Daily Archives: February 10, 2010

Reclining Nude, by David Park (1960).

(From the SF Moma collection)

More from New Orleans.

Here are a couple of funky, badass joints from Lee Dorsey:

Duece:

As a kid, I sometimes had cereal for breakfast–I went through phases with cereal, actually–but mostly I ate toast with butter and jam. And sometimes we’d get lucky and mom would buy a jar of nutella, the chocolate hazelnut spread. It’s just terrible for you, chock full of partially hydrogenated oils, but it sure does taste good.

More simple eating pleasures for a snowy day.

Cup of tea–or coffee–a slice of good bread, and a schmeer of the good stuff. Maybe some sliced bananas. Who knows, go crazy.

“I got my pride.”

–Ralph Kramden

Joel Sherman has an interesting piece about Derek Jeter’s looming contract talks and the Hall of Fame shortstop’s pride:

Even his most loyal supporters — and [former manager, Joe] Torre was as loyal to Jeter as anyone — recognized a position change might be necessary. There had been some sentiment to make Jeter the successor to Bernie Williams in center before Johnny Damon came aboard in 2006. And by the time the 2007 season ended, the issue could not be ignored any more.

So Cashman took Jeter to dinner in Manhattan and told the Yankees captain that his side-to-side actions must improve. Jeter has an outsized athletic arrogance. He believes in himself completely, which allows him to deftly block out criticism and negativity. This trait enables him to thrive in the cauldron, but also prevents him from seeing personal shortcomings the way others perceive them. Still, to his credit, he agreed to try a new way.

With the Yankees paying the bills, Jeter enlisted Jason Riley, the director of performance at the Athletes Compound in Tampa. Riley formulated a plan to increase Jeter’s first-step quickness, particularly in fielding grounders to his left. Power lifting was diminished, agility — especially in the hips — was empha – sized , weight was lost. The results came slowly at first in 2008 and in a wave last year when Jeter had one of his finest defensive seasons.

“The player Derek is, he took to it and said, ‘Watch, I will prove you wrong,’ ” Cashman said.

There is no telling how Jeter’s career will play out from here. It could get ugly, as it does for so many of the great ones. One thing is sure: He’ll sign a big contract with the Yankees after this season. Jeter is more than a star, after all. He’s a Legend.

Welp, the Weatherman wasn’t messin’ around about this one. Woke up this morning to see the Bronx covered in snow.

I have the day off anyhow. Was supposed to go to, get this, Vermont, of all places. Actually, not supposed to go up until tomorrow and it should be fine by the afternoon.

In the meantime, “Snow day with the wife, snow day with the wife.”

I’ll be back with more beats, art, and yes, even baseball, throughout the day.

Y’all stay safe now.