leave it at that.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering how Chick-Fil-A sales have been. I'm assuming pretty good.
DeleteRW...daily reader and somewhat regular poster. Question is...why can't we have both regarding Whitt's end and deeper articles? Barilla pasta guy is perfectly within his rights to say and do as he pleases. However, as the Dixie Chicks found out, there is often a price to be paid for freedom of expression. But what do I know...it may turn out for him the way it did for Chick-fil-A. When Kareem retired, there was a similar "victory" tour for him... gifts, etc.
ReplyDeleteTest comment post from iPhone
ReplyDelete-webmaster
I dont agree with you on much and every day i swear its the last time i check out your blog....but i always come back. Thanks for keeping it interesting.
ReplyDeleteBest compliment you could give me. Thanks.
DeleteYou know you just hit on something there. I think I would even give that a listen.
ReplyDeleteI bash Whit a lot but I have to give him credit for saying if he is lucky enough to have 50 employees one he would provide health insurance for them. Call me a flaming liberal or whatever but I think every American should have the opportunity for healthcare. I will also say this if not for the presidents healthcare plan my mother would be in an extremely bad situation right now. Again call me what you will but I don't not give my business to companies that do not provide their employees healthcare, Papa Johns among many others. Is this hurting there business no not at all but I sleep better at night. I don't trade with Chic-Fil-A because the people that run the company are bigots.
Don't get me wrong I will still say Whit is a hypocrite because he could have at the time used his position as a radio personality to make a stand on gun control by not attending the NRA 500 at TMS but chose not to and "take the money" instead.
If Whitt would just get over himself and use some more humility from time to time he would be an ok dude.
Storm
I think the daily Whitt's End works well, but I also like to see fully realized ideas, which can't be done in single paragraphs. Sometimes you touch on a substantive issue but the Whitt's End format prevents elaboration. It would be nice to see you drop 1,200 words or so on important sports topics...or gun control.
ReplyDelete+1 - Maybe have two options: 1) Make Whitt's End a Monday, Wednesday, Friday thing and fill in with in-depth pieces on Tuesday and Thursday;
Deleteor 2) keep it as-is but always have the option to replace Whitt's End at any time with an in-depth article as breaking news dictates (i.e. Josh Brent, practice facility falling down, etc.)
Option 2 is the one I am leaning towards. And for the record, I don't regard the few things I have read at the Blue Star Blog being in-depth or hard-hitting. And I don't know the ramifications of posting an extensive piece here and a short piece on the Blue Star Blog.
I just spent half an hour catching up on this week. Great stuff. I like your style. As for the over Republicans, that's just Texas man. People are Republican because their parents and pastor are, with no real original ideas or solutions to problems...just negativity. Liberals are guitly too. True intelligence lies somewhere in the middle.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
DeleteDaily Whitts End: overall good, but perhaps overexposed. As you've run out of substance, you've given more and more room to your uninformed and overly simplistic political whipping boys. Dilutes the content and, in the long run, won't be good for business (perfect example, suggesting that you'd pay for healthcare for your employees as somehow a support for obamacare; if employers had your view, there wouldn't be the need for obamacare, so you're not arguing for the point you think you are). Good writer, but smart to have a bit more fun and a bit less sound-bite party-line political sermonizing. I've been a daily visitor to your blog since day 1 but find myself less inclined to get hit over the head with the same soap boxes of late. Food for thought...
ReplyDeleteWell aren't you just a brillant champion for the masses...barf.
DeleteRichie, why wait until you have 50+ employees before providing health insurance. Be right, moral and compassionate and provide health insurance for all employees from day 1. You would set a great example for all your critics.
ReplyDeleteLloyd Bonafide
I'm shocked someone hasn't brought this up... who the fuck are you to need an assistant to do your Facebook page!!!! How high and fucking mighty are you Richie Twit!
ReplyDeleteDude, I don't understand this at all. If I could get this Santos chick to do anything for me, believe me, she would be doing it. (And maybe get a little of the that hot massage oil a little to the right.)
DeleteAnon - choose a name just so we know who you are. You can still be anonymous but at least we can know your histor.
She loves Facebook. I don't. The end.
DeleteThoroughly enjoying the daily Whitt's End posts. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteThanks my man.
DeleteIt must be nice to be so simple-minded and self-absorbed. Please stay out of the way so men can get work done.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work with Whitt's End. I get to read it before I put on my diamond earing & Affliction shirt & get into my Camaro to go to the Strip Club. Thank God for the $3 a gallon gas & Obamacare.
ReplyDeleteNot a diamond earring or Affliction shirt or Camaro, but you get the point. Thanks.
DeleteIt's ok why don't you take your gun out out and get your conservative shoot on fuck face. Poor little Anon 9:53 got his wittle freeling hurt:(
ReplyDeleteStorm
Ha ha ! Lloyde Bonafide! Man, I miss Phil Hendrie on 1190. I listened everynite.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe he just pointed out you couldn't possibly be more clueless?...
ReplyDeleteDaily W.E. = Answer Key. If there were a miracle for every incident, then they wouldn't be miracles, would they, RW?
ReplyDeleteNope, but our un-miracled lives sure would be a lot better.
Delete