For generations, people have said, “Do you know what this country needs?” Then they give their answer. I pose the question, and answer it, in my Impromptus column today. (A spiritual revival, I say. A re-moralization. A great rediscovery of right and wrong.) I also have notes on sports, music, and the rest.
On the subject of sports: John Smoltz is on the cusp of qualifying for the Senior Tour in golf. He is, of course, one of the greatest pitchers of all time. John Brodie, the quarterback for the 49ers, played on the Senior Tour for 13 years.
I mention this in my column today. “When it comes to talent, some people have a double portion,” I say. “A triple portion.” (We could also mention Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and a host of others.)
A reader writes,
Mookie Betts, the great outfielder — and even sometime infielder! — for the Dodgers, is also a world-class bowler who has competed in a couple of Professional Bowlers Association events without embarrassing himself. Here is a video of Mookie bowling a perfect game at one such event.
When you got it, you got it.
Like many others, I have been writing about the deep, or sharp, polarization in America. A reader says,
Jay, I have no idea if you were an original Star Trek fan or not. In 1968, there was an episode called “The Day of the Dove.” Long story short, an alien derived its energy from hate and manipulated the Klingons and the starship crew into constant battle on a distant planet until Spock (of course) figured it out. They feigned laughter and camaraderie and drove the alien off.
It took only 55 years, but now we know where that alien landed.
Another reader ends his note with “Right on, as we used to say in the ’60s . . .” I still do. Maybe even occasionally “Rock on.” “Party on,” however, no — I leave that to Wayne and Garth.
By the way, my colleague and friend Madeleine Kearns, a Glaswegian, taught me the phrase “Straight enough,” which I like a lot. (I think it’s similar to “Fair enough.”) Sounds better coming from a Scot, however, than from a Michigander (comme moi).