The Morning Tailgate: Saluting Ken Griffey Jr.

This morning we salute Ken Griffey Jr., who has decided to return to Seattle for the 2009 season.

Being able to post pictures like the two below is reason enough to celebrate with a nice, piping hot bratwurst or frankfurter.

For the record, we scanned Griffey’s Baseball-Reference page and were quite surprised to see he only has one MVP Award on the shelf. Apparently the voters have never factored in notable batting stances. Idiots.

February 19

1942 - The New York Yankees announce 5,000 uniformed soldiers admitted free at each of their upcoming home games.  There’s probably something witty to be said about the current state of the Yankees, but this gesture was a tremendous sign of gratitude towards our armed forces….and is still being practiced throughout the country today.  And it damn well should continue.

1984 - Phil and Steve Mahre-Slalom become the 1st brother combo to win Gold and Silver in same event at Olympics with their alpine skiing performances.

1998 - The US hockey team destroys their rooms at Olympic village in Japan during the Winter Olympics.  The roster included some pretty big NHL names from the past 20 years - but we’re told the ruckus developed when Brett Hull and Jeremy Roenick started arguing who sported the better mullet. ###MORE###

You should buy cabinets because hockey legend Bernie Federko said so.  And he said so while wearing a pair of ultra snug stone washed jeans.  Hockey players always have been fashion icons…

Always a fun day when a 14 year old chimp gets involved in a “drug scandal”.

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As authorities considered criminal charges, the woman whose 200-pound domesticated chimpanzee went berserk and mauled a friend backtracked Wednesday on whether she gave the animal the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. Sandra Herold told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she never gave the drug to her 14-year-old chimp, Travis, who was shot dead by Stamford police Monday after he grievously wounded Herold’s friend Charla Nash.

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Does that chimp really have a diaper on? And which of the two look like they smell worse?

The Sports Delorean returns for another trip back in time.  Today’s destination - to the era where baseball players, managers and fans showed their support in the winter months with one particularly notable piece of outerwear - the satin jacket.