I got this e-mail in the last hours of my last day at MLB.com. I have no idea who this person is, or what it's in reference to, but in an abstract, out-of-context way, I found it to be hilarious and perfectly appropriate.

tannertan36
I'd rather be in outer space šø
Mike Driver

Discoholic šŖ©

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romaā
i don't do bad sauce passes
Cosimo Galluzzi
Peter Solarz

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Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

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Not today Justin
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AnasAbdin
One Nice Bug Per Day

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@theunpublished
I got this e-mail in the last hours of my last day at MLB.com. I have no idea who this person is, or what it's in reference to, but in an abstract, out-of-context way, I found it to be hilarious and perfectly appropriate.
Iāve got a future
Twenty-sixteen is going to be a big year. Exactly nine months before I tie the knot, Iāll be starting a new job at Wilson Sporting Goods as a marketing specialist for the baseball/softball division, which includes the Wilson, Demarini, Louisville Slugger and ATEC brands.
Itās going to be anĀ adjustment from what has been an exciting and fulfilling sportswriting career: a couple Final Fours, progs,Ā Over the Line, Wes Leonard,Ā andĀ the return of the MLB playoffs to Wrigley Field, Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh. The list goes on. But itās time for a change and Iām thrilled about it.
For my tenure at MLB.com: thank you to Justice Hill, who practically broke into the State News and introduced me to the world of MLB.com; to Bill Hill, who first hired me as an associate reporter; to Kristen Zimmerman, who gave me my first crack at good beat work covering the Nationals in 2013; and to Richard Bush, who has looked out for me since I was hired full-time in 2011, and who allowed me the opportunity to move to Chicago seamlessly (and to Paul Casella, who helped make that possible).Ā
The list of fine people, editors and mentors whoāve helped me overĀ a journalism career that began in 8th grade is far too long to list. It must include Patti Woodruff, Sara Edleman, Patrick Cwayna, Peter Stuursma, Nick Mrozowski, Esther Gim, Josh Jarman, Melissa Sanchez, Paul Souhrada, Doug Williams, andĀ Mary Ullmer. And it must start and end with my dad. IāmĀ not sure Iām ready for a full journalism career post-mortem just yet.
But as my time with MLB.com ends, perhaps the biggest thank you of all goes to 6-foot-9-inch Thomas Harding, who was the best mentor any young reporter could ask for. Thomas was always gracious enough to pause on deadline -- writing like a pig -- to remind me: Joey, youāve got a future.Ā Lucky for those of you who havenāt met Thomas, youāve gotten to know him as Iāve picked up on so many of his -isms. I think Iām gonna make it ⦠Heās a sweet child ⦠I feel good, I feel clean, I feel like Iāve got what it takes to win a championship ā¦Ā Thomas, I love you and I donāt care who knows it.
The same goes to all of you. Thanks for reading,Ā and for following. On to the next one. I think Iām gonna make it.
How Not Your Father's Root Beer came to dominate the hard root beer market, and why people are clamoring for the boozy, nostalgic soda pop.
Duh.
āTwas the LastĀ Play at the Big House
I wish I could take credit for this. Thanks to my friend John Kirby for sharing it and to The Only Colors for posting it. As John said, āIt is easily my favorite gift of the holiday season so far.āĀ Merry Christmas.Ā
'Twas the last play of the game And in the Big House Maize and blue fans were ready "Little Brother!" they'd shout
Their team up by 2 Just 10 seconds remain And thoughts of Paul Bunyan Danced in their brains
Spartan Nation was glum It seemed much too late It stood 4th and 2 On the State 48
Coach D on the sideline Gathered players to hear They call them the Rangers And their mission was clear
Every man knew his job And each Ranger all Come hell or high water Must get to that ball
The teams took the field Not a Spartan was back They took to the line And were primed to attack
Maize and blue fans may wonder As they toss in their sleep Why they had 2 gunners When no one was deep
The snap came in low So the punter reached down The ball hit his hands And then hit the ground
More rapid than eagles Those Rangers they came And Coach D he shouted And called them by name
"Now, Macksood! Now, Harrell!" "Now Leimbach and Grayson!" "On, Dowell! On, Willis!" "On Monty and Jalen!"
Then what to our wondering Eyes did we see But a forceful collision And heard "The ball is free!"
That ball it took flight In the chaotic action And went straight to the hands Of Jalen Watts-Jackson
Then off to the end zone Those Rangers they sped To flip it all upside down In this game they'd not led
With blockers aplenty And green grass in sight A hero named Jackson Was surrounded by white
And old Sean McDonough Announcing that run-back Couldn't help that his vocal cords Started to crack
As the ball crossed the goal line Disbelief filled the air With hands to their heads The stunned crowd could just stare
The Rangers had done it They'd finished the trip The only casualty in white Was poor Jackson's hip
The clock read all zeroes The Spartans had won Their dream of a title Was not yet quite done
And into the air Of that Ann Arbor night Rose loud Spartan cheers Of "Go Green! Go White!"
Merry Christmas!
Every December for the past 15 years, an acting coach has honored two children whose notes hint at the hardships of a former Irish neighborhood in Manhattan.
P.S. Please do not forget the poor.
MyĀ favorite music of 2015
Notice I didnāt sayĀ āthe best music of 2015.ā³ (Though, letās be honest ā it is.)
These are not in any particularly order. But if they were, Mika would be at the top. Because, Mika.
Also, I created a playlist of these songs (plus a few other good ones, minus Adele)Ā on SpotifyĀ if you want to listen that way. Enjoy!
Mika ā Good Wife
OK, so I put him at the top. Always hard to choose just one.
Paulina Rubio, Morat ā Mi Nuevo Vicio
Catchiest song of the year. Donāt even care.
firekid ā Lay By Me
Came very close to wearing this one out by playing it on repeat in September.
Adele ā When We Were Young
I could very easily post half of the songs on this album. This oneās my favorite. (Though does anyone else get a strong hint of Leaving On a Jet Plane when you hear it?)
Adele ā Water Under the Bridge
Just kidding. This oneās my favorite.
Raury, Tom Morello ā Friends
Nick Jonas ā Jealous
Vintage ā High Dive Heart
More from this song later this year.
Carly Rae Jepsen ā Making the Most ofĀ the Night
Elle King ā Americaās Sweetheart
Grace, G-Eazy ā You Donāt Own Me
Lunchmoney Lewis ā Bills
GODDAMN, goddamn, goddamn.
Andrew Martin ā A Good Man
East kids donāt quit.Ā
Anderson East ā FindĀ āEm, FoolĀ āEm and ForgetĀ āEm
Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment ā Slip Slide
Chicago, stand up.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ā Downtown
The joy and wonder of Eric Nally. And this video.
Brandon Flowers ā Dreams Come True
Please just get back with The Killers and make another album.
Grace Potter ā Empty Heart
This girl can put on a show.
Gary Clarke Jr. ā Canāt Sleep
Dude is legendary.
Hailee Steinfeld ā Youāre Such A
Iām not gonna hold Pitch Perfect 2 against you, HAIZ.
PHASES ā Betty Blue
Feeling this song currently.
Halsey ā Colors
In keeping with the ROYGBIV theme.
King Charles ā LoveBlood
My favorite album of 2015 came out in 2012. So it gets a pass for this list.
Misterwives ā Hurricane
Strong contender for favorite album of the year.
Leon Bridges ā Smooth Sailinā
This guy is out of this world.
Little Mix ā Black Magic
Donāt hate us cuz you aināt us.
Nate Ruess ā Great Big StormĀ
See: Brandon Flowers
The New Basement Tapes ā Kansas City
See: Brandon Flowers
Parson James ā Temple
Parson James ā Sinner Like You
Zac Brown Band ā Junkyard
MostlyĀ because of this.
Rachel Platten ā Lone Ranger
Get it, girl.
Omi ā Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)
ROMANS ā Uh Huh
James Bay ā Hold Back the River
Sneaky-great album.
Jason Derulo ā Want to Want Me
*whispers* derulo
Matoma, Notorious B.I.G. feat. Ja Rule and Ralph Tresvant ā Old Thing Back
Just the best old-school sound. But do NOT listen to this song with your mother in the car. Or a small child.
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats ā S.O.B.
My spirit animal in a song.
The entire Hamilton broadway cast recording
Sorry. Had to.
Side note ā Best concert of 2015: Taylor Swiftās 1989 tour at Soldier Field. Close second: Stevie Wonderās Songs in the Key of Live tour at the United Center. Honorable mention: Jukebox the Ghost at SoHo House; Halsey, James Bay and Misterwives at The Vic; Bronze Radio Return at Lincoln Hall.
How coach turned MSU into a consistent championship contender
"Almost every week there are things that are gonna happen that separate winning and losing," Hollis said. "And Mark has found a way to be on the positive side of that separation. And I think when it happens that often, it's not luck. It's a way to prepare. It's a way to believe and have your student-athletes and coaches always knowing that there's something that's gonna come along in the game, and to overcome whatever adversity is thrown at them and have a chance to win.
"He's done a great job of framing that for all of us. I haven't seen a program where it's a single play that defines a legacy, over and over. It's amazing how many of those moments have been captured."
Michigan State's game-winning 22-play drive to beat Iowa and win the Big Ten title summed up the Spartans' philosophy that has allowed them to rise under Mark Dantonio
You have to find the inches, Dantonio often says whenever heās discussing why some teams succeed and others fail. Now his team needed 2,952 of them in the worst way, and it damn near came by them one at a time.
Each year around 50,000 people die in New York, some alone and unseen. Yet death even in such forlorn form can cause a surprising amount of activity. Sometimes, along the way, a lifeās secrets are revealed.
The number of marriage ceremonies at Lower Manhattanās cradle of codified romance has jumped by nearly 50 percent since 2008.
āCongrats on marriage and this and that,ā the man yelled, ābut weāre trying to keep the leaves together.ā
This story appears in the Oct. 26, 2015, issue of Sports Illustrated. Subscribe to the magazine here. One play remained in Michigan State's 90th football game against Michigan, but Tom Izzo had seen enough. Michigan State's basketball coach left the Spartans' bench last Saturday with his son, S...
"Get 11 guys up. Nobody back. If you rough the guy, it doesn't matter. You gotta lay out, and you've gotta go. This is our last shot.
"Scoop it if you get it."
Damn, this is good.
My man.
The Pitch, by ESPNās 30 for 30
Pickles: a love story
On repeat today, a great day.
I have long explained to people the sort of complication in having a popular vice ā say, sports ā be, to me, work. For most of my life, since I chose sports journalism as a profession, my business has been othersā pleasure. What others do after work ā take in a ballgame, check the scores, explore heated rivalries ā is what I do when Iām on the clock.Ā
Itās a complicated dynamic but when you see the passion people have for sports and the need for it as an outlet after a long day, you donāt mind as much getting into it again after your own long day ā even when it involved that same material.
But like the way others want to watch a ballgame after a long day at the office, I often want a change of pace after a day at the ballpark. And Iāve found a place, tucked in a three-foot-wide alley along Bissell Street (and sometimes wheeled out into the larger back alley). My girlfriend and I moved into this apartment this spring, and on our first night using the grill at our new home, we were struck by the atmosphere of city grilling with the L train going by in the background.Ā
Courtney and I have long been interested in food. We cook, alone and together, more than most couples our age and have a keen interest in not only the culinary scene in Chicago, but also to wherever we travel (New Orleans tops them all, Nashville was a recent venture, and my stint in New York was a serious influence). Iāve also spent time this year working with Read It & Eat, a unique and exciting culinary bookstore in Lincoln Park, that has gone to only further my interest in cooking and my knowledge of the craft and its world.Ā
It was in that alley that Courtney and I (with a bit of inspiration from her sister, Campbell) decided to form this blog, where we can highlight some of our favorite recipes on the grill, explore some new ones and offer some thoughts on the process and the outcome.Ā
We both grew up in a West Michigan small town, where backyards were as much a staple of a home as a front door. City living doesnāt offer the same convenience for grilling, but we want to show that it can be done. All you need is your three-foot-wide space.
From the people who brought you The Unpublished ⦠check out Putting the L in Grilling.