Now I’m in for it: John Smoltz, United States Congressman?
Well, there go any aspirations I had — not that I had many — of having a real “in” with someone in power in our nation’s capital. Because John Smoltz and I, as I’ve noted before, have been on the outs since 1997.
The AJC’s political insider Jim Galloway is reporting that some Republicans are interested in drafting my favorite pitcher to run for the House seat John Linder announced Saturday he’ll be leaving. I don’t live in the Seventh Congressional District, so I guess even if Smoltz got elected he couldn’t exert too much influence over, say, my subdivision. But you never know. Smoltz has a way of getting what he wants, and he’d have one bully pulpit at his disposal.
And really, would it be a huge jump from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other? Today he’s Citizen Smoltz. Come November, he could be Congressman Smoltz. From there, who knows? Governor Smoltz? Senator Smoltz? President Smoltz?
From pitching against the White Sox — which he has done, if only twice — to living in the White House. Wouldn’t that be something?
According to my esteemed colleague Mr. Galloway, Smoltz has been “paying down some dues in several Republican contests in Georgia over the past two years.” He hasn’t run for anything, but that mightn’t be what the R’s — in savvy political circles, Republicans are known as the R’s — need. He has a famous name. He’d be able to raise money because, let’s face it, who (other than me) wouldn’t love to speak with John Smoltz? And he’s pretty clearly a conservative.
Full disclosure: There’s a Hall of Fame pitcher who’s an elected member of Congress who also happens to be a friend of my mom’s. He’s Jim Bunning, the Senator from Kentucky. (My mom, I should state, was heavy into Republican state politics.) So ordinarily I’d think, “Smoltz hates me, but Sen. Bunning likes my mother, so maybe they’d cancel each other out if a certain someone, say, ever tried to enact a law that would ban a certain Atlanta scribe from writing about sports.”
No such luck. Sen. Bunning is likewise retiring, which would render me friendless-by-proxy in D.C. But I did once sit next to Ralph Reed on the plane back from Phoenix after Game 7 of the 2001 World Series — the Republican power broker had been to the game, and I’d covered it — and he and I had a nice long talk. So maybe he’d put in a word for me.
But that still wouldn’t be enough. It’s said that politics make strange bedfellows. There’s be no bed so strange, I’d venture, as to accommodate John Andrew Smoltz and Mark Andrew Bradley. If No. 29 runs and wins, I’m in real trouble. He’d be working in the U.S. Capitol, and my political capital would be down to zero.
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142 comments Add your comment
Cousin Vicker
February 28th, 2010
2:50 pm
I think you should be more concerned with the (slight) possibility Smoltz signs with Atlanta. Then you two would have to be around each other like, a lot.
don
February 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
In response to “hey don are you really educated?”, the answer is “yes”. I would assume from your rambling post which contained no logic and indicated no intelligence whatsoever that I am far more educated than are you. In fact, with my three degrees from a major university, one of which is a Juris Doctorate, I would venture to guess that, from your apparent attitude, I am probably paying a good bit of my excessive income taxes to support you and your kind.
For the moron who attacked my homestate Sen. Bunning, I would suggest that you educate yourself in regard to his reasons for not supporting the bill. He said that he favors the bill but he believes that we need to find the 10 billion dollars to pay for it.
Now, in the age of BO, that is truly a unique point of view. Imagine that. someone believes we should have resources before we start spending the future of our children and grandchildren.
Suwaneedawg
February 28th, 2010
3:58 pm
As long as a democrat does NOT win, I don’t care if it is Smoltz. Mark, get over your little spat with Smoltz. Many more important things to write about today rather then someting that happened many moons ago.
he has his clown card
February 28th, 2010
4:09 pm
divorced, blow-hard, self-righteous, know-it-all, forces personal beliefs on everyone, and doing it all for Jesus front. yep, he fits for GA politics. I used to adore this guy when I was a kid. I guess we all learn from our youthful mistakes.
Trey
February 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
Mark
Make your bracket as of today. I want to see where you have the teams
Ken Stallings
February 28th, 2010
5:18 pm
Sometimes, people lose all sense in trying to taunt others. Such is this quote:
“Put down that Bible … and read a book!”
I swear, one wonders if the person making that quote deliberately decided to post something so ridiculous so as to ridicule that which he purported to defend!
Ken Stallings
February 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
Sometimes, someone is so desperate to attempt to taunt that he writes something so totally absurd, that one wonders if, in fact, he isn’t really trying to attack that which he purports to defend. This is such a quote:
“Put down that Bible … and read a book!”
One doesn’t have to make this stuff up!
ArtDodger
February 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
I’ll vote Democrat if he runs….if he wants to be a politican tell him to run for the Glynn County Tax Commissioners job and lower my property bill!
And Roodge Owns
February 28th, 2010
6:46 pm
So, is every Smotlz development from now till dooms day going to be an invitation to re-hash your deal with him? It’s getting to where I get a very icky feeling when I see your photograph. Smoltz is a pretty clueless narcissist, but you’re catching up.
D in Atlanta
February 28th, 2010
7:01 pm
You know Bradley, this is just so messed up. My favorite sports writer and my favorite pitcher at odds with one another. Can you just shake hands and call a truce. . . . . .Hurry before the CIA and FBA is brought into this. . . . .PLEASE!!!!!
a$$play
February 28th, 2010
7:16 pm
ANYONE who votes for someone just cause he is a hall of famer IS A RETARD! People that vote in this “popularity contest” are the same ones who will put Sarah Palin in office! Learn what representation is before you cast a vote.
Gwinnett Fred
February 28th, 2010
7:23 pm
Bradley & Smoltz were meant for each other. One is a hypocritical self centered holier than thou ass and the other is a know it all that has the personality of a wet sponge.
ArtDodger
February 28th, 2010
7:36 pm
Bradley, You think maybe you should take it easy this week, I mean 1st you PO Hewett and now you stick it to us Republicans in Gwinnett…sports talk radio loves you…what the heck, I can’t wait to see what you stir up next!!!!! Keep it up.
BravesFanLostInOhio
February 28th, 2010
7:53 pm
Hey MB, thanks for bringing politics to our sports blogs. Just what we needed. Now, back to DOB. At least when he is off topic, its about basketball, motorcycles, music, and movies.
Matt
February 28th, 2010
8:03 pm
The hawks are self destructing to end the season. I don’t think they will get out of the first round. Lose another at home. Pathetic the losers this city has.
Ed
February 28th, 2010
8:13 pm
Mark
You aren’t ‘in for it” if smoltz won. you and we all are in for it with the current president, speaker and senate maj leader. cramming down a hideous health care bill that 75% of the people don’t want that will eventually bankrupt the country will us in. you all better pray this doesn’t get passed or we will be greece in 5 years and you will be paying 60% of your income in taxes and your kids will never retire.
BMLocal26
February 28th, 2010
8:18 pm
Hey 3 degrees Don, G.W. started spending the future of our children and grandchildren when he invaded Iraq.
BMLocal26
February 28th, 2010
8:28 pm
Ed. Watch Fox News much? Or ever listen to Rush Blimpbaugh very often?
BMLocal26
February 28th, 2010
8:41 pm
Last!
Sellout his country?
February 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
Some people are lunatics. I don’t agree with Ted Turner or Jane Fonda, but I am not going to call Smoltz anti-America because he had a boss you is an atheist and liberal. John Smoltz is one of my heros and has never done anything but good for Atlanta, MLB, and our country.
Ken Stallings
February 28th, 2010
11:13 pm
While I agree that no one should vote for someone (or against) just because he was a popular athlete. However, it’s interesting how without Smoltz making the first campaign speech so many are assuming he’s got nothing upstairs for the job!
Personally, I’m of the view that the least qualified people are lawyers!
I think we need far many more people in Congress (and the White House) who first had to work a job outside the legal profession. Perhaps if that were the case we could have bills that were written plain and clear.
You can sit down in an hour and read the entire US Constitution. It was mostly written over 200 years ago and yet it reads as clear as ever. Why a single copy of a bill today has to single-handedly kill a tree is utter nonsense!
Bills become that complicated because of a desire to obscurate. Lawyers take clean water and turn it murky to achieve something for a client. I won’t call the whole profession tarnished. But, I have reached the firm conclusion it is past time lawyers get out of the business of US federal government.
CitizenK9
February 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
Success in baseball is black and white. Its all gray in Washington and the the elected officials have to compromise their principles to even hope to get anything done. He’d quickly become jaded, get a mistress, and then start lobbying on K Street for megabucks. Let him stay above that mess.
In Dimitroff We Trust
March 1st, 2010
12:02 am
Bradley,
You are so lame. You sound like a jilted lover. What a puscatore!
BMLocal26
March 1st, 2010
8:26 am
Last again!
JOHN VOTER
March 1st, 2010
12:22 pm
He’ll get in the Hall maybe on first Ballot But thats it Two words HOT HEAD. Ball player thats it.
Brandon
March 1st, 2010
12:37 pm
Mark,
I’ve been reading your article for a while now and it never ceases to amaze me how insecure you sound. Why keep writing about the Smoltz thing? Jabbing him in your articles on an almost monthly basis makes it seem like you’re jealous of the relationship DOB and others have with Smoltz. If you were authentically self-confident you wouldn’t need to write snarky stuff like this for thousands to read. You wouldn’t need OUR approval for your decision to let childish stuff from 12 YEARS AGO have such a hold on you.
Disbott 3000
March 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
Dude, let it go, for cryin’ out loud. Are we supposed to be impressed because you are one of the few people that John Smoltz, apparently, does not like? It’s weak, so drop it.
And I’ll take Smoltz in congress over most of the crooks that are in there now. Maybe he can use his fame to help influence some good in that den of thieves.
Ted
March 1st, 2010
2:41 pm
Mark, you only diminish yourself with these ridiculous articles. So Smoltz doesn’t like you. Who cares? And he’s already stated definitively that he’s not running for the seat. Of course, that doesn’t matter, as you have a deadline and a minimum number of words to write. Correct?
wallypip
March 1st, 2010
5:38 pm
Talked to Smoltzie once and thought he was an extremely bright guy. If he chooses to run for Congress as a Republican, that opinion will change.
wallypip
March 1st, 2010
5:51 pm
Hey Jim Bunning defender, did he or you stop to wonder where those trillions would come from when he voted to invade Iraq, based on fabrications lies? Nah. You only worry about spending when it’s proposed by somebody you don’t like. Our war costs are NOT EVEN ON THE BOOKS. Yet it costs $1 million per soldier per year in Iraq and Afghanistan. We could have provided a hell of a health care plan, or built a lot of clean power plants, or even upgraded our border security, or all of the above, with the money we’re wasting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then there are those many thousands of dead US soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis and Afghans. Jim Bunning always wins the Congressional staff survey as the stupidist member of Congress. Cannot stay awake in hearings. Out of spite, shuts down a program that will cost bucks to restart again. I think he took a few too many beanballs to the head.
how2fish
March 1st, 2010
6:12 pm
randyarnold ..really I hope John doesn’t un but for you or anyone to say he’s not qualified ..WTF you just elected a man to the most important job in the world who has NO qualifications…he has never run a business, a county , a city or a state government..never served in the military not earned a private sector paycheck..and John has to be at least that quailified..but he hasn’t almost destroyed the country in less than 2 years.
Jason
March 1st, 2010
6:13 pm
WOW!!! What a %$#(*&^ #*&$ column. That was pathetic!!! How do you still have a job?!? Is the paper hiring? Low standards clearly!!!
Bobbymahlon
March 2nd, 2010
11:13 am
MARK: Did Smoltz get remarried ?
Trey
March 2nd, 2010
6:48 pm
Next we should have Sonny Clusters as the education czar.
Matt
March 2nd, 2010
7:28 pm
Dude, let it go, how about actually writing about some sports NEWS like DOB instead of whining your way through a piece about how you got your feelings hurt because Smoltzie glared at you.
Ex-Braves Fan
March 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
Well Bradley since you are a falming liberal, I guess you would be terrified of a conservative coming in and actually making you earn a living besides writing in a dying newspaper. What’s wrong, afraid your beloved socialist in the white house won’t pay your mortgage and car payments for you once the AJC goes under like the rest of the flaming liberal newspapers are?
Clip file 3.3.10 — NYFSBlogs
March 3rd, 2010
2:01 pm
[...] Does John Smoltz prefer Congress to the Mets? Recap Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward in their game against the [...]
longtimedawgfan
March 3rd, 2010
5:20 pm
I would be interested in the rest of his resume…much as I love Smoltz and baseball, and as famous as he is, what has he done, other than to make political contributions, that would make us think he is remotely qualified to go to Washington to save this country….then again, maybe that’s what gets one elected in this country…name and money….
Jeff R
March 3rd, 2010
7:49 pm
Smoltz would make a fine member of Congress. Certainly better than most of those bozos on the Hill now.
Dunwoody Journal-Constitution
March 3rd, 2010
9:11 pm
Who is the publisher this week?
Dave In Tampa
March 4th, 2010
9:48 am
MB: Your about as childish as it comes with your little grudge against Smoltz. Smoltz has moved on and you can’t let it go… for what 13 years now? Grow up! That’s the difference between you and John Smoltz. He’s moved on and has class. You have not moved on and have “No Class.”
Bill Fletcher
March 4th, 2010
6:40 pm
Jump in there, John. This is the time!!! We need your clear thinking and conservative approach to fill that seat in Congress!!! Please consider this move from a Republican friend in North Carolina. This open seat could fall into “Enemy Hands” if you don’t do it! God Bless you and your family !!! Our nation needs you!
Bill Fletcher
Wilkesboro, NC