How is everyone’s weekend going? So far so good, I hope.
I spent an evening in downtown Chicago Friday. Went to a fantastic Italian restaurant on Ohio St. (Coco Pazzo Cafe). The weather was great in the city and it was busy, but not quite summer peak non-Covid congestion.
Friday was a day after the surprising CDC mask-removal news (the first article in today’s Six.) I noticed a mix bag when it came to people and masks outside on the streets—some still wearing them outside, some not. Inside, the staff at the restaurant wore them while almost all customers did not. My sense is we will see this assorted mish-mosh of mask on, mask off for awhile.
One thing about the mask debate is clear—as we move into the summer and more outdoor activities (and more folks vaccinated) the cosmetics will drive the mask on types more than the science. To each’s own.
Let’s proceed with the Six.
How The CDC Mask Change Went From Science To Secret To Surprise
Thursday, the news came down the CDC had changed its recommendation about masks—if vaccinated, you don’t need to wear them. Anywhere, indoor or out. Why the change? Bloomberg News examines how the CDC ruling went from science to secret to surprise.
A few weeks ago, I shared a story on the Six about the proposed soccer super league that went under in a swarm of protest. Did you know there’s a Super Golf League? As Alan Shipnuck explains, a terrific longtime golf writer for Sports Illustrated, the SGL highlights the irresistible allure of Saudi cash for nearly everyone in the sport of golf, including Jack Nicklaus.
The Race With No End: Running’s Most Brutal Event
Last month, 73 runners entered a race in New Zealand. All but one recorded the race as “DNF” or Did Not Finish. The race literally has one rule—last man standing. One paragraph from the story: They’d set off in sunshine, with hoopla and horns blowing and whoops from supporters as the field funneled into the forest for the first time, a spectator’s cry echoing after them. “Poor bastards.” Entertaining read (and photos) on a foot race like no other.
I’ve Covered Everything for 52 Years, Now It’s Time To See What I Missed
This is a farewell column from Thomas Boswell, a sports columnist with the Washington Post. Boswell spent 52 years at the Post (the country was just learning of the severity of a White House scandal known as Watergate when Boswell penned his first byline.) Boswell has seen it all and is finally retiring to smell the roses. One of the great baseball writers in my lifetime, he will be missed and was in large part, a reason I kept my subscription to the Post every year.
100 Best Television Sitcoms of All Time
Readers of the Six will know…man, I like my pop culture lists! This from Rolling Stone ranks the top 100 sitcoms in history. My personal favorite of all time is “Cheers” (close second “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”) “Cheers” made the top three (“Curb” falls at No. 12). Most forgotten but underrated? “Get Smart” which lands at No. 66 (the show was a James Bond spy spoof with a campy, lampoon sense of humor.) See what you think of RS’s list and what favorite show they forgot?
Kid Buys $2,600 Of SpongeBob Popsicles. Good Samaritans Come To The Rescue
I wanted to post this article last week but couldn’t fit it in. Here’s what happened—a single mother of three has boxes delivered to her house. All three of them contain 70 pounds of cartoon desserts worth, get this, $2,618.85. “Oh, hell no” the mom says before rushing to check her bank balance. It all works out in the end…the Washington Post writer does a great job capturing the range of emotions and the compassion of regular people desirous to make a child’s wishes come true and ease the financial strain of a single mother. A sweet, endearing story.
Have a great rest of your weekend everybody. Thanks for reading as always.
Have a suggestion for the Sunday Six? Send email to jon@jonjkerr.com.