Greetings from Maine.
Who has a great state flag.
THAT’S NOT IN USE!
Get a load of this: “The flag of the U.S. state of Maine from 1901 to 1909 was the first official flag to be used to represent the state other than its militia; it was later replaced by a more standard military-style flag in 1909.”
The 1901-1909 flag? This guy:
The current flag? Brace yourselves:
*hands you a roll of paper towels to clean up all that barf*
The adjusted version of the old flag? The one on all the merchandise? Behold:
The people seem hip to the issue, which is to say, there is a lot of merchandise being sold between Portland and Bar Harbor featuring the tree and the star. The problem, though? The people might not actually be hip to the issue (I’m sorry, I don’t know what that phrase means either, but we’re going for it).
What evidence do I have that the people of Maine may not be hip to the issue of their state flag sucking and a historic, strong alternative being available? Certain Mainers keep bringing this to the state legislature, and the state legislature keeps shooting it down. Who elects the state legislature? That’s right. The people of Maine.
So, unless people in Maine are prioritizing something other than flag opinions when electing their representatives, the people don’t actually want the flag to change. Which is concerning. Because I previously was having a really good time up here, and now I don’t know that I can trust anybody.
**
No further notes today, except to say that Joe Kelly crushed it over the weekend and I look forward to seeing him take the mound tomorrow night at his old stomping grounds as the American League’s All-Star Game opener. What an honor. For the American League.
We’ll catch up on everything else as the week goes on. Train ride back to Boston tomorrow, plane rides back to Austin on Wednesday. Gonna catch up with the Detroit airport over lunch.
Viewing schedule for the evening:
8:00 PM EDT: Home Run Derby, ESPN
Preferred winners:
1. Kyle Schwarber, because he’s the coolest
2. Pete Alonso, because a Home Run Derby dynasty is what this event needs
3. José Ramírez, but only if Josh Naylor is there to celebrate (he drops to 4th otherwise)
4. Juan Soto, because of the swagger (I hope he takes some pitches the way he takes pitches in games)
5. Ronald Acuña Jr, because of the swagger
6. Julio Rodríguez, because of the swagger
7. Albert Pujols, because it’d be special but also some Cardinals fans would make it about themselves so I cannot rank him higher
8. Corey Seager, because he doesn’t really have that much swagger but he has a reputation of having swagger and we loathe a false narrative
