9/8/2023: The Great Tennis Ball Dilemma 🎾
Discover more from Morning Martini
9/8/2023: The Great Tennis Ball Dilemma 🎾
PLUS: Gatorade Water; Pepsi Archives; and Royal Popularity
Today is Friday, September 8, 2023.
It is the 251st day of the year.
114 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
BURNING MAN attendees broke the “leave no trace” oath and the world’s oldest chicken has been crowned. More in HIT LIST.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN cancels the rest of this month’s concerts and PETA is getting in the Halloween spirit. More in SHOWBIZ.
JIMMY FALLON may not be the funny guy we all think he is and AARON RODGERS returns to the “The Pat McAfee Show.” More in CASTING CALL.
YE and BIANCA CENSORI are under investigation for public indecency. More in KARDASH.
In honor of the one-year anniversary of QUEEN ELIZABETH’s passing, her royal family members have been ranked on their favorability. Find out how they fared in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
As BURNING MAN attendees eagerly fled the muddy festival site, many left behind trash, bikes, rugs, a dresser and buckets filled with feces.
Several vehicles were also abandoned as people fled the heavy rain and flooding over the weekend, according to local authorities.
WORTH NOTING: One of the ethos of the event is “leave no trace” on the grounds of the Black Rock Desert. [via USA Today]
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GATORADE will soon release a new drink that is flavorless, odorless and colorless.
Sounds weird, right? Well, that’s because it's water.
The company, known for its fruit-flavored sports drinks, has created Gatorade Water, “an electrolyte-infused, unflavored water that’s filtered with a 7-step filtration process,” according to the company.
Due out early next year, the company says their biggest hurdle will be convincing buyers to drink their water versus the stuff from the tap. [via CNN]
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Did you know that it takes a tennis ball more than 400 years to decompose? That’s right! Those green fuzzy balls are not recyclable, and with nearly 330 million balls made worldwide each year landfills are full of them.
The issue comes from the design, which hasn’t been altered since the 1920s. The green felt is made up of non-recyclable wool and nylon and the rubber inside comes from rubber trees in the Amazon, which is leading to deforestation.
In an attempt to address the issue, the International Tennis Federation has teamed up with manufacturers and recyclers to come up with a way to decrease tennis ball consumption and make the ones used recyclable. [via AP News]
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A 21-year-old chicken named Peanut has been crowned the world’s oldest living chicken by Guinness World Records.
While chickens typically live five to eight years, Peanut has enjoyed more than two decades living alongside her owner Marsi Parker Darwin in Michigan.
Darwin, a former librarian, loves her hen so much that she even wrote a children’s book about their adventures, called “My Girl Peanut and Me -- On Love and Life From the World’s Oldest Chicken.” [via Washington Post]
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The search for a murderer who escaped a Philadelphia prison has entered its second week.
Those living in the area have been on high alert and told to lock down as officers scour the woods for 34-year-old Danilo Souza Cavalcante.
Since going on the lam, he has been spotted nearly 10 times, including in a family’s home in Pocopson late last week, where he came face-to-face with one of the homeowners before casually and calmly exiting.
Cavalcante was sentenced to life last month for the 2021 murder of his ex-girlfriend. It is believed that he killed her so she wouldn’t tell police he is wanted in Brazil for a 2017 murder. [via AP News]
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BREAKUPS
Patriots coach BILL BELICHICK and his longtime girlfriend, LINDA HOLLIDAY, have called it quits.
While neither have publicly commented on the split, insiders say the two have been “in a drawn-out, back-and-forth breakup for nearly a year.”
The two started dating in 2007.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 57 points (0.17%) to close at 34,501 on Thursday. The S&P lost 14 points (0.32%) to close at 4,451 and the NASDAQ lost 123 points (0.89%) to close at 13,749.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $86; BRENT CRUDE at $89.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.80 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up a bit, trading around $26,003.
🛩 There were more than 3,229 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 229 such cancellations.
💰Tonight's MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $122 million jackpot or a $58.7 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $500 million jackpot or a $242.2 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Allison Russell, “The Returner”
Andy Taylor, “Man’s A Wolf To A Man”
Ashley McBryde, “The Devil I Know”
Buju Banton, “Born For Greatness”
Everclear, “Live at the Whisky a Go Go”
Jon Langston, “Heart On Ice”
Kah-Lo, “pain/pleasure”
Nanci Griffith, “Working in Corners”
Royal Blood, “Back to the Water Below”
Teezo Touchdown, “How Do You Sleep At Night?”
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AL PACINO’s girlfriend, NOOR ALFALLAH, has filed for full physical custody of their three-month-old son.
According to the filing, the 29-year-old is willing to give 83-year-old Pacino “reasonable visitation” and a say in decisions such as schooling and medical treatment.
Remember, Pacino, while excited about adding a fourth child, asked for a paternity test when he found out Alfallah was expecting because he believed he was unable to get anyone pregnant.
As for their relationship, things appear to be good, insiders told Page Six that the filing is all a formality. [via Page Six]
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BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN has canceled the rest of this month’s shows with the E STREET BAND as he continues to undergo treatment for peptic ulcer disease.
Remember, he canceled several recent shows due to ongoing health issues. [via TMZ]
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BRTINEY SPEARS is excited to relive her “Joy of Cola” Pepsi ad from 2001 during the company’s 125th anniversary.
In honor of the celebration, Pepsi is releasing remastered archival commercials, including Spears’ ad, which will premiere during the 2023 MTV VMAs on September 12.
Other revived ads include MADONNA’s “Like a Prayer” commercial from 1989 and TINA TURNER’s “We Got The Taste” from 1986. [via People]
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Remember when PETE DAVIDSON left PETA an expletive-laced voicemail after they called him out for buying a puppy from a breeder rather than adopting? It looks like they are getting the last laugh.
PETA announced this week they are selling a Halloween costume inspired by the incident. The costume features a paper mask of Davidson’s face and a blue baseball cap with “#$@!%” on it. There is also a hoodie that reads, “I Should’ve Adopted” and a plush puppy wearing a bandana with “Shelter Dogs Rule” on it.
The comedian has not addressed the costume. [via Page Six]
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DRAKE’s next album, “For All the Dogs” will be released on September 22.
It will be the rapper’s eighth studio album.
DOJA CAT recently announced that her next album, “Scarlet,” will also be released on September 22. [via Billboard]
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New Orleans Saints player JIMMY GRAHAM will not face any criminal charges in relation to his August 18 arrest in Newport Beach, California.
Sources from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office told TMZ that the case has been closed due to “insufficient evidence.”
Remember, Graham was arrested near a resort last month after eye witnesses said he was acting erratic. When officers responded, Graham allegedly tried to fight them off.
The Saints organization later addressed the incident, saying they believe the tight end suffered some sort of medical episode. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
CMA Awards nominations have been announced.
LAINEY WILSON tops the list with nine noms, including Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and more.
Other top nominees include JELLY ROLL with five nods and LUKE COMBS and HARDY with four nominations each.
Notable snubs include ZACH BRYAN, who has sat atop the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts and PARMALEE, whose hit song, “Take My Name,” was Billboard’s No. 1 Country Airplay Song of 2022.
The 57th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville on November 8. LUKE BRYAN and PEYTON MANNING will host. [via Billboard]
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Two current and 14 former “Tonight Show” employees have accused JIMMY FALLON of creating a “toxic” work environment.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, the staffers also accused Fallon of having “erratic” behavior on set, explaining there are “good Jimmy days” and “bad Jimmy days” and no way to predict what each day will bring.
In response to the report, several other employees defended their boss, saying since showrunner Chris Miller has signed on, Fallon is “extremely engaged” and there is a “renewed enthusiasm” on set.
While Fallon has not yet addressed the claims, NBC defended the show…but not the host. [via Rolling Stone]
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“Aaron Rodgers Tuesdays” are back!
The NY Jets QB made an appearance on Thursday’s debut episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN where he announced his intent to return to the show for “Aaron Rodgers Tuesdays.”
“I miss my boys,” Rodgers said on the show.
Remember, McAfee was in his second year of a four-year $120 million contract with FanDuel when it was announced that he would be taking his show to ESPN. His new deal is for five years and around $85 million. [via NY Post]
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COURT CASES
“That ‘70s Show” alum DANNY MASTERSON was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday for raping two women at his Hollywood-area home in 2003.
A jury found Masterson guilty of two counts of rape -- after an initial deadlock vote -- in June.
He has denied any wrongdoing. [via Variety]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE and BIANCA CENSORI are now under investigation by Italian police after being caught in a compromising position during a recent ride down a canal in Venice.
Remember, Ye made headlines when his entire butt was exposed while sitting on the water vessel. Now, insiders say there were some NSFW things going on between the couple during the boat ride.
The act of “public indecency” is “punishable by administrative action,” according to a Venice police source. [via The Sun]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A new survey, conducted ahead of today’s one-year anniversary of QUEEN ELIZABETH’s death, shows PRINCE WILLIAM is the favorite royal.
With a 74% favorability ranking, Wills comes in just ahead of his wife, PRINCESS KATE at 73%. In third is PRINCESS ANNE at 72%.
KING CHARLES is further down the scale at 60% favorability, though he is ahead of PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE who got 31% and 24% favorability rankings, respectively.
Way at the bottom, with 6% favorability, is PRINCE ANDREW. [via YouGov]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
International Literacy Day
Actors’ Day
Stand Up to Cancer Day
National Iguana Awareness Day
World Physical Therapy Day
Pardon Day
Star Trek Day
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ON THIS DATE
1504 - Outside Florence's public square, the statue of David is unveiled.
Standing 17-feet high, it represents the young man who destroyed the giant Goliath from the Bible story. Michelangelo had completed the work in just three years.
A replica now stands in its original place, as the original is preserved in a museum, where it can be properly cared for.
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1781 - British forces suffer the greatest single-day loss of the whole Revolutionary War when Nathanael Greene sends a group of 2,200 Continental soldiers into Eutaw Springs, located near the Santee River in South Carolina.
The British were caught off guard, and had to abandon their breakfasts to take refuge in a fortified position.
Continental Troops took over the British camp, and started enjoying the leftover breakfasts. But the British soldiers rallied, and started the bloodiest day of the war.
500 Americans died while the British suffered 700 casualties. British Lieutenant Alexander Stewart ordered his men back to Charleston, South Carolina to regroup. The Continental victory, though deadly, was crucial: it allowed the Patriots to continue their control of the southern territories.
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1892 - The Youth's Companion publishes the Pledge of Allegiance.
Its appearance coincided with the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day.
The whole notion began as a marketing schtick to sell flags to public schools and magazines to students.
Early recitations included extending the hand outward, arm up, palm down -- which would eventually resemble the Nazi Salute. That part was written out of the process in 1942.
It originally didn't include the "Under God" clause -- that was added in 1954.
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1915 - A German Zeppelin bombards central London, killing 22 and causing 500 British Pounds worth of damage.
The pilot was Heinrich Mathy, one of the deadliest German blimp pilots ever. He would be shot down a little more than a year later.
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1974 - President Gerald Ford pardons Richard Nixon.
Ford wanted to move past the divisiveness created by the Watergate scandal. "Our long national nightmare is over," he famously said in a TV broadcast.
He would lose re-election in 1976 to Jimmy Carter.
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1986 - The Great Woman Oprah Winfrey, Blessed and Sacred Be Her Name, broadcasts her talk show nationally for the first time.
She would shatter audience viewership records and be credited with forever reshaping the talk show landscape.
The show would run for 25 seasons.
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1998 - Mark McGwire slugs his 62nd home run, breaking the record made by New York Yankee Roger Maris in 1961.
Since then McGwire has been lambasted for using performance-enhancing drugs to assist him through the feat.
Later in the season, Chicago Cubs Sammy Sosa also beat the record, finishing with 66. But McGwire wasn't done. He finished the season with 70.
Barry Bonds would break both records in 2001, nailing 73 homers.
The first slugger to surpass 60 homeruns in a season was Babe Ruth, in 1927.
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2015 - Stephen Colbert debuts as the new host of CBS’ “The Late Show.”
He took over for David Letterman, who hosted the late night talk show since its debut in 1993.
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2021 - A statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee is removed from Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia.
Rulings from the state Supreme Court paved the way for its removal after intense national debate over the statue’s purpose in what was once the capital of the Confederacy.
The statue was one of many removed after George Floyd’s death prompted a nationwide reckoning.
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BIRTHDAYS
Gaten Matarazzo - actor, “Stranger Things” - 21
Nick Williams - baseball player - 30
Dianne Doan - actress, “Descendants” - 33
Gustav Schafer - drummer, Tokio Hotel - 35
Wiz Khalifa - rapper - 36
Jonathan Taylor Thomas - actor, “Home Improvement” - 42
Pink - pop singer - 44
David Arquette - actor, “Wild Bill” & “Scream” films - 52
Martin Freeman - actor, “The Hobbit” films & “Fargo” - 52
Big Boy - DJ - 54
Ruby Bridges - civil rights leader - 69
Bernie Sanders - politician - 82
Born On This Date
Avicii - DJ - 1989 (d. 2018)
Patsy Cline - country singer - 1932 (d. 1963)
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