6 April 2021

 Training day today.  Almost all activity (e.g. library, weight room, rehabilitative programs, school) off the housing unit are closed so the staff can train.  Around 10am about a dozen officers were loitering about at the sergeant's station.

     I caught the scent of cinnamon rolls and coffee.

     Very strenuous training.

     I am reading Hack's 191, by Bill Chastain, when it reminded me how today's form of cleaned up sanitized baseball has really dampened down on the real characters in baseball.

 In the 1930s Saint Louis Cardinals' owner Sam Breadon was upset with pitcher Flint Rhem for being out late.  Rhem did not deny the accusation.  He simply explained he was taking care of Cardinals' pitching ace, and known alcoholic, Grover Cleveland Alexander.

     Rhem told Breadon that he had happened upon Alexander with a quart of booze in front of him.  Since it was a team wide effort to keep Alexander off the sauce, Rhem acted responsibly and downed the quart himself.

     We do not have that color in baseball anymore.

     I recall during the 1980 All Star Game break, All Star and rookie, Joe Charbeneau was on national TV showing how he could drink beer through his nose with a straw. 

     There is no way baseball officials, or TV executives would allow that to happen on air today.  If word got out a player did that, there would be apologies and retractions.

     I really think it diminishes our lives.  Not that we should be drinking beer through our noses.  But we want everything to be this vanilla sameness.