Of haggis, red beans and rice and Buzzard Rock
Scotland is receiving a touch of Madisonville flair this week. Local attorney Gerald Burns and friends Melvin Hicklin, Raymond Hicklin and Brad Hauck are walking the links that are St. Andrews at the British Open. Burns says the course is beautiful and that he was from here to there from Phil Mickelson during a practice round on Monday. The Spin Doctor says enjoy it guys, but stay away from the haggis. If you do partake, you’ll need an industrial sized bottle of Maalox.
If you were down around Buzzard Rock Resort and Marina or Lake Barkley last weekend, the two tall young men on jet skis were Madisonville’s own Jon Hood and UK recruit Enes Kanter. The Doc wonders if Hood explained to Kanter what the Governor’s Mansion is.
Can’t wait for the Oasis to open. The red beans and rice are primo.
If you haven’t read anything written by new Messenger sportswriter Dave O’Connell, you should. He’s good. Dave will be joined within the next couple of weeks by Shane Lucas, who is coming to us from Iowa State University.
Michael Todd has notified the county clerk’s office that he is pulling out of the 1st District magisterial race. Todd, a Republican, would have taken on longtime incumbent Magistrate Karol Welch in the November general election. In non-partisan races, Mortons Gap Mayor Frank Stafford and Dawson Springs Mayor Ross Workman are seeking reelection. Linus N. Schwagel is running for Mortons Gap City Council, Harold Gregory will be on the ballot for the Hanson City Commission and former Mayor and City Commissioner Carl Lyell is running for White Plains City Commission.
CNBC released a 1-50 ranking of America’s Top States for Business 2010. Kentucky comes in at No. 40. The state gets high rankings in the cost of living category (3rd) and in transportation (4th). It is ranked 12th in cost of business, 25th in workforce, 35th in technology and innovation, 37th in education, 38th in access to capital, 39th in business friendliness, 44th in economy and 46th in quality of life. Neighboring states’ rankings are Tennessee (16th), Missouri (17th), Indiana (21st), Illinois (30th), Ohio (34th) and West Virginia (46th).
The Doc always had mixed feelings about George Steinbrenner. As a card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation, I was obliged to dislike most things wearing pinstripes (whether a baseball uniform or business suit). There is a deep-rooted hatred for all things Yankees in New England. Following the Patriots Super Bowl win in 2004, an estimated 1.5 million fans broke into a “Yankees suck” cheer at the victory rally in downtown Boston. However, it was difficult not to begrudgingly respect what Steinbrenner accomplished with the team. He wasn’t afraid to spend to win, and he wasn’t afraid to say what was on his mind. Neither is Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jimmy Breslin. The night of Steinbrenner’s death, the 80-year-old Breslin appeared on ESPN and had this to say about The Boss. “We need to stop deifying this man. He never played first base. He was the owner of the Yankees, and he was a good guy, but that’s it.”
Happy birthday to Woody Guthrie (July 14). Woody died in 1967 at the age of 54. He gave us Tom Joad before moving on.