It’s a long shot that many will be sipping this julep
If you’re at the Kentucky Derby on May 6 and a friend offers to buy you a drink, Larry Stewart of the Los Angeles Times suggests that you tell your friend you’ll have one of those “ultimate” mint juleps. Then watch the expression on your friend’s face when the bill comes.
An “ultimate” mint julep, sold only on race day, costs $1,000.
It’s made with one of Kentucky’s best bourbons, mint from Morocco, ice from the Arctic Circle and sugar from the South Pacific. It comes in a 24-karat gold-plated cup with a silver straw.
No, the Churchill Downs people haven’t become greedy. Only 50 “ultimate” mint juleps will be sold, and the proceeds go to the New Jersey-based Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which provides homes for retired racehorses.
Well, that explains it
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg, on those $1,000 mint juleps: “It sounds expensive, but apparently it’s made out of gasoline.”
Tight squeeze
NASCAR, trying to cater to its female fans, announced that it plans to market its own line of women’s apparel, including bikinis.
According to Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times, “Producing the bikinis was easy once they figured out how to install the mandatory restrictor plates – not to mention squeezing all those sponsors’ names onto just one square foot of material.”
Fighting words
Complaining about the lack of quality heavyweight boxers these days, Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post wrote, “I’d rather watch George Foreman and Joe Frazier fight over prunes at a salad bar than pay to see these other geeks.”
No kidding
David McGill of Omaha, Neb., won the USA Rock Paper Scissors League championship earlier this month in Las Vegas. About 250 competitors vied for the $50,000 grand prize.
Seriously.
Secretary of Speed
Colin Powell, who spoke in Los Angeles last week, said he needed a toy after stepping down as Secretary of State in January 2005.
So he bought himself a Corvette, and that led to Powell’s being invited to drive the pace car, a Corvette, at last year’s Indianapolis 500.
“I don’t know what else is going to be in store for me in this lifetime,” Powell said, “but I can always say I led the Indy 500.”
Shooting from the hip
In congratulating NCAA championship teams a few weeks ago at the White House, President Bush joked that the U.S. Military Academy’s rifle team might be able to teach Vice President Dick Cheney a thing or two.
“If you happen to be walking around and run into the vice president, you might give him a few pointers,” Bush said, referring to how Cheney accidentally shot a companion while hunting in Texas.
Among the teams at the White House was Auburn’s women’s championship swimming and diving team. It gave the president a skimpy black bathing suit.
“Awfully thoughtful of you,” he said, holding it up for the audience to see. “I’m not going to wear it.”