Stu’s Notes: #PrayersForCorrea

Carlos Correa was, ever so briefly, a New York Met, and one day, he may be a Met again. Today, though, Carlos Correa is merely a man dealing with an undisclosed health concern. The reports are that it’s an issue with his lower right leg, upon which surgery was done eight years ago when the “shortstop” broke it doing unnamed activities. Speculation speculates, contrary to the lower-leg narrative, that Correa has a communicable disease which makes him a giant loser. It’s possible the problem is both. It’s possible it’s neither. There is so much we do not know.

Regardless of what the situation is with Correa, we need to pray, because as the saying goes, if you fail two physicals within a week, you are in grave danger. I’ve never failed a physical. Danny DeVito has never, to my knowledge, failed a physical. If Carlos Correa can’t pass his, even on the second try (which is always easier, that’s why it’s good to have your kids take the SAT eight times if they’re stupid), he is probably on purgatory’s doorstep, and we must pray. Just a few weeks ago, the question was which of the thirty teams the man would represent in 2023. Today, it’s down to two: The living or the dead.

We’ve had our share of beef with Correa over the years. We certainly don’t like the guy. But boy oh boy, do we want him alive. Pray for him, friends. Pray for him.

Should the 2025 NIT Final Four Be Held in Hilo?

Maui has the Maui Invitational.

Oahu has the Diamond Head Classic.

Should the Big Island host the 2025 NIT Final Four?

As of today, there is no set location for 2025. Heck, we’re still waiting on the dates of the 2024 Iowa NIT Caucus! If we don’t know when Drake, Iowa, and Northern Iowa will play a series of all-star games against Illinois Wesleyan in the Quad Cities as a straw poll geared at highlighting who has the best shot at winning the real national title, how could we possibly know where to hold the 2025 Final Four?

Still, the question has been asked, and it’s a worthwhile one. Clearly, Hawaii is good at hosting basketball tournaments. Is it time to give it the biggest one yet?

If Hawaii does host the 2025 NIT, the immediate concern will of course become whether California will retaliate. Seeing 2023 across the border in Nevada and 2025 across the border in Hilo and 2024 over in loathed motorsports rival Indiana? That’s a recipe for disaster, and if I’m thinking of the right guy, Gavin Newsom was born on January 8th, 1982 (or maybe 1983 or 1984—sources differ) and has been known to fire missiles into the sea when his neighbors get nice things. So, you know, there are good reasons to keep this quiet, even if we must not be intimidated into silence.

A Very Kelly Christmas

Here’s a nice story from NBC Sports Chicago last week: Joe Kelly made 2022 bearable for Yasmani Grandal. As Grandal, who struggled with injuries and having to play on the White Sox, put it:

“If it wasn’t for Joe Kelly, I think my season would have been…worse. He would come in every day and just make me laugh. Even when I didn’t feel like that. For that, I love him. I really appreciate him.”

There was also a mention of a video Kelly recently sent Grandal that Grandal didn’t want to describe to the media. Is Joe Kelly also a poop selfie guy? Strong chance. Might even do the volcano (do not ask us what the volcano is, we can’t go back to that).

Was Mason Ramsey on the Nice List?

Mason Ramsey is nearly a grown man, and we don’t want to patronize him. At the same time, though, we have to know: What was in the stocking? I hope it was whatever Mason Ramsey wanted, but I hope whatever Mason Ramsey wanted was specifically a brand new, shiny harmonica. I feel like if you’re going to pull off the child prodigy-to-professional adult musician pivot, you need a harmonica involved. Ever hear of Billy Joel? I have thought for years that he went to Juilliard. Upon a fact check just now, of myself, I learned that isn’t true, but I bet he was a good musician as a kid either way. Point is: Look what the harmonica did for Billy Joel.

**

Viewing schedule for the day:

2:30 PM EST: Quick Lane Bowl (ESPN)

I still call it the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. And on that topic, yes, you can find tons of recipes for pizza bowls online. So if you have extra mozzarella lying around, go do your duty. It’s like chipless nachos, from what I’m gathering.

8:00 PM EST: Rockets @ Bulls (League Pass)

No college basketball today, but those who complain about the quality of college hoops can get their fix tuning in here instead.

NIT fan. Joe Kelly expert. Milk drinker. Can be found on Twitter (@nit_stu) and Instagram (@nitstu32).
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