Category: fun

100 Word Fan Fiction “A Drop of Paint”

“Such poor copies und in wasser too.” The Gestapo man shook his head, “An establishment like yours should do better Herr Maverick.”

The elderly gambler smiled “Herr Hess solders come for the gambling & the ladies, not portraits, besides if they were too good Marshall Goering might whisk them away for his collection!”

Heis refilled his glass laughing at the quip. Maverick nodded, displaying a poker face with sixty years of practice, betraying neither knowledge of the German’s mission nor that only a thin layer of watercolor separated Heis from completing his task to recover what Goering had rightfully stolen.

Previously:

Trump impeachment leads my list of recent legendary flops

By John Ruberry

Here’s a list of great flops in recent times. Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

Here we go.

Trump impeachment.
Battlefield Earth movie.
The XFL. (Yes, a revival is planned.)
Jussie Smollett’s hate crime.
Joe Walsh’s Republican primary challenge against Trump, as well as those of William Weld and Mark Sanford.
New Coke.
Cop Rock TV show.
Watermelon-flavored Oreos.
Heaven’s Gate movie.
Bernie Madoff.
Jar Jar Binks.
The Cleveland Browns firing Bill Belichick.
ESPN becoming woke.
Theresa May’s call for a snap parliamentary election in 2017.
Cheetos lip balm.
Paris Hilton.
The Big Ten conference inviting Rutgers to join.
Anything related to Anna Nicole Smith.
Mars Needs Moms movie.
Manimal TV show.
Jeremy Corbin’s term as head of the Labour Party.
Pontiac Aztek.
The San Diego Chargers move to Los Angeles.
Beto O’Rourke’s presidential campaign, “I was born to be in it.”
Google Glass.
CNN’s decision to become the impeachment network.
Rosie O’Donnell on The View.
Michael Avenatti’s presidential run.
Enron.
Motorola Rokr phone. (I was given one of these by my employer at the time. It was truly a dreadful device.)
Heinz purple ketchup.

Now some of these debacles can also double as hoaxes, such as the “racist assault on Smollett. And of course the impeachment of Trump, which of course is stumbling along despite the lack of evidence that a crime was committed.

Witch-hunter in chief in the House, Adam Schiff, dabbles in screenplay writing. Perhaps a Schiff-scripted movie might make it on a future list.

John Ruberry regularly blogs at Marathon Pundit.

Sable/Gerbl Day 14: Yanks dissipates Texas’ Thunder, LA holds off Washington, Vikings Pillage Rivertown, Muffin Men Sweep Boston

NY 7 Texas 2

Giancarlo Stanton’s 1st inning grand slam gave the Yanks and early lead and Chad Green’s Key strikeout helped them keep it and New York managed a split with Texas with a 7-2 win at Yankee Stadium.

Stanton’s 1st inning blast would be almost the only problem Mike Clevinger (L 2-1) would have, coming off of a pair of one out singles by Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge and a ball that nipped Didi Gregorius in the leg. He would pitch into the 7th keeping his team close and persevering a bullpen tired after yesterday’s extra innings struggle.

Meanwhile Texas slowly started to come back against Lance Lynn kept living dangerously. In the 2nd a Freddy Freeman lead off single was, after two outs followed by a single by Francisco Lindor and walks to Jackie Bradley Jr and Tucker Barnhart the latter driving in the 1st Texas run before Michael Brantley popped out to end the threat at 4-1. Lynn would issue five free passes in the 3rd and fourth putting the tying or go ahead runs on only be saved from disaster by double plays in each inning.

Finally in the 5th when, with Mike Trout on 2nd (walk, PB) Nolan Arenado trotted to 1st via the 9th walk four inning the Yanks brought Chad Green (W 1-0) from the dugout to a round of applause. He would leave the mound with the same when he struck out Baez to end the threat. And while he would give up three hits and 1 run on back to back doubles from Bradley JR and Robinson Chirinos in the 6th in his 3 1/3 innings no member of the Thunder would get a free pass.

The same could not be said for Clevinger’s replacement Rasiel Iglesias who in the 8th would load the bases on walks to Stanton and Brett Garnder sandwiching a single to Neil Walker and would then proceed to walk all three of them with free passes to Romine, Hicks and Torres which would be more than enough to secure the Yankees win.

Notes: NY’s win was their first home win of the season. Texas Catcher Tucker Barnhart left the game after being hit by a foul tip from Aaron Judge in the 3rd. Robinson Chrinos came in to replace him. He is considered day to day and not expected to go on the DL. Despite nine walks in 4 2/3 innings none of the people Lynn walked scored. After scoring 22 runs the day before the teams went a combined 2-19 with runners in scoring position (Texas 1-9, NY 1-10) After the off day Texas heads to Boston while the Yanks welcome the Juneau Muffin Men.

Los Angeles 8 Washington 5

LA hit four home runs and five pitchers managed to hold back several Washington comebacks to earn a split in their series with an 8-5 win.

It didn’t look good for Alex Wood in the 1st. Corey Dickerson and DJ LeMahieu each singled to start the game and Anthony Rendon followed suit but center fielder Corey Bellinger came up throwing to nail Dickerson at the plate for the 1st out. Trevor Story walked to load the bases but Washington came up empty when Josh Reddick hit a hard grounder to second that Kiki Hernandez turned into an inning ending double play.

The Dodgers waited but an inning to take advantage of that squander. as Yasiel Puig took Reynaldo Lopez (L 1-1) over the left field fence to lead off and Yasmani Grandal took him to right center with one out giving the Dodgers a 2-0 edge. In the top of the 3rd the Senators again put two men on without scoring and LA answered with a homer when Hernandez took one down the left field line with Bellinger on second. It was 4-0 and looking good for LA

In the fifth Alex Wood couldn’t hold Washington back any longer Dickerson singled and LeMahieu was hit by a pitch then with one out Trevor Story drilled a double to left Scoring Dickerson and sending LeMahieu to 3rd where he would score on Josh Reddick’s grounder. When Jesus Aguilar walked The Senators had the tying run on 1st and 3rd with two outs. LA opted for Ross Stripling (W 1-1) and he manged to get a two out grounder to retire pinch hitter Nick Markakis keeping the score at 4-2.

In the 6th LA widened the lead. Grandal singled off Bobby Poyner and with oe out David Freese drilled a ball to right center that rolled to the wall. Grandal scored and Freese ended up on 3rd and trotted home on Justin Turner’s pinch singe for a 6-2 lead.

But Washington wasn’t done yet. Trevor Story answered with a one out triple of his on in the 7th off Josh Fields and after a walk to Reddick scored on Jesus Aguilar grounder that erased Reddick making it 6-3. An error by Freese sent Aguilar to 3rd and put Kevin Kiemaier on 1st for Matt Wieters representing the tying run but Freese handed his grounder without incident and the lead stayed at 3 till the bottom of the inning when Gandal hit a two run shot off scoring him and Puig making it 8-3 with only two innings to go.

Washington didn’t go quietly Dickerson singled in the 8th and Rendon doubled deep to right scoring him cutting the lead down to 4 and in the 9th a pair of walks off Pat Venditte put two men on with two men out for pinch hitter Marvin Gonzalez who singled off Scott Alexander (S1) drivng in Kevin Kiermaier who reached on a fielder’s choice putting two men on and bringing the tying run to the plate int the person of Corey Dickerson who was already 5-5 for the day. Alas for Washington the law of averages finally caught up with him as he popped up in the infield to end the game.

Notes: This was LA’s first victory against Washington in 4 tries this season. Washington did not lack chances leaving 14 men on base.
Grandal’s 3-4 with 3 RBI’s and 3 runs scored raised his average over the Mendosa line at .205. Marvin Maldonado went 1-2 with a walk on his 1st day back from the DL while Kevin Kiemaiar was 0-2 with a run scored after coming in to replace Hamilton. Despite a .286 avg which equals Swihart and Wieters combined Christian Vasquez was the odd man out behind the plate. LA welcomes 1st place Rivertown next while Washington visits the Vikings.

Vikings 11 Rivertown 2

Rivertown managed only five hits of Jacob DeGrom while the King Ragnar’s boys scored early and often as the Vikings took the final game of their series 11-2

Trouble game quick for Charlie Morton (L 1-2) in the 1st when after sandwiching a pair of K’s around a Gerardo Parra single served a fat pitch to Anthonly Rizzo who it it over 400 feet to right for a 2-0 lead

Rivertown struck back at once as Jacob deGrom (W 2-1) also made a sandwich of a double to Joey Wendle with a pair of K’s when his pitch to Jose Ramirez caught too much of the plate. Ramierz drove it to right center where it rolled to the wall, Peralta scored easily and Ramirez ended up on third with the red hot Paul Goldschmidt up but on a 2-2 pitch he swung just a tad early popping up third to keep the score at 2-1.

The Vikings came right back Morton hit Wilson Ramos to start the 2nd and Eduardo Escobar launched a ball to right not as far as Rizzo’s but just as out to make it 4-1.

That would be more than enough for deGrom who after a single in the bottom half of the frame would not give up a hit till Ramirez’s solo shot in the 7th, but by then the Vikings had added 4 more runs two unearned on a Eddie Rosario double in the 5th scoring Para who singled and Juan Soto who reached on Goldschmidt’s error and two more on a Rizzo single in the 7th scoring Soto who had singled and Para who had reached on a fielder choice. Whit Merrifield’s three run shot in the 8th sealed the deal closing the curtain on Rivertown’s six game winning streak.

Notes:  All but one of Rivertown’s hits off of Jacob deGrom were for extra bases. Ragnar’s Vikings hit three balls against an 18 mph wind blowing in. Paul Goldschmidt finally had a bad day going 0-4 and committing an error but still ended the game hitting .348 meaning Jose Ramirez 2-4 with 2 RBI’s only managed to bring his avg to .196. Whit Merrifield managed 3 hits and 3 RBI but was caught stealing for the 3rd time this season. Ragnar’s Vikings welcome Washington next while Rivertown travels to LA.

Juneau 7 Boston 5

After a wild nine innings where Boston and Juneau punched out 23 hits against 9 pitchers the Juneau Muffin men punched slightly harder completing the sweep of Boston with a 7-5 win.

The hit parade began quietly in the 1st when Harrison Bader led the game off with a double off Dallas Keuchel (L 1-1) he moved to 2nd on an Andrelton Simmon’s grounder to short and scored on a 2nd Grounder by Mookie Betts and it was 1-0.

In the bottom of the inning Boston began things in earnest. Jose Altuve Singled and with one out JD Martinez shot a double to right, Altuve motored home ahead of the throw to tie the game allowing Martinez to reach 3rd on the throw. but with the infield drawn in Christian Yelich’s grounder to 1st couldn’t socre JD and after a walk to Alex Bergman Jose Berrios K’d Rhys Hoskins to leave it at 1-1.

It didn’t stay there in the top of the 2nd Matt Chapman walked with two outs, Andrew Benintendi singled to center, sending Chapman to 3rd and Buster Posey doubled to right scoring them both and Bader singled to left Driving in Posey and suddenly the score was 4-1.

It wasn’t enough in the Bottom of the 3rd Ben Zorbrist and JD opened the inning with singles and Berrios walked Christin Yelich to load the bases. Alex Bregman hit the next pitch to right falling in for a double Zbrist and Martinez scored easily and Yelich beat the throw clearing the bases and sending Bergman to 3rd and Berrios to the showers.

Yoshihisa Hirano (W 1-0) came in coaxed a grounder from Hoskins to first but Joey Votto bobbled the ball allowing Hoskins to reach and Bergman to score and it was 5-4.

But Keuchel couldn’t hold it, Chapman singled to start the 4th Benintendi walked and a Posey grounder put them on 2nd and 3rd with one out. One out later Simmons singled to left scoring them both and Juneau was back on top 6-5.

Juneau had a chance to increase the lead in the 5th. Brock Holt doubled with one out and with two out Matt Chapman singled to center Holt motored around 3rd but Roland Acuna Jr came up throwing to nail Holt at the plate to keep the deficit at one.

Juneau returned the favor right away. Hoskins walked with one out and JT. Realmuto smashed a double off the wall in left Mookie Betts played bounce off the monster perfectly and Hoskins trying to tie the game was a dead duck.

Boston had another chance in the 7th. Martinez singled to open the inning and with two outs Hoskins was grazed by a Joakim Soria curve. Acuna Jr. guessed a fastball was next and drilled it to left for a single but JD remembering Hoskins fate at the hands of Betts held at third allowing Soria to get out of the inning on a curve the Realmuto missed for strike three.

Betts did more damage in the 9th when with Salvador Perez and Simmons on with a pair of singles, he plated Perez with a single of his own giving Boston a two run edge. In the bottom of the inning Martinez singled to right off Trevor Bauer bringign the tying run to the plate with nobody out but Trevor Bauer (S1) fanned Yelich and despite the speedly David Fletcher running for Martinez the Muffen men were still able to convert the 4-6-3 double play on Alex Bregman’s sharp grounder to end the game.

Notes: Despite 23 hits between the two clubs neither team was able to put a ball out, partially due to the 16 mph wind blowing in. Juneau unexpectedly lost the DH in the 4th when they pulled 2nd baseman Scooter Gennett in the top of the inning shifting Holt to 2nd and putting their DH Andrelton Simmons at short. There was speculation that Gennett might have had soreness after his atbat but Mgr Carden indicated it had nothing to do with an injury. While 7 relievers worked a combined 12 innings giving up 10 hits and a walk between them they only gave up a single run. Juneau takes their winning streak to NY while Boston hosts the Rivertown Raiders next.

Sable/Gerbl Day 13: Texas tags Tanaka, Senators blank Dodgers, Rivertown makes it 6, Holt halts Boston

Texas 12 NYY 10 (11 innings)

Michael Brantley 10th inning single off of reliever Masahiro Tanaka made a loser out of Aroldis Chapman and a winner out the the Thunder as Texas edged NY in a wild game by the score of 12-10 in or the 2nd time.

For four innings it seemed we would have a pitchers duel between Yankees lefty C. C Sabathia who would give up a solo shot in the top of the 3rd to Francisco Lindor and Kyle Freeland who after a walk to Greg Bird to start the bottom of the inning and hitting Adeiny Hechavarria with two out gave up a single to Giancarlo Stanton which tied it up.

But the Wheels started coming off in the 5th for both pitchers. Sabathia started the inning hitting back to back batters (Jackie Bradley JR and Lindor) and then turned an infield single by Yuri Gurriel into disaster when he rushed a throw to 1st in the vain hope of getting him. Bradley & Lindor scored and Gurriel ended up on 2nd. After a Nolan Arenado single sent him to 3rd she scored on a fielder’s choice that erased Arenado and put Mike Trout on 1st. He would go to 2nd when CC hit Freddie Freeman (the 3rd man hit in the inning) and would score on Ryan Brawn’s single to left making it 5-1. That was enough for the Yanks who brought in Zach Britton who closed out the 5th before the rout was on.

Freeland gave one of the four back in the bottom of the inning on a two out single by Glyber Torres that send Mike Judge who had doubled and gone to third on Hechavarria’s single but Britton gave it back when Freddie Freeman (K) would be the only man he would retire out of the seven he would face in the sixth letting Bradley JR (HBP) Lindor (Single) Gurriel (Homer 3 BI) Arenado (single) and Trout (Double) before getting that 1st out. Once Javier Baez singled in both Arenado and Trout it was 10-2 and David Robertson came in with the expectation of saving the bullpen in a rout.

That expectation vanished as having been given a 8 run lead Freeland seemed determined to give it back. Like Briton he would face seven batters in the sixth and like Britton it would be a disaster. Miguel Andujar started it with a homer and Aaron Hicks followed with a single. After Bird k’d Romine singled and Judge walked loading the bases. Heckavarra fielders choice got Judge Freeland his 2nd out (Judge) and NY its 3rd run (Hicks) but Giancarlo Stanton’s single drove in Romine and chased Freeland. Jonny Venters came in with a five run lead needing only one more out to strand the runners and preserve a five run lead.

He couldn’t He hit Torres to load the bases for Luke Volt whose grand slam turned an inning that started as a 10-2 laugher into a 10-9 battle.

He nearly lost that battle hitting Andjar and walking Hicks before Bird who k’d for the 1st out of the inning made the last with a grounder to 2nd.

Now facing a squeaker instead of mop-up time David Robertson came through retiring Texas in the sixth and when Austin Romine doubled off of Keone Kela (B1) to start the seventh and Pinch Hitter Didi Gregorius doubled him in with one out to tie the game he had the chance to be the pitcher of record for a win, but it was not to be. Kela k’ed pinch hitter Walker and retired Torres to perserve the tie if not the lead.

It would stay that way as the teams which had scored 20 runs already could only manage one hit and three walks (one intentional) through the 8th, 9th and 10th. Then in the 11th Aroldis Chapman (L 0-1) Hit Freeman with one out. Baez singled and after a fielders choice erased him and put Ryan Braun on 1st Tucker Barnhart walked to load the bases. Masahiro Tanaka came in to relieve Chapman and Michael Brantley came in to relieve Bradley Jr and poked a single into center field scoring Freemana and Brawn giving Texas a two run lead which would Felipe Vazquez (W 1-0) would hold for the win.

Notes. Other than an intentionanl walk in the 10. Felipe Vasquez would retire all six men he faced the final five by strikeout. A total of six men would be hit by pitches in this game, three by each team and Freddy Freeman twice. Both teams would go 6-16 with runners in scoring position. Texas has played in 3 extra inning games going 2-1 It’s Lance Lynn (1-1) for NY vs Mike Clevinger (2-0) in the finale.

Senators 4 Dodgers 0

DJ LeMahieu and and Corey Dickerson’s solo shots were all that Washington needed as Jose Quintana and Bobby Poyner combined on a four hit shutout blanking LA 4-0 in game of of their two game series.

LeMahieu’s shot of Hyun-Jin-Ryu (L 2-1) put LA behind to start but Ryu and the defense would keep it close spoiling repeated Washington rallies in the 2nd 3rd and in the 7th with some help from Pat Vendette. that would be more than enough as Jose Quintana (2-0) confounded the Dodgers though most of the game

LA’s best chance to tie came in the 2nd. With two out Austin Barnes drove a ball to center. Delino DeShields in his 1st start since being called up playing deep rushed in and dove for the low line drive he missed the ball, Barnes ended upon 2nd and DeShields ended up having to be helped off the field. Cody Bellinger and Ruy walked loading the bases but David Freese grounder ended the threat.

After Dickerson’s solo shot in the 5th LA next best threat came in the sixth. Machado led off with a single, went to 2nd on Christian Vasquez’s passed ball. Matt Kemp walked putting runners on 1st & 2nd with nobody out, but Quintana retired Chris Taylor on a fly and k’d Yasmani Grandal and Barnes to finish it. He would pitch 8 innings only being pulled in the 9th for a pinch hitter Nick Markakis with Billy Hamilton on 2nd after a walk and stolen base. Barnes would muff Markakis grounder which gave Corey Dickerson the chance to single home Hamilton and Rendon the chance to single home Markakis to give Washington a four rather than a 2 run lead to protect in the ninth which was more than enough.

Notes: Delino Deshields was sent for an MRI after the game and even before the results were it was announced that he would be heading for the DL. The only question is if he will be back before the September callups. Martin Maldonado was reactivited from the DL and should be able to start in tomorrow game. With two centerfielders (DeShields & Marte ) on the DL expect to see Kevin Kiermaier called up from the minors to back up Hamilton. With Maldonado becoming the 4th catcher expect to see either Matt Wieters or Christian Vasquez of Blake Swihart sent down to make room for him. Tomorrow LA will throw Alex Wood (0-1) against Washington while the Senators will answer with Reynaldo Lopez (1-0)

Rivertown 4 Vikings 3

Rivertown came back from two deficits and held off a 9th inning Viking assault to come away with a 4-3 victory over King Ragnar’s men for their sixth straight.

the Vikings stuck 1st in the 1st against Jack Flaherty (W 2-0) Whit Merrifield singled to right and immediately stole 2nd and 3rd allowing him to score on Geraldo Parra’s fly to left making it 1-0.

In the bottom of the 3rd Rivertown came back. Jack Flaherty singled to center and was replaced at 1st by Lorenzo Cain on a fielder choice. Cain who had been caught stealing in the 1st was more successful the end time around stealing 2nd and scoring on Paul Goldschmidt’s single to tie things at 1.

They didn’t stay tied for long in the top of the 4th Juan Soto singled, stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on an Anthony Rizzo grounder. After a Ramos walk Eddie Rosario singled to right scoring Soto and sending Ramos to 2nd. Mallex Smith replaced Ramso at 2nd but the Vikings could have saved the swap because Flaherty stuck out Escoba and Segura’s hard shot went right to the shortstop to leave things at 2-1.

In the 6th the Raiders broke through on Garret Cole (L 2-1) David Peralta Tripled in Jose Ramirez who walked and took 2nd on an errant pickoff throw by Cole to tie the game. Nelson Cruz followed with a single of his own and Rivertown was up 3-2. A Yadier Molina single and a Paul DeJong walk loaded the bases for Pitcher Flaherty who would face reliver Vizcaino. With the bases loaded and one out Rivertown surprisingly choose to let Flaherty bat. With everyone running he laid down a bunt in front of the plate, rather than taking the sure out at 1st Diaz dove toward Cruz with the ball but he dodged the tag with a perfect hook slide and the based remained loaded with the score 4-2 and only one out. Rivertown was unable to capitalize further. Cain’s fly to left wasn’t deep enough to score Molina and Matt Carpenter stuck out swinging to end threat. There it stayed till then 9th when Closer Edwin Diaz (S5) gave up a one out gopher to Eduardo Escobar to make it a one run game but Segura lied out and pinch hitter Ramon Laureano stuck out swinging to end the Vikings’ last chance:

Notes: The Vikings stole three bases against Flaherty and Molina while Rivertown managed only one along with a caught stealing. Every stolen base resulted in a run. Flaherty had a single to go along with his rbi fielders choice getting him to the mendoza line. Paul Goldschmidt continues hit hot streak going 2-3 with a walk and a RBI hitting .381

Juneau 5 Boston 4

German Marquez lasted just long enough for Brock Holt’s pinch hit shot to give Juneau the edge as the Muffin Men won their 3rd straight with a 5-4 win over Boston.

Juneau got started early when Jhoulys Chacin hit Andrew Benintendi to start things off. Andrelton Simmons follwed with a single to send him to 3rd and one out later Shohei Ohtani beat out a potential double play ball allowing Benintendi to score the 1st run. Two innings later Juneau again scored on an out, when Simmons grounder drove in Salvador Perez who had doubled and moved to 2nd on Benintendi’s single but once again Chacin was able to get out of the jam without further damage.

In the bottom of the 3rd Boston struck back. J.T. Realmuto led off with a single and Nick Ahmed doubled to right to send him to 3rd. German Marquez (W 1-1) managed to stike out Jose Altuve but Ben Sobrist singled to right scoring both Realmuto and Ahmed and just like that it was 2-2.

In the 4th Boston stuck again. Rhys Hoskins shot a one out single and was replaced on the bases by Ronald Acuna Jr. on a fielders choice. This was key as with two out Realmuto doubled to left and the speedy Acuna Jr motered home from 1st to give Boston a 3-2 lead but the lead didn’t last as Andrew Benintendi connected with a Chacin curve with two out in the fifth and the game was once again knotted at 3.

In the bottom of the 6th Hoskins gave Boston and Eduardo Rodriguez who spelled Chacin the lead again with a towering shot to left over everything but with two outs Benintendi was hit for the 2nd time and Rodriguez was pulled for Collin McHugh (L 0-1) and Juneau countered with Brock Holt for Andrelton Simmons whose shot while not quite as deep as Hoskins came with a man on giving Juno that 5-4 edge. Mookie Betts followed with a double but Ohtani ground out to end the threat.

Joakim Soria came in and retired six straight before walking Alex Bregman to start the 9th. Josh Hader (S1) came in to relieve Soria and with the go ahead run at the plate struck out the side for his 1st save.

Notes: Andrew Benintendi was hit twice and scored both times. Despite going 2-3 with a Home Run Manager LaFlam pinch hit for Rhys Hoskins with Kris Bryant in the 9th. The 1-3 hitters for Juneau went 7-12 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI’s while the 4-9 hitters only manged one hit in 22 at bats. It will be Dallas Keuchel (1-0) for Boston against Jose Berrios (1-0) for Juneau.

Son of real-life Fredo may sue Cuomo (Parody)

The son of the man whose father was the basis for Mario Puzo’s Fredo Corleone in The Godfather is threatening to sue CNN anchor Chris Cuomo for defamation of character.
“My father was a good man, an honorable man,” said Salvatore Goomba, 69, of Jersey City, N.J. “That means he was nothing like Cuomo, who has appropriated his name.”

Alfredo “Fredo No Brains” Goomba grew up with Puzo in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, and the two were classmates until high school.  Salvatore said his father ran with a street gang until 1942, when he was recruited as a soldier by the Luciano crime family “because all the good soldiers were in the Army.”

“He had a pretty rough time breaking into organized crime,” the son admitted. “He misunderstood it when his capo told him to take out a rival. Dad ended up spending the day at Coney Island with the guy.”  On another occasion, when the elder Goomba was told to fit Mangano family gunman Vincenzo Dupatti with “a pair of cement overshoes,” he visited nearly every shoe store in the city before finding out he wasn’t supposed to be looking for footwear, Salvatore said.

Salvatore Goomba said his father remained close to Puzo throughout the 1950s and ’60s and provided the author with much of the background on the Mafia for The Godfather. The pair, however, had a falling out after the best-selling novel was published because Alfredo felt betrayed his character was portrayed as a weak, cowardly dolt.  The rift was partially repaired when the movie debuted. “Dad said he was honored that an actor as handsome and charming as John Cazale played him on screen,” he said.
“Maybe my father wasn’t the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but he made Andrew Cuomo look like a birthday candle next to a spotlight,” the son said. “He was a loving and truthful man, except maybe when he was talking to cops, judges, probation officers and grand juries. And sometimes, maybe, my mom.  “It’s infuriating and embarrassing that someone as low, obnoxious and repulsive as Andrew Cuomo is trying to raise himself through my father’s good name. I guess I can’t blame him for trying to escape from the reputation he’s made for himself, but he could’ve picked another name. I’m pretty sure Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy wouldn’t have minded.”
The elder Goomba was found dead in Mama Patrizia’s Pizza Palazzo in Brooklyn. death was attributed to extreme lead poisoning.

NOTE (DTG) Yes this is a parody piece from Michigan Mick just in case Snoopes can’t figure it out and we’re delighted to have him back even if only occasionally.

Sable/Gerbl Day 12 : Red Sox win the battle of the Bullpens, Juneau sweeps Texas. Goldschmidt unhorses Sir Anthony , LA Hangs on for split.

Red Sox 7 Yankees 6

Boston managed 12 hits and Brandon Morrow held a lead when no other reliever could giving Boston a their 4th straight win and NY their fifth straight loss by a score of 7-6.

NY starter JA Happ proved hapless in the 2nd as JD Martinez singled to right and went to 3rd on Aaron Judge’s error. Alex Bregman followed with a single to center sending Martinez to 3rd. He came home on Kris Bryant’s single to left. After Ronald Acuna Jr. walked to load them up JT. Realmuto drove in both Bregman and Bryant on a single to left and Sending Acuna to 3rd where he would score on a Nick Ahmed double play making it 4-0.

After pitching around another error in the 3rd Happ was tagged again. Acuna singled and Realmuto walked. Another fortunate double play left Acuna on 3rd with two outs but Jose Altuve double to left making it 5-0.

Meanwhile Jameson Taillon pitched 5 strong innings before getting into trouble in the 6th. Aaron Hicks singled and Gleyber Torres followed suit but Hicks went for 3rd and Acuna gunned him down leaving Torres on 2nd with one out. That would be critical as Aaron Judge would take the next pitch over the left field wall making it 5-2 instead of 5-3. Taillon would load the bases with a pair of walks surrounding a hit batsman and a K before getting Austin Romine to fly out keeping the defect at 3.

In the 7th Greg Bird would chase Taillon with a leadoff blast to right making it 5-3. Corey Knebel (W 1-0) could come in and walk Hicks and Torres before surrendering a one out Blast deep into the seats beyond the bullpens in right making it 6-5. The Yanks had a chance to do more damage as Giancarlo Stanton followed with a walk and Brett Gardner did the same with two outs but Romine struck out swinging keeping the lead at 1.

They would again miss that run as Jonathan Holder (L 0-1) wasn’t up to the task of holding a lead either. he gave up a lead off double to Altuve and then with one out a Double to Christian Yelich to tie the game. while he managed to get the dangerous JD Martinez Bregman would follow with a two out single driving in Yelich and Boston was back up 7-6.

That when Brandon Morrow (S1) came in and did what no other reliever to that point had done, hold a lead he would retire the side in order in the 8th and while he allowed a one out walk to Gregorius fanned Stanton and coaxed a game ending grounder from Neil Walker to earn the Save for himself and the win for the Sox.

Notes: 3 of the Yankees seven hits and all of their runs came on home runs. None of the Redsox 12 hits left the yard but six of them came with runners in scoring position out of an incredible 17 chances. Only Ben Zobrist went without a hit or a walk for Boston (0-5). Despite Boston and NY combining for 3 errors in the game all of the runs were Earned. NY finally heads home to open against the Texas Thunder while Boston’s long homestand continues as they welcome the Juneau Muffin men.

Juneau 10 Texas 1

Bryce Harper had his 3rd homer in 2 two games and David Price gave up only run run in 6 2/3 as Juneau won it’s 2nd straight over Texas 10-1.

Juneau started right were they left off the previous day against Zach Greinke (L 1-1) with two outs Mookie Betts doubled and Shohei Ohtani drove him home with a single, not that it would matter as Bryce Harper would take a Greinke curve 418 feet to right for a 3-0 lead.

Yuli Gurriel would answer with a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the inning but it would be the only answer they would have all day as David Price (W 1-0) kept the Texas off balance most innings while taking advantage of fine defense like plays like Harrison Bader’s rocket throw that nailed Mike Trout at 3rd in the 4th when he tried to tag up on a fly to the warning track.

Meanwhile Juneau in general and Harper in particular continued to feast off Texas pitching in the 6th with Simmons on 3rd (HBP) and Ohtani on 1st (Single) Harper drove in his 3rd run of the game. Matt Chapman followed with a triple driving in Ohtani and Harper and scored off of Kolton Wong’s two run shot off of Jonny Venters making it 8-1 Ohtani’s one out double scoring Benintendi (single) and Betts (HBP) in the 9th gave Juneau it’s 2nd straight 10 run game and made Ryan Braiser’s 2 1/3 perfect innings a mere formality.

Notes: Ohtani and Harper both scored two runs while driving in 3. Ohtani on a 3-5 day Harper on 2-4 Despite sweeping Texas Juneau gave up 4 home runs in 2 games and have given up a home run in each of their last 5. Texas was 0-5 with runners in scoring position while Juneau was 5-10. Texas travels to NY for a rematch of their opening series while Juneau heads for Boston.
Meanwhile the

Rivertown 3 Washington 2 10 innings

Washington’s Bullpen wasted an excellent start by Carlos Martinez to blow a 9th inning lead and a single swing by Paul Goldschmidt finished the job as Rivertown swept Washington with a 3-2 win.

It was a game of pitching and close calls as Patrick Corbin for Rivertown and Carlos Martinez dueled. Corbin relying on the K striking out 10 Senators and Martinez aided by great defense

In the 1st DJ Le Mahieu turned a Jose Ramirez Liner that would have put him on 1st and Lorenzo Cain (HBP) on 3rd into an inning ending double play.

In the 4th with men on 1st (David Peralta walk) and 2nd (Jose Ramirez single and stolen base) with nobody out Ramirez struck out Goldschmidt and Before another LeMahieu turned a 2nd double play perserving a 1-0 lead.

That lead came in the top of the inning when Josh Reddick after a two out single beat a wild throw to the plate From Peralta on Anthony Rendon’s double off of Corbin. But over 6 2/3 innings that would be all he would yield.

Meanwhile the defense kept making the big play for Washington. In the sixth with one out Peralta singled and Goldschmidt doubled. Peralta held out of respect for the arms in the DC outfield. With one out and nobody on 1st the infield came in on Matt Carpenter who hit a shot toward first but despite being drawn in Jesus Agular dove to glove the ball in the air and managed to get the ball to LeMahieu before Goldschmidt could get back.

In the 7th the defense would do it again. After a Nelson Cruz single and one out Jeurys Familia came in relieving Martinez. He struck out Paul DeJong but Diego Castillo drove a changeup to left. Cruz didn’t hesitate for moment but neither did Corey Dickerson who fielded it and threw in a single motion nailing him at the plate.

In the ninth the Senators would add some offense Diego Castilo in his 3rd inning of work put a fat pitch over for Josh Reddick that the crosswind just blew into play for the 1st out. Rendon followed with a double and moved to 3rd on Billy Hamilton’s grounder and scored on Agular’s single. The lead was 2-0 Reliever Brad Hand had shut down a Rivertown rally in the 8th with a pair of K’s and Seranthony Dominguez (BS 1 L 0-1) was warned and ready to come if needed. It looked like it was all over.

It wasn’t. Nelson Cruz singled off Hand and was pulled for pinch runnier Ender Incirte. After Yadier Molina was retired on a foul ball Trey Turner walked and when Jose Martinez was announced as a pinch hitter Mgr Ingemi went to the mound. Dominguez was ready but Ingemi decided to stick with Hand. Martinez singled loading the bases and Dominguez came in to face Lorenzo Cain. Cain worked the count to 3-2 and Dominguez threw a ball that most batters in the league would chase, Cruz didn’t and it was 2-1.

With a stikeout pitcher on the mound and fearing a game ending two run single the infield remained back but Washington which had turned so many key double plays that night could only manage one on Ramierz grounder. Turner scored and the game was tied.

Jose Alvarado (W 1-0) came in unwarmed from the pen with a new defense behind him but it didn’t matter, Dominguez, LeMahieu and Dickerson all went down on strikes in the 10th clearing the way for Paul Goldschmidt to win the game with a single swing.

Notes: Rivertown only managed to go 1-11 with runners in scoring position but the senators only had four chances (1-4) None of Washington’s pitchers were pinch hit for in this game while Rivertown sent 3 pinch hitters to the plate (1-3).  Washington travels to LA for a pair while Rivertown will host King Ragnar’s Vikings

Dodgers 6 Vikings 4

Kike Hernandez and Chris Taylor went back to back and the four LA pitchers were able to hold onto the lead they gave them to earn a split of their series with King Ragnar’s Vikings 6-4.

The Long ball came early for the Dodgers as Manny Machado took Ryan Stanek (L 0-1) yard with two outs in the top of the 1st. Jean Segura came right back with a one out blast against Rich Hill (W 1-0) to tie the game before Hernandez and Taylor’s back to back blasts to start the 2nd making it 3-1 The Vikings got on back in the bottom of the 2nd on a Juan Soto single followed by a Eduardo Escobar double with nobody out. When Hill retired Rosario and Culberson the Vikings took a chance and pulled Stanek for pinch hitter Mallex smith Hill coaxed a grounder to keep the game 3-2.

Hill helped his own cause in the 4th off Craig Stammen in the 4th by drilling a two out double to the gap in left center driving in Taylor who walked with one out making it 4-2 and after after a pair of singles by Soto and Escobar put two in in the bottom of the inning again struck out a pinch hitter batting for the pitcher stopping the rally which was key because in the fifth Whit Merrifield’s took him over the left field wall to make it 4-3.

That wasn’t much breathing space for Hill but with one out Justin Turmer pinch hit for him driving a single to left. Cody Bellinger followed with a double and Matt Kemp Crushed a fly ball to center that stayed in the part but was deep enough to score Turner to get the lead back to 5-3.

It looked like LA would break the game open in the 8th off Arodys Vizcaino when after a Yasiel Puig double and a Yasmani Grandal single, Hernandez drove a sinking liner to left but Merrifield made a diving stab that while allowing Puig to tag up for a 6-3 lead kept Grandal on 1st and Hernandez off back allowing Vizcaino to get out without further damage.

That would matter when Jean Segura doubled to start the bottom of the inning and was driven in by a one out double by Wilson Ramos getting the lead back to two and putting the tying run at the plate without on and a man on 2nd off Josh Fields. Pat Venditte came in and walked Soto before Escobar hit into a fielders choice for the 2nd out putting men on 1st and 3rd. Kenley Jansen (s4) came in and retired Matt Kemp to preserve the lead. While he would give up a Whit Merrifield two out double in the 9th he followed it by striking out Segura to perserve the win and the save for LA.

Notes: the Dodger victory evened their record at 6-6. Viking pinch hitters went 0-5 in the game. Machado’s RBI puts him one behind Paul Goldschmdit of Rivertown with 15 while Jansen save ties him with Rivertown’s Edwin Diaz in that category. The Dodgers head home to play the Senators while King Ragnar Vikings head to Pittsburgh to raid Rivertown.

Sable/Gerbl Day 11: Boston bounces bombers, Rivertown tops Washington, Juneau Pounds Texas, Vikings Scherzer k’s 18 Dodgers

Boston 7 NYY 5

Alex Bregman hit two homers and Blake Snell and Collin McHugh held on long enough for Kimbrel to shut the door in the 9th as Boston bested the Yankees 7-5.

It didn’t look promising for Boston and Blake Snell (W 1-1) early. In the 2nd Gleyber Torres singled to start the inning and Gary Sanchez drove a double off the wall in left center to drive him in making it 1-0. Two outs later Greg Bird singled to center scoring Sanchez and the score was 2-0

Boston came right back against Luis Severino (L 1-1) Alex Bregman started with a leadoff shot over the Monster seats and after walks to Rhys Hoskins and J. T. Realmuto Nick Ahmed hit a one out double to center scoring both giving Boston the lead. The Sox managed a two out single to right by Ben Zobrist but Ahmed was held at 3rd and Severino was able to end the inning down only 3-2.

That was a lead Snell couldn’t hold with to outs he walked Giancarlo Stanton and Torres put his own drive over the Green Monster and the Yanks had the lead back 4-3 and when Snell walked Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks and Greg Bird to load the bases with nobody out in the 4th it looked like the Bombers would break the game wide open. But Snell bore down striking out Austin Romine, Aaron Judge and Adeiny Hechavarria in succession to end the inning and keep the deficit at 1.

That would prove to be the critical moment of the game. In the bottom of the inning Realmuto singled to the mound and Ronald Acuna JR. followed with another putting runners at the corners. with one out Jose Altuve singled in Realmuto and sent Acuna to 3rd tying the game and when the yanks failed to turn the double play on Zobrist’s grounder to 1st Acuna scored and the Bo Sox were up 5-4. When Chad Green in relief of Severino in the 5th walked J. D. Martinez and gave up Bregman’s 2nd ball into the monster seats and it was 7-4.

That would be a sufficient cushion for Snell who inspired by his hold in the 4th would retire the Yankees easily in the 5th & 6th coming out for Colin McHugh after a leadoff single in the 7th and while that runner would be erased by a Stanton double play Torres would reach on a Rhys Hoskins error move to 3rd on a Gregorius single and score on a Andjuar single to right putting the tying runs on base with Aaron Hicks at the plate in a 7-5 game.  McHugh would however not only retire Hicks but the next three men he faced until Craig Kinbrel (S2) came in and after hitting Luke volt to start and walking Gregorius with two out struck out Andujar to preserve the win.

Notes: Boston Pitchers only allowed the Yankees 5 hits but walked seven and hit one over the course of the game. This was Boston’s 3rd straight win and the Yanks 4th straight loss. Luke Volt was pulled for a pinch runner after being hit by a fastball in the 9th but should be available tomorrow. Hoskins error was his 2nd in three games and led to an unearned run. Jameson Tallon (1-0) will start for Boston tomorrow against JA Happ (0-1) tomorrow.

Rivertown 8 Washinton 3

Nelson Cruz hit a massive bomb off the light tower and Rivertown’s bullpen held while the Senators didn’t as Rivertown took the 1st game of a two game series 8-3.

The Senators struck 1st with some small ball in the 2nd off of Aaron Nola (W 2-0) Trevor Story singled and stole 2nd to lead off the inning, after Nola retired the next two DJ LeMahieu stroked a single to right for a 1-0 lead.

In the 3rd Rivertown struck back Lorenzo Cain singled with one out and moved to 2nd on a grounder. Paul Goldschmidt took the next ball to the wall in right off Marco Gonzalez (L 1-2) scoring Cain and tying the game setting up Cruz’s massive homer that traveled 460 feet and Rivertown was up 3-1.

Washington came right back with more small ball and the same case. Story singled & stole 2nd again this time with one out and Billy Hamilton drove him home quickly with a single to right making it 3-2. However Nola managed to hold Hamilton long enough to erase him on a force play then struck out LeMahieu to keep it 3-2.

In the 5th the Raiders added some distance with a solo shot by Goldschmidt making it 4-2 and Rivertown tried to answer. Jesus Aguilar led off with a double and the speedy Dee Gordon ran for him. Nola k’d Story and Hamilton but a throwing error put Gordon on 3rd and pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez on 1st for LeMahieu who once again punched a single through to left scoring Gordon and it was a one run game again.

It stayed that way till the 7th when the Raiders Trea Turner lead off with a double. Jeurys Familia came in and struck out pinch hitter Matt Carpenter but Cain singled to center scoring Turner Cain going to 3rd on a throwing error by Hamilton and it was 5-3.

In the 8th Cruz led off with another single but due to a mix up Ender Inciarie was anounced as a pinch hitter rather than a pinch runner and after after a short conference was make to go to the plate for Marcell Ozuma rather than running for Cruz. He promptly doubled to center scoring Cruz all the way from 1st and scored along with Joey Wendle who was hit by a pitch with two when Turner doubled and it was 8-3.

That led to a little bit of defensive gymnastics bit ti didn’t matter Edwin Diaz who got the 3rd out of the 8th retired 3 of 4 in the ninth and when the dust had settled Rivertown had sole possession of 1st place.

Notes: The Mixup in the 8th which ended happily for Rivertown was the subject of a lot of post game questions but due to the result nobody in the dugout seemed to mind taking the blame. Familia’s 3 earned run in 1 2/3 innings was the 1st poor outing we’ve seen from him this season. In addition to his error Hamilton got an assist in the 1st when Jose Ramirez took too wide a turn as Cruz hit third and Hamilton nailed him 8-3-4. 4 different relievers pitched two innings for Rivertown giving up no runs.  Carlos Martinez (1-0) will take the mound for the Senators tomorrow against Rivertown’s Patrick Corbin (2-0)

Juneau 10 Texas 4

Juneau stroked 16 hits and 3 home runs while Mike Foltynewicz pitched pitched just well enough to get by as Juneau broke it’s losing streak with a 10-4 thumping of Texas.

It looked at first like the long ball was going to sink the Muffen men again as Foltynewicz (W 2-1) started the game with a fat pitch that Michael Brantley took over the fence in right to make it 1-0 but the Muffen men came right back again Corey Kluber (L 0-2) with a Matt Chapman lead off with a double, went to 2nd on a Kolton Wong Grounder and socred on a 2nd grounder form Harrison Bader to tie things up.

In the 3rd they struck again. Andrelton Simmons and Mookie Betts singled with one out and after a K Bryce Harper took Kluber over 465 feet to dead center and the Muffen men were up 4-1. The Muffen Men had men in scoring position every inning off Kluber until the 5th when he was finally chased by a Betts homer followed after one out by Harper’s 2nd shot of the day making it 6-1. Carlos Carrasco replaced him and it the 6th got more of the same as Juneau socred four runs on a Benintendi walk and stolen base, a Simmons double driving him in, And Othani sngle that drove in Simmons a Harper single that sent Ohtani home and a Matt Chapman double. And while the 10-1 lead was shrunk by two massive shots a two run job in the 6th inning by Javier Baez and another by Nolan Arenado in the 7th the outcome was never in doubt.

Notes: Yoshihisa Hirano pitched 3 1/3 inning for his 1st save. Juneau continues to be plagued by the long ball as Texas hit three homers, the final two going 489 and 475 feet respectively Betts continued his torrid hitting going 4-5 raising his avg to .395 but was thrown out at 3rd by Jackie Bradley Jr. David Price goes for his 1st decision in game two against Zach Greinke (1-0)

King Ragnar’s Vikings 1 LA Dodgers 0

Eddie Rosario’s 6th inning RBI single was all the Vikings would need as Max Scherzer spun a 3 hit 18 strikeout masterpiece leading the Vikings to a 1-0 win vs the Dodgers

Scherzer (W 2-1) was dominant from 1st to last. When Jean Segura Muffed Cody Bellinger’s grounder to start the game Scherzer responded by striking out the side. He would do so again in the 5th and 6th and most importantly in the 9th when the Dodgers Joc Peterson doubled with two outs to get the tying run in scoring position.

Scherzer would need that performance because his counterpart Walker Buehler (L 0-1) while not as dominant was just as effective pitching out of a two on one out jam in the 2nd and bearing down in the fifth after committing an error on a Rene Rivera grounder following a Segura single put runners on 1st & 2nd with nobody out.

It would not be till the sixth that Rosario would stroke the two out single scoring Juan Soto who had doubled that the Vikings would break through and even then when Kike Hernandez misplayed Charlie Culbertson’s grounder to put two men on he retired Segura to stop the threat.

But good as his performance was it couldn’t compare to Scherzer who when the Dodgers tried to answer in the 7th with a Yasiel Puig single and a Peterson walk to put two men on with none out retired Yasmani Grandal on a fly out, struck out pinch hitter Justin Turner swinging and coaxed a grounder from David Freese to end the Dodgers best threat as easily as he struck out Grandal to end their final one.

Note: Both pitchers pitched around potentially critical errors without incident. Rosario’s single was the only hit by either team with men in scoring position (Vikings 1-7 LA 0-4) Bueller while giving up 7 hits and striking out only 6 did not walk a batter while Scherzer gave up three 3 passes. Dodger reliever Josh Fields struck out all three men he faced in the 8th.

Todd Tuckey, Electronic skills and the Future of the Pinball Hobby

Todd Tuckey Pintastic NE 2018

Yesterday we highlighted Jersey Jack as one of the People who are driving the Pinball Hobby by his creation of brand new games designed more toward public purchase rather than arcades.

Today I’d like to Focus on Todd Tuckey whose forte is the repair and restoration of the older games that were designed for a different era when the primary goal was for an arcade/bowling alley etc to fill the coin box. Todd Talked about this during his seminar yesterday.

His seminar was all about restoring an old Six Million Dollar Man Game and the procedure to fix it. There is a whole section of the Pinball hobby for restoring pinball machines (the term used is “shopping a machine” which involves a knowledge of electronics, soldering etc. He took a few questions on that as well.

This highlights one of the real difference between those who have been in the hobby for some time and those newly entering via barcades and events like this. The old guard tends to have a fair popular who knows about circuit boards, capacitors, heat syncs etc but many of the new folks are just interested in a game that runs. I asked Todd about that in the Q & A.

Now in the old days there were a fair amount of young men who would learn about electronics in “shop” classes and decide to go in that direction, but with society convincing people that unless they put themselves in debt a few hundred thousand dollars for a degree (even if such a degree is LBGT dance studies) they are somehow inferior, you are seeing less people of either sex learning these kind of skills.

On the plus side because games at home are not continually on have perhaps 8-10 hours a day of play 300+ days a year (and are likely subject to less abuse as you are less likely to mistreat a machine you own) both a new Jersey Jack machine that you are paying 6-10K for an old game after a Tuckey restoration that might cost $2500 your game is likely to last you decades.

I did a very long interview with Todd in three parts as my cameras alternatively kept running out of battery or shut themselves off for no apparently reason it is in three parts

Part 2

and Part 3

Todd’s business TNT Amusements is here
Todd’s own Youtube channel has made him a legend in the industry, you can see is here and includes this classic moment from last year of me getting in trouble with DA wife until she realizes she’s being recorded

His videos are a plethora of knowledge about electronics and repairing machines, in other words actual practical skills worth knowing.

I submit and suggest that with the growth of the hobby it might be worthwhile to ditch the prehistoric microaggression studies degree that you’re working on and instead pick up this electronics knowledge which pays real money. Even better if haven’t built up more debt than the cost of the entire Jersey Jack Pinball line because your still in High school see if you can begin to pick up the knowledge there that can provide a career and a hobby for a lifetime.

Welcome Todd Tuckey fans: We have a lot of Pinball coverage here including coverage of every Pintastic since the first one, Pinball locations in NJ and Maryland and of course a ton of interviews of all types. Take a peek around I hope you enjoy it.

100 word fan fiction. “The repeated Meme”

“If Dube had been tempted by a young fraulien, that’s nature, I would have let him live, but to lose the bank plates to a alte Frau“, he laughed”, Herr Maverick that’s incompetence.”

Even with a lifetime’s practice it took effort for the old gambler to chuckle with the General who not only had revealed to him what had been sitting in his casino’s vault for days, but confirmed that while eight decades had taken most of her legendary beauty, Samantha Crawford still retained her wits, nerve, and an uncanny ability to put the men of his family at risk.

100 Word Fan Fiction “Probabilities”

The old man eyed the gray parade streaming before him and turned to the youth fighting back tears.

“Herni, let me tell you something”, he said touching the brim of his worn Stetson, “Before winning this house I played hands from Santa Fe to Shanghai & the decades taught me my Uncle Beau was right: ‘No matter how hot cards run, eventually they cool’ The day will come when Germany’s hand cools.”

Resigned, Henri mumbled “Oui monsieur Maverick” then, nearly dropping his tray gasped, as he recognized the smile & twinkle in the ancient gambler’s eyes:

“Perhaps we might help it along.”