A friend of the blog recently reminded me that heavy cream is extremely low in lactose, and ok, let’s see if I can get this right:
Lactose occurs naturally in dairy products originating from all sorts of animals. Sheep milk, for Manchego? Lactose. Water buffalo milk, for mozzarella? Lactose. Goat milk, for goat cheese? Lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in the milk of mammals, including human milk. The reason folks from some parts of the world can digest it while others can’t is that there’s a gene present in humans from historically dairy-based cultures (northern Europe, specifically) which enables them to continue digesting lactose even after they aren’t a baby anymore. I’m assuming the gene makes the digestive system produce a specific enzyme, or something of that note.
Still, as a lactose-intolerant may tell you, not every dairy product has the same amount of lactose, and it doesn’t have a ton to do with which animal made the milk. Instead, it has to do with how the dairy product is made. Yogurt? Bacteria is added, and that bacteria breaks down lactose. Cheese? Bacteria is added, and that bacteria breaks down lactose (it has more time to do this in harder cheeses, which is why mozzarella is such a gut-wrecker for so many while cheddar is often benign). Heavy cream? Heavy cream is made by skimming the fat off the top of milk, and the fat has a lower lactose content than the less fatty parts. Wondering, based on that last bit, if skim milk has more lactose than whole milk? The Internet™ is implying that it does but that it’s pretty close.
So, that’s your lactose refresher. Mine as well, honestly. Needed that.
Did Vince Williams’s 2022 NIT Get Him Drafted?
In our NIT Fan’s Guide to the 2022 NBA Draft, published yesterday, we missed one NIT alum who ended up getting drafted.
He was a big one.
Vince Williams Jr., he who scored 17 and 27 on nine and fifteen shots for the floor in VCU’s two NIT games this March, is going to the league. Glad someone (the Grizzlies) recognized his greatness, even if the narrative didn’t ahead of time.
Also drafted among NIT alumni were Jalen Williams (12th overall, Thunder), Jake LaRavia (19th overall, Grizzlies via trade), David Roddy (23rd overall, Grizzlies), Ryan Rollins (44th overall, Warriors), Jabari Walker (57th overall, Blazers), and kind of Tyrese Martin (51st overall, Hawks) who only played in the 2020 Virtual NIT and we can’t even prove that because the way we ran the 2020 Virtual NIT eliminated individual players in the name of team spirit during a time of grand unification.
In short, the Grizzlies won the draft. Three NIT alumni to pair with NIT legend Desmond Bane? Unbelievable performance by Zach Kleiman.
The Lightning Are Going to…*Flips Coin*
I’m going to say that they win Game 5 and lose Game 6, because I’m quirky!
Really, though, don’t the Lightning do the surprising thing? Hasn’t that been their shtick these playoffs? Shouldn’t they not be counted out? Feels like it’s taking a lot of effort to not count them out, and I feel like there was a narrative that the Avalanche were chokers up until a couple weeks ago.
Also I would just like to point out that the Senators’ possible new arena is still one of the stories on all the hockey website top-headline widgets.
Worse Ricketts: Pete or Tom?
The Ricketts Family stinks, but who’s worse: Tom Ricketts, who lies through his teeth about the Cubs’ finances? Or Pete Ricketts, responsible for Nebraska’s new abomination of a license plate? I don’t know. I’m asking you.
David Bote’s Back!
Hey! Remember when we were a heavy David Bote blog??
David Bote was activated from the 60-day IL today, taking Jonathan Villar’s place on all the rosters, and for those newer to the Crow, Bote used to be our second-in-command after Joe Kelly. Hopefully he blows up again and we can get back to that. People forget he won a Rookie of the Year award (we aren’t lying).
NASHCAR
NASCAR’s in Nashville this weekend, and we don’t know at all what to expect because 1- Nashville’s kind of an intermediate track (which have been great with the new car), 2- Nashville’s also kind of a short track (which have been terrible with the new car), and 3- the Cup Series hasn’t run here much before. So, we’ll see. Hopefully it’s fun.
In related news, IndyCar is about to pop off—next weekend starts the season in earnest, with no more than a week off between races from there through the season finale—and as much as I’ve been enjoying IndyCar this year, I don’t have a preference for who wins the title. Not there yet.
The Difference Between Oklahoma and Mississippi
Oklahoma and Mississippi are both the “big brother” in Classic in-state college rivalries, with Mississippi’s being one of the most classic in all the land. Still, very different cultures, or such is my impression. Oklahoma has a more suburban-acting fanbase, Mississippi’s is wilder, epitomizing SEC Greek Culture while also having a large tendency towards the unhinged. I’m struggling to think of a great parallel for Mississippi, but Oklahoma isn’t it. Mississippi, therefore, is unique, and Oklahoma would be unique but the things that make it stand out are mainly just how watered-down its tendencies are compared to the other “big brother” schools in Classic rivalries. It’s not as uptight as Michigan or Virginia. It’s not as self-assured as Kansas or Washington. It’s not as rabidly its own thing as Alabama. It’s not as douchey as Iowa or Oregon. And it’s certainly not the springtime thunderstorm that is Mississippi.
More New Burnleys
In addition to Dan Ballard, it sounds like Burnley will be adding Scott Twine and CJ Egan-Riley (on loan), though like Wout Weghorst’s move to Turkey, none of this is yet official. Twine was the League One player of the year last year with MK Dons, he’s 22 years old, and he can play midfield or forward. Egan-Riley is a 19-year-old defender with Man City who’d just be a mercenary, but would probably be a good mercenary if Man City likes him!
Overall, it’s one of those things where the more young players Burnley’s bringing in, the more exciting, and the most of that which can happen with Burnley being as competitive as possible next year is the goal. Basically: This is the best time to rebuild and it’s also the best year to get right back up to the Premier League, and a combination of those things is the goal, right? I’m understanding that correctly?
Mason Ramsey Continues to Not Take Polarizing Political Stances
I even checked the TikTok today (usually I only check the Instagram). That’s this week’s Mason Ramsey update. Catering to the middle, as he does. And damn, does he do it well.
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Viewing schedule for the weekend:
Friday, 8:10 PM EDT: Orioles @ White Sox (MLB TV, third screen)
Saturday, 2:10 PM EDT: Orioles @ White Sox (MLB TV, second screen)
Sunday, 2:10 PM EDT: Orioles @ White Sox (MLB TV, third screen)
Joe Kelly’s gonna get another save, guys. He’s gotta. The universe is said to be beneficent.
Friday, 8:15 PM EDT: Cubs @ Cardinals (Apple TV+, second screen)
Saturday: 2:15 PM EDT: Cubs @ Cardinals (MLB TV)
Sunday, 2:15 PM EDT: Cubs @ Cardinals (MLB TV, second screen)
The Cubs’re gonna get a win, guys. They’ve gotta. Probably just one, though. (If you wrote to me about Miles Mikolas this week, know that I will be watching his vibes closely)
Friday, 8:00 PM EDT: Lightning @ Avalanche, Game 5 (ABC)
Sunday, 8:00 PM EDT: Avalanche @ Lighting, Game 6 – if necessary (ABC)
You know we love a good dogpile.
Saturday, 7:00 PM EDT: Oklahoma vs. Mississippi, Game 1 (ESPN)
Sunday, 3:00 PM EDT: Oklahoma vs. Mississippi, Game 2 (ESPN)
You know we love a great dogpile.
Sunday, 5:00 PM EDT: NASCAR Cup Series @ Nashville (NBC, second screen)
The track, or at least its stands, should be shaped like a guitar.
If this place stinks and they have to tear it down. If it’s great, carry on.
