We’ve stopped by Bob’s BAR a couple times previously but this is the 1^st time in 2025. Sports talk & Beer “rule” at this bar. Let’s listen in as the “usual” guys are at their spots or will be arriving shortly.

…Bart, by his smaller stature, one could guess that he was a computer tech guy.  Surprisingly, he was an early arrival today and was at the bar enjoying his 2^nd beer of the day. With him was Frank, who was a wide-shouldered, “big” man  who always seemed to be at the bar in his regular seat– the corner seat. They were talking sports but Bart was doing almost all of the talking. With his regular “job”, Franku didn’t do much talking ..soo… sports was his “thing”. We could hear him, ”Sure it’s a rebuild…oh crap…what was Mo’s word…that’s it”, it’s a “reset”.  Who is he kidding? We’ll be doing this “reset” for 5 years. Bart was getting “worked up” (because he lived/died each day with the Cards). Bart continued…”Then by that 5 year mark, some of players…if they’re still here…they’ll be shipped out. …Frank sat still looking right @ Bart, he kept shaking his head in agreement but really only “half listening”. He’d heard this song before…in fact, many times before over the last 6 months, but didn’t say a word. He was tired of it as he concentrated more on the TV than the discussion.

… Then, after a big gulp of his Budweiser, Frank looked right @ Bart, eye to eye. “Slow down there big boy…what’s new here. Not a thing!! We could see it all coming….they cut payroll by moving players on the edge of free agency. They haven’t reached  for their wallet for quite awhile!!”. Kolten Wong entered free agency in 2021 and signed with the Brewers. Harrison Bader was traded in 2022. Jack Flaherty and Paul DeJong were traded at the 2023 trade deadline. All were on the cusp of free agency. Some others were simply sent into free agency without a peep.

…   Bart jumped right back in, “Yea, Exactly…. That’s what I’m saying” said in a very loud voice. A sudden, yet deafening quiet came over the bar—something that didn’t happen too often!! A person shouting in the bar was unusual… real unusual…so it stunned everyone. Most just took another gulp of their beer and stayed quiet.

 …But, Frank took the lead, “These owners are the DeWitts..ya know..they’ve owned or held significant ownership stakes in several baseball teams. It started with the St. Louis Browns, then Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, (his voice kept increasing) and now the St. Louis Cardinals. The ol’ man– Bill DeWitt Sr. has owned the St. Louis Browns (later becoming the Orioles) and the Cincinnati Reds. Now, Bill DeWitt Jr. was a minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers before acquiring the St. Louis Cardinals in 1995. It’s in their blood and…partially laughing… in their wallets! Were any of those teams better when he left then they were when he arrived?” Ya all know the answer…move on Bart.

…. Billy & Arnold were bouncing in through the side door of the bar. It was just in time…some new voices were needed and Billy & Arnold would stir it up.  They were the newest members of this particular drinking “group”. Billy always seemed to have a smile on his face. He shouts out “how’s everyone Today!”  Another day behind us!!  Now….we’re not still hammering the Cardinals are we? I’m tired of it. Let’s move on… to some hockey, man!”  As he finished that sentence, Billy moved towards the Barkeeper and ordered his 1^st drink. It was a hard seltzer–the current trend of the younger guys & Billy fit right in!  Instantly, the barkeeper, dug deep into the cooler and brought out one his newest brands.  Billy had the attention of the “boys” …. No one else drank a seltzer…sooo, he looked around to get eye contact from everyone then blurted out, “any more seltzers?”

…sure enough, Bart responded while smiling, ”Ya still sucking up that half beer/half of whatever”? Billy ( a bit on the shy side) sensed it was “his” time to speak up. “Well…did any of you guys see that the NHL is really raising its payroll.  Arnold’s favorite sport was hockey…so, he often led the discussion to hockey. Then, he blurts out, “Yes, the NHL is planning to significantly expand their spending for the 2025-26 season. The NHL’s team salary cap will jump from $88 million (in 2024-25) to $95.5 million in 2025-26. That’s an 8.5% jump!!! But….it’s still under control … it’s not like the MLB. Ya know… Dodgers/Yankees are in their own league in spending!! Of course, our Blues won’t come close to the max…but …His voice was staring to elevate,” how fair is that? Bart, who knew where this was going, jumped in.  “Yea Arnold you’re right to a point. I mean how much money can they charge for a ticket?  It’s already really high. But…them hockey fans are like you….crazy” as he smiled and raised his beer towards Arnold, “here’s to ya big boy…keep rooting for those Blues” Charley, who had just walked in…walked over to get closer to the guys. “ I’m with Arnold…”Blues surprised everyone last year by winning 1 stinking round.  Their corp of good young players is growing.  Last year, some of those young  guys were pretty good. Guys like Jake Neighbors (man…he’s my favorite), Zach Bulduc, & Dylan Holloway had a terrific  series against the Winnipeg Jets. Then there’s this Dvorsky kid and what was the name of that #1 pick—Snuggerud,…Jimmy  Snuggerud. That Snuggerud kid actually scored in the playoffs!” Billy chipped in,” yea, man, he didn’t look intimidated at all. He might even work his way up to the top line this year!!”

….Suddenly from the end of the bar, Frank piped up,” Yea….that was a good series…but ya know, the Blues have only won 1 post-season round since they won it all in 2019!!” That seemed to stun everyone or they were real thirsty 😊 as it was suddenly very quiet in the bar as all took a big gulp (or two) of beer.

…Then, not 2 minutes later Charley, who had settled down at the end of the bar was listening to the banter. He’d been through a “tough” day (at least to his eyes😊). It was hot, really hot and he was out there working on constructing a “new” house. Then Charley holds 1 finger up as he looked right at the Bartender. Immediately, Eddie (the Bartender) shook his head yes and fixed him up with a glass of  draft beer.  

…Leave it to Billy to “move on” 😊Billy, beaming, looked around at the whole group (of which most were drinking from their beer glass and almost ignoring him! “Hey Man…let’s talk some Football. Our Tigers will be good, probably “really good”!  Bart shook his head up & down; Frank was sipping his beer; Arnold just looked straight ahead—looked like he was still processing the info (sometimes, that took him awhile 😊) Finally Arnold, after his gulp, said, “I don’t want to pop your bubble big boy but Mizzou will be OK…but nothing real special”. Everyone turned & looked at Arnold. Some were stunned that Arnold wasn’t “all in” on Mizzou! After a round of groans, shaking heads, or just gulps, Arnold continued in the spot-light, “Mizzou was seeded #9 in the SEC!  That’s no “big shakes, man, 9th”!! Arnold was on a roll…he felt it…”And…they lost their QB-Brady Cook. I mean that guy was good…. Especially in coming back from behind. He led the Tigers to all-kinds of comeback wins. Man…how could you forget that great “come-back” against Auburn last year! MU was 10-1 in one-score games in 23 & 24 seasons. I mean, “I say it again…that guy was good, real good…we’re going to miss him. He got signed by the Jets right after the draft” Arnold was getting louder & louder…Finally the bartender looked @ Frank.  Frank…got the hint… “Hey Arnold, simmer down, big boy..why don’t ya buy all of us a beer…we’d probably listen to your Mizzou stuff a little better (as he smiled)” if you do! Put on the spot, Arnold looked at the Barkeeper, ‘Hey man, send us another round” as he was reaching for his wallet. Not sold on MU..Charley had his own thoughts on the Tigers, ““We’ll see if that QB–(Beau) Pribula kid from Penn State can “cut it” as a 1^st stringer. Some step up and some just can’t make in the SEC with the “big plays” on 3^rd down..just when you need it!!”

…Just then, the door opened and much to the surprise of everyone Walter shuffled into the bar. Walter hadn’t been there for awhile! Walter was a favorite of most everyone so everyone turned and in their own way, “Hey Walter…good to see ya…yada,yada, yada”.  Walter approached the bar, “Yea, it’s been awhile…ya know at my age something is always breaking down in my body. But…that modern medicine is really something…sooooo…here I am. “Gimme a shot & a Bud” he said once at the bar. “is that your “modern medicine?” shouted out Billy as he was smiling. Charley turned, looked @ Billy and shook his head up & down! All enjoyed the comment  & the reaction as all laughed, Walter, who REALLY was a big basketball chimed in,”How about that NBA draft?  3 of the first 6 players chosen were from Duke! Frank, sitting right at bar, turned & said, “Looks like they’re be taking a “pay cut” with the pros!  All gigged at the sarcasm & truth in his statement! Walter, unfazed by the laughs continued,” And…Rutgers had 2 players drafted in the top 10!” Bart, who’d been very quiet, yea…Rutgers  has transformative’ NIL deals for their top recruits” Even Frank had to chuckle….”yea….they’ll call it whatever they want but…we all know that those kids are getting paid to play college basketball. And…they’re getting paid more than we are…how about that?

… Bart looking at Walter wanted to change the topic since he didn’t know squat about the NBA and very little about the NCAA mens basketball. So…he started asking the “guys” about their families.  A couple minutes later, quiet came over the bar….then, Frank stood up, “I gotta go guys!” With that, all the other guys, finished their drink, mumbled a “Yea, I gotta go too” to each other then headed to the door.  They’d be back tomorrow 😊! Thanks for joining us at the bar for the 3^rd time! Your thoughts on any of the topics are ALWAYS INVITED….even if you’re not AT Bob’s BAR!   Bob