I’m so happy about the start of the NFL season that I couldn’t work up too much vitriol about this week’s TMQ column.
Big Hamburgers
Red Robin, talks a lot about local ingredients, corporate integrity and the like … The queso appetizer is 1,433 calories and 89 grams of fat; the Guacamole Bacon Burger is 1,160 calories and 77 grams of fat; the chicken tenders salad is 1,400 calories and 91 grams of fat; the Mountain High Mud Pie is 1,373 calories and 63 grams of fat … So the company cares about the planet -- just not about people!
This is another of Easterbrook’s favorite rhetorical devices. He points out hypocrisies that aren’t really hypocritical. Red Robin’s corporate responsibilities have nothing at all to do with how many calories are in its meals. Not to mention the fact that most people share appetizers and desserts.
Running Up the Score
Over the weekend Oklahoma relentlessly ran up the score on Division I-AA Idaho State, winning 64-0, while Cincinnati relentlessly ran up the score on Division I-AA Southeast Missouri State, winning 70-3. Leading 56-3, Cincinnati was still throwing the ball trying to run up the score. For these egregious displays of bad sportsmanship, Oklahoma and Cincinnati are likely to be punished by the football gods with unhappy seasons.
Look, I’m all for good sportsmanship. The problem is that in college football, margin of victory matters. Voters who don’t watch half the top 25 games only go by scores, so a 70-3 victory looks much better than 30-3. As long as there is voting in college football, teams can be expected to run up the score. It’s only bad sportsmanship if (as in the NFL) you derive no tangible benefit from it.
Assault and Battery
Threatening another person with physical harm is in most states a crime akin to simple battery, such as throwing a punch.
I’ll let the lawyers here weigh in on this one, but there is a HUGE difference to normal people between threatening a punch and throwing (and landing) a punch. But Easterbrook rushes past this to claim that Serena Williams benefited from her fame and riches. I can sympathize with Blount (the BSU player who threw a punch) getting a bit of leniency, but comparing what he did to Serena arguing with a line judge is ludicrous.
8 Responses:
Did I ever tell you my Red Robin story...
Assault in most states is putting someone in reasonable fear of bodily harm. Battery is actual physical contact.
Exactly. And they're different crimes, right? Battery is a much bigger deal than simple assault?
"Assault in most states is putting someone in reasonable fear of bodily harm. Battery is actual physical contact."
Oh, so I did tell you my Red Robin story.
By the way, Blount played for Oregon.
Is the story hilarious? I've never eaten at Red Robin and know nothing of their menu. There isn't even one near downtown Atlanta - closest two are OTP.
I've read that it's unhealthy as everything and TMQ seems to confirm my opinion.
Actually, criminally the two crimes are often merged. First degree assault, in Maryland, is basically attempting or threatening to hurt someone with a deadly weapon. In civil matters, they remain separate.
It is hilarious, although I'm sure I can't tell it as well in print. But it involves the following:
1) A pretend birthday.
2) An ice cream sundae.
3) A ceiling fan.
4) Blood, glass, and stitches.
5) A 100% tip for the waiter.
Post a Comment