THIS BEST STUFF I SAW THIS WEEK: McCutchen and Walker are teammates again
Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen are back together.
McCutchen was traded to the New York Yankees late Thursday evening. The sagging San Francisco Giants were looking to make a move, while the Yankees were looking to add a bat for the team's run down the stretch and likely into the postseason.
It's August 31st and Andrew McCutchen is a New York Yankee. pic.twitter.com/yuIWnZrkeo
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2018
TOGETHER AGAIN: The newest New York Yankee, Andrew McCutchen, is together again with former Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Neil Walker, this time in the Bronx as they make a run at the American League pennant.
Walker and McCutchen, long-time teammates in Pittsburgh who helped end the Pirates epic losing run as a franchise with a wild-card berth in the 2013 postseason and a 94-68 record, last played together in 2015.
That year capped off a three-season run by the Pirates that saw the team make the playoffs during each campaign. The Pirates finished in second place each of those three seasons in the National League Central Division, behind the St. Louis Cardinals each time. In the seemingly surreal 2013 season when Pittsburgh snapped a streak of 20-straight losing seasons as a franchise, the Pirates edged Cincinnati in the then-inaugural “Wild Card Game” at PNC Park, which MLB had introduced just that year. They advanced to face St. Louis in the NL Divisional Series, falling 3-2.
Again in the Wild Card Game the subsequent two seasons, the Pirates fell to the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, respectively.
It was after that loss to the Cubs, the Pirates began dismantling the nucleus that had ushered in the sea change needed to move past the ineptness the franchise had seen for the two decades since 1992's loss in the postseason to the Atlanta Braves. Walker, with one year remaining on his contract with his hometown Pirates, was traded to the New York Mets for Jon Niese, a middling pitcher who, in August 2016, would be traded back to the Mets. Walker was again traded in 2017 as the Mets had fallen on hard times. This time, he was sent to Milwaukee. Walker signed with the Yankees for 2018.
This past offseason, after missing the playoffs in 2016 and 2017 and with his contract expiring in 2018, the Pirates dealt McCutchen to the Giants.
Walker's happy to have “Cutch” in his Yankee clubhouse.
"I talked to him (Friday) morning, and he's super excited," Walker said, according to the Yankees' website. "He's a guy who holds himself to a very high standard. He's always accountable and he thrives in big situations and the spotlight. He proved that in Pittsburgh. I think it's going to carry over into this stretch for us (here in New York)."
Manager Aaron Boone's happy with the acquisition, as well.
"This is as high character a person as we have in our game and I know he'll fit well in our room," he said.
McCutchen is expected to be in uniform today when the Yankees host the Detroit Tigers.
For me, it's been tough to be a bystander in what the Pirates have done as a franchise from the Walker trade forward. Things were set up well before then for the Pirates -- the franchise just needed to spend more money to keep thing intact. They chose otherwise. I've chosen not to watch.
Having Walker and McCutchen back on the same team, regardless of where it is, brings some solace to that in a roundabout way and I hope they, together, win a World Series.
Johnny Manziel on joining the Browns: 'Can I go back to college?'
Since beginning his self-rebuild in the Canadian Football League, Johnny Manziel's seemed honest and contemplative – a stark contrast to the person he became in his whirlwind of a life since winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012 while the quarterback at Texas A&M and, later, in his short-lived first professional career with the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
In an interview on a web show hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, Manziel opened up a bit more.
"After that first year (at Texas A&M) and fame started to come, I couldn't help but eat it up," Manziel told Hart.
One of the funniest things I’ve ever been a part of coming out tomorrow. Appreciate the invite and the great talk @KevinHart4real @ratty @LOLNetwork @OBB #ColdAsBalls pic.twitter.com/2QlhIpJ9Gb
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) August 27, 2018
LESSONS LEARNED: Johnny Manziel and comedian Kevin Hart got together for a bit to talk about Manziel's past and what he's learned moving forward.
"I don't expect people to look at my story and feel bad for me, Manziel added. “A lot of what I did was self-inflicted. I'm at a point now where I can look back, I can reflect and realize that I was one way. That was wrong. What can I do moving forward because I can't change how I was."
Chris Bosh is still considering an NBA comeback, but maybe not for much longer
Forced out of the NBA due to blood-clotting issues, former Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat star Chris Bosh is giving things one last shot in an effort to get back.
Bosh last played in 2016. Now 34, he sees this as his last opportunity and is working hard to find a team where he can fit in and play a role.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Bosh told Yahoo Sports. “I know I can still play some ball and be a 3-and-D guy for somebody out there.”
College football gambling manifesto
Still looking for some tips on teams to take a flier on in 2018 in NCAA Football? Chalk's David Purdum has a great guide.
Ed Oliver, Will Grier strike a pose with creative Heisman Trophy campaigns
ESPN takes a look inside what West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and others are doing to raise their Heisman profiles in our digital age.
Riz Ahmed acts his way out of every cultural pigeonhole
Up-and-coming actor Riz Ahmed, of British-Pakastani descent, steals the show in just about everything he's in.
The New York Times profiled the 35-year-old actor for a piece leading up to the release of his next film, “Venom.”
THIS WEEK'S COVER: Riz Ahmed does not want to do away with categories; he wants them to be big enough to include reality. He wants them to encompass No Man’s Land. https://t.co/2CjEn7idxD pic.twitter.com/3QMCzzHyT2
— NYT Magazine (@NYTmag) August 29, 2018
ON THE RISE: Actor Riz Ahmed, who shined in 2016's "The Night Of" on HBO, stars in the upcoming film Venom.
If you have not yet watched HBO's 2016 miniseries, “The Night Of,” I cannot recommend it enough. Ahmed is outstanding alongside John Turturro and Michael K. Williams.
As domino’s expands its pothole paving to all 50 states, here’s how to bring it to your town
Yes, it really is an actual thing. AdWeek takes a look inside Domino's odd but innovative “Paving for Pizza” campaign.
.@Dominos is expanding its pothole paving to all 50 states. Here’s how to bring it to your town: https://t.co/z8hQUSvwWp pic.twitter.com/MDXrcDvkUj
— Adweek (@Adweek) August 31, 2018
PAVING FOR PIZZA: AdWeek takes a look inside the creative Domino's advertising campaign.
Wikipedia's “Tale Spin” article
Remember the 90s cartoon on the “Disney Afternoon?” Wikipedia's in-depth article has so much documented that I had no idea were part of the show.
Someone who works at our local opshop/thrift shop just put Goldblums in every single photo frame in the store
This recent Tumblr post from Kiara in Australia is as creepy as it is cool.