31

I'm not a fan of horse racing. Or any kind of racing, actually. Still, sometimes, you see something and are amazed. And, that amazement stays with you.

This afternoon, there's a misspelled horse named American Pharoah that is trying to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. And, if he wins, good for him. And some of you young kids might remember it years down the road. But, it'll be hard to beat the memories caused by a three-year old named Secretariat back in 1973.

Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, the first race in the Triple Crown with a record time of 1:59.4. How fast was that record? Well, it's still the fastest Kentucky Derby ever. The second fastest Kentucky Derby time? Same race. Sham came in second at 1:59.9 which is faster than the second-fastest winning time of 1:59.97 by Monarchos in 2001. (I just won you a bar bet. You're welcome.)

In the Preakness Stakes, there was a problem with the clock. There's no doubt that Secretariat won the race by 2½ lengths over Sham, but a problem with the clock threw a question over the time. The previous record (since the race lengthened to 1 3⁄16 miles in 1925) of 1:54 was set two years earlier by Canonero II. Secretariat's time was given as 1:55, but that was immediately disputed. CBS entered the argument by showing tapes of both the 1971 race and the 1973 race in a split-screen, and proved that Secretariat beat Canonero II handily. It took a while, but the official time is now 1:53, and that record still stands. (Sham's time would work out to 1:53.4, the second-fastest Preakness, if you want to win another bar bet.)

The clincher in how great a horse Secretariat was had to be the Belmont Stakes. That race was lengthened to 1½ miles in 1926. And the record set in 1973 still stands. But, it wasn't just the time of 2:24 that's amazing. It's how that horse won it.

If you weren't around in 1973 to see it on TV, thanks to the magic of the internets, here's your chance.


[The YouTube]

The actual margin of victory was 31 lengths. How far is that? Well, more than you can put in a camera at a horse race in 1973. Think about it like this. You and a buddy find a football field. You stand on the goal line. Now, have your buddy walk out to the 17 yard line. No, the other 17 yard line. Cross mid-field and keep walking. That 17 yard line. Got it? That's right about 31 lengths.

I don't know anything about horse racing. But I know I saw something special that day. Maybe there'll be another Triple Crown winner this afternoon. Maybe not. But, there may never be another Secretariat.

Long enough

When it's Sunday (and it is) and you're in a small town in southeast Georgia (and I am) and your router goes out (and it did), you don't have a lot of options. In fact, the only real option is Walmart.

I really don't want to complain about Walmart. I mean, they did have a good quality router in stock, and the price was pretty good. And, on it's worst day, traffic at a small town Walmart is better than traffic at a large city, well, anything.

So, I got up to the register with my new router, and the cashier was prompted to ask me about an extended warranty. I was a little surprised. I picked up the box again, looked at it to make sure, and told her, "It comes with a lifetime warranty."

"This is extra," she offered.

"No, thanks," I replied. "Lifetime will be long enough."

I hope I don't end up regretting my decision.

Obamacare

[Politifake]

About a boat

Up front, I want to say that I don't have a boat. I've never had a boat. And I don't intend to ever have a boat. I'm not a boat guy. But a lot of people are. Maybe you are. If you are, maybe you'll want to play along. And, even if you aren't, maybe you'll want to play along, too. Because fun is fun.

Some people are kinda clever when it comes to naming a boat. And, since it was a Saturday, and I didn't feel like getting out of the recliner, I pulled up The Facebook and started seeing what kinda nonsense people I know or are friends with and have never met are getting themselves into. And that's how I ran across a list of 37 interesting boat names. And, since it was The Facebook, there were only 25 on the list I clicked through to. If math and spelling were a requirement, there would be no one on The Facebook.

Anyway, some of the boat names were kinda clever.

• Bacon in the Sun
• Ships & Giggles
• Dijabringabeeralong
• Master Baiter
• Fish & Chicks

Okay, some were kinda lame. But some were funny. But I think y'all can do better.

If you've had a fun or funny name on a boat, how about sharing it with us. Or, if you have an idea for a great boat name, share that. Could be fun.

What, indeed.

[The Political Insider - The Facebook]

What I found out about this was shocking

Jonathan Banks, as fans of Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul know, plays the character Mike Ehrmantraut on those shows. He was appearing on Keith Olbermann's show and said that Washington Redskins owner Dan Syder should change the team's name because some people are offended. He went on to say that Snyder could make a lot of money on sales of new merchandise with a new nickname and logo.

"They will make a fortune [if they change the name]. And what is this guy? … He is Jewish, right — Snyder?"

When I read this report, I have to admit I was shocked.

I mean, did you know Keith Olbermann was still on TV?

Now THIS is something someone should actually do

[The Comical Conservative - The Facebook]