1) Why does it seem that a lot of famous people die comparatively young?

I would bet its pretty close to the same as the general population, but if its not, I would guess drugs.

2) Which living person do you think has consumed the most cocaine? My money’s on Keith Richards.

Stephen Hawking.

3) No pro baseball players have admitted to being gay until their retirement, and even then it was only two or three. Is it possible that this is not discrimination, but rather that most gay people have little interest in playing baseball?

As Kevin Garnett said “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”

But of the thousands of people that have played in the NBA, I would guess at least 2-3 were gay.

4) What image do you have of Spain? Don’t worry if your image turns out to be wrong, I’d just like to know what you think.

The first thing that comes to mind is clubbing in Mallorca for some reason. And saffron, lots of saffron.

5) Who’s your favorite current Royal?

Alex Gordon.

BONUS: What’s your favorite country song?

“Portland” by Jack White and Loretty Lynn or “Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash

1) Why does it seem that a lot of famous people die comparatively young?
Most worthwhile artists are a little tortured/screwed up – it’s part of what makes them good artists. That ‘being sort of screwed up’ also contributes to their early demise.

2) Which living person do you think has consumed the most cocaine? My money’s on Keith Richards.
Ron Washington. He only did it once, but man was it a lot.

3) No pro baseball players have admitted to being gay until their retirement, and even then it was only two or three. Is it possible that this is not discrimination, but rather that most gay people have little interest in playing baseball?
Combination of a few things: the gay population tends to be less into sports than the heterosexual population, fear of discrimination/backlash, and a certain amount of self-loathing/staying closeted. Regarding the last point, most American-born players grow up privileged – likely conservative. Most players are from warm weather areas like the south/texas/california/florida – conservative/religious. Most pro players have been on teams/playing baseball most of their lives, pretty year round, so they’re very much ingrained with a macho type mindset. Those factors of indoctrination would tend to keep a gay player closeted/repressing their homosexuality even if they don’t necessarily fear discrimination from teammates. I am 100% certain that there have been gay baseball players, of those players, none of them (obviously) have been out publicly, but I would wager that many hadn’t even come to terms with it themselves.

4) What image do you have of Spain? Don’t worry if your image turns out to be wrong, I’d just like to know what you think.
I transpose a lot of Mexico/Latin America type images onto Spain, which I know is incorrect. I dated a girl in high school whose family hosted an exchange student from Spain, so I learned a bit more from that. From what I understand, it’s much more similar to Greece than Mexico in terms of being mediterranean and all that.

5) Who’s your favorite current Royal?
Probably Gordon. Greinke was my favorite Royal ever since I saw him throw back to back 50 mph curve balls in person to strike a guy out his rookie year. Gordon probably took over this year.

BONUS: What’s your favorite country song?
Folsom Prison Blues

Wouldn’t they be a huge celebrity? I think there might be some backlash, but it would be pretty much shouted down by everyone else. I think we’re at a point where even most pro athletes would say “eh, its no big deal.” I mean if the military by and large doesn’t seem to mind, I can’t see why a bunch of baseball players would.

I got my wife a breakfast burrito this morning. She seemed happy for now.

1. I imagine the life of a celebrity has a lot more ups and downs (or that the ups and downs are more extreme) than an average life – everybody crashes, but celebs do more damage when they crash.

2. Diego Maradona…gotta be somebody in South America, right?

3. There was some discussion about this in soccer circles at the beginning of the season (and maybe rugby too) and a lot of players said that they would not play on the same team as a gay player – made it sound like professional athletes are a lot more homophobic than the general population…though it might also be that they’re a lot less homosexual than the general population. I have no idea.

4. I can only speak to the three places I’ve been, so: Canary Islands – total awesomeness, especially at Mardi Gras. Madrid – urban metropolis. Barcelona – Mediterranean paradise with a ton of history. Everywhere else in Spain – Raining in the plains.

5. Moose.

Bonus: I’ll go with Something to Talk About by Bonnie Raitt

I’m starting to casually follow it. – why the heck do they have their season over the winter time? Isn’t it like…cold in much of Europe right now?

1. Selection Bias. When old famous people die we don’t really talk about it, when young famous people die, we tend to idolize them. Plus being famous leads to more activities that could kill you. Near constant travel, hard physical exertion, long hours, and usually drugs.

2. Charlie Sheen has to be close.

3. I would imagine its more than that. But I would say that generally speaking gays have less interest in playing sports, especially when playing sports puts them in a usually pretty homophobic environment.

4. Old. That’s what I came away with from Spain. Everything about it felt old. The cities(even Barcelona and Madrid), the countryside, even the clubs on the Mediterranean sea. It all just felt kinda worn down and laid back. It really stuck in my mind when I went shopping in what I was told was a brand new "super"department store in Madrid, and it felt like shopping at an old outlet store here in America.

5. Gordon, always liked him and wanted him to succeed. Nabbed 2 authentic Gordon jerseys this last off-season for $20 after like half a dozen discounts. Now that looks like the best purchase I ever made.

Bonus: I don’t know if it counts as country per se, but Lady Gaga’s “You and I” feels about as country as non-country can get.

1) Why does it seem that a lot of famous people die comparatively young?

Many people die relatively young; we just happen to notice it when they’re famous.

2) Which living person do you think has consumed the most cocaine? My money’s on Keith Richards.

Jimmy Carter.

No, I’m sure it’s somebody nobody’s heard of.

3) No pro baseball players have admitted to being gay until their retirement, and even then it was only two or three. Is it possible that this is not discrimination, but rather that most gay people have little interest in playing baseball?

The truth probably lies somewhere in between the two to an extent. I doubt there’s much outright discrimination going on, but I’m understanding why some would be unwilling to come out.

4) What image do you have of Spain? Don’t worry if your image turns out to be wrong, I’d just like to know what you think.

I envision something like small towns set against stereotypical landscapes of the American West, with genuinely Catholic residents and perhaps Don Quixote bouncing about.

5) Who’s your favorite current Royal?
Crow.

BONUS: What’s your favorite country song?

Blue by the Jayhawks.

1) A life of Debauchery

2) Probably somebody in Motley Crue

3) I guess

4) I would imagine Bulls run wild in all the streets all the time

5) Alex Gordon

BONUS: Red Solo Cup

1. Drugs. Lots and lots of drugs. And not necessarily illegal drugs…think of some of the recent celebrities who have died from prescription drug cocktails/complications (Ledger, Brittany Murphy, etc.). I also think actors, musicians, comedians, etc. have some innate mental issues that lead them to depression, drug use, etc. (Hedberg, Farley, Cobain, etc.). I think you have to be at least a little bit crazy/obsessive to want to do that with your life, and to risk everything and work your ass off to become a “celebrity”. Not to mention, it seems like the celebrity subculture and wealth at the top of these professions certainly creates an environment where drugs and booze are plentiful and readily accepted. So the people who may be predisposed to partake in such things (and at crazy levels/frequency) have nothing in their way to stop them. Finally, it’s probably like other people have said…we just notice more when celebrities die young. There may not be a statistical significance to it.

2. Richards has got to be up there. Maybe Ozzy Osbourne (although coke seems like one of the healthier things he’s probably done). As far as other celebrities go, I’d say Sheen is probably in that stratosphere. But I’m guessing that there are more than a few, relatively unknown trust fund kids from the coasts that have partied just as hard and used as much as those guys.

3. I do think that a seemingly relative lack of interest among gays may account for a statistical difference in homosexual pro athletes vs. the general population. The problem is you won’t be able to really figure that out for sure if athletes feel like they still can’t come out.

4. I think of a place in Europe where everyone speaks Mexican for some reason and stays up really late to eat dinner. Actually, since I’ve never been (but would love to go someday), I envision Spain as a warmer, perhaps drier France, without quite as much chain smoking and disdain for Americans.

5. Hosmer. I guess just because of the superstar potential. Plus, he was a fat kid at one point like me, so he gives me hope. Although, he’s 22 and I’m 34, so it’s probably too late for me.

BONUS: I don’t like country at all. But if I had to listen to it, I’d much prefer selections from its early days, when it was closer to rock n’ roll. So, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis (if he qualifies), etc. I do like “She Thinks I Still Care” by George Jones.

1) Why does it seem that a lot of famous people die comparatively young?

Substance abuse.

2) Which living person do you think has consumed the most cocaine? My money’s on Keith Richards.

Ben Stein

3) No pro baseball players have admitted to being gay until their retirement, and even then it was only two or three. Is it possible that this is not discrimination, but rather that most gay people have little interest in playing baseball?

Baseball players are predominantly from either the South or Latin America and are not typically well-educated or progressive thinkers. While I don’t know that it would be as huge a deal with the Latin players, it certainly isn’t an environment that I’d want to be out in were I a gay ballplayer.

4) What image do you have of Spain? Don’t worry if your image turns out to be wrong, I’d just like to know what you think.

I see it as the Spain portrayed in Biutiful.

5) Who’s your favorite current Royal?

The Messiah

BONUS: What’s your favorite country song?

If I had to choose, I’d probably go with “The Man Comes Around,” “Daytime Friends,” or “Waymore’s Blues.” I like a lot of non-Nashville machine country, though. – OMD