Highlighting news and images in Arizona—via tweets.
By Mike Saucier @MikeTheSauce
The World Baseball Classic came to town and did not disappoint the baseball fandom in Arizona. The Jodi Arias trial dragged on and local Tweeters enthused about the selection of a new pope.
PAPAL ANTICIPATION
Pope watch was in full effect early Tuesday as former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods tweeted: “The Cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope is a wonderful sight. Tradition is powerful. Michelangelo’s genius abides.”
Sean Bowie of Phoenix: “For the record, I’m supporting Sean O’Malley from Boston for Pope, for two reasons: dude’s name is SEAN, and he has a BEARD! Bearded pope!”
Father John Muir, a priest for the Diocese of Phoenix and assistant director of the Catholic Newman Center at ASU, tweeted: “A packed St Peter’s with all the lights on and the “Kyrie” chanted in Holy Mass…I can’t feel my legs.”
Of course, with any pope selection, there is a lot of talk of Cardinals. So Cards receiver and all-around great guy Larry Fitzgerald responded to his organization’s tweet of the pic below with: “Haha! “@AZCardinals: We knew that @LarryFitzgerald is a world traveler, but this is crazy. #Conclave @nfl”
Sports columnist for AZ Central Paola Boivin tweeted: “When Cardinals make free agency decisions today, will we see white smoke billowing from Tempe practice facility?”
LEFT HER HEART IN SEDONA
North Carolina resident Rebecca J. Macy tweeted: “Hiking in Sedona; found a cactus heart!”
HUGH THE MAN
Former Tempe mayor and current candidate for governor Hugh Hallman tweeted a pic from a Phoenix Art Museum fundraiser: “Attended Devour to raise money for PHX Art Museum, celebrate art/food. With Jeff Smedstad, chef at Elote in Sedona.”
AZ WAS ‘THE VALENTINE STATE’?
Rob Neyer, “just another young man trying to make his way in the world” who also happens to be a baseball stat guru and author, tweeted an interesting pic and factoid: “Straight from Bisbee, a lovely old state nickname”
THOU SHALT NOT TRESPASS
Justin Gomes tweeted a colorful sign from Jerome: “That guy should be in advertising “@_c_h_: Jerome, AZ”
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC A BLAST
Longtime Republic photographer David Kadlubowski snapped this shot of the Classic: “USA’s David Wright is greeted by Willie Bloomquist after they scored and topped Canada 9-4. #azcphoto #wbc”
J-ROLL THANKS AZ
USA (and Philadelphia Phillies’) shortstop Jimmy Rollins had nothing but praise for Arizona fans as the USA team moved on the next round of the World Baseball Classic: “Thanks to all the @USABaseball fans in AZ for making the 1st round as exciting as it was! Now it’s on to the next”
GRIDIRON BLUES
Dependable running back Beanie Wells bid adieu to the Cards: “Just been informed that I’ll be released today. Would like to thank the Cardinals organization for give me a chance to live out my Dreams”
LONGSHOT FOR LANCE
Local (and national) talk show man Johnjay Van Es made a bold prediction: “I watched golf today, Tiger Woods rocked it…My prediction: if Tiger can comeback after a coupla years of drama then Lance Armstrong can 2!”
WANTED: ONE QUARTERBACK
Famed local songstress Jordin Sparks really wants the Cards to find the right guy: “A QB! Any QB. lol #AZ RT @nfl Free agency starts 24 hours from RIGHT NOW! If your team could sign 1 player, it would be _______.#freeagency”
GLOBETROTTER’S ADVICE
Scottsdale resident and original Harlem Globetrotters member Meadowlark Lemon has some solid advice: “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. IF I do things halfheartedly, I can expect halfhearted results…”
THIS IS WHY WE LIVE HERE
D-Backs play-by-play man Steve Berthiaume summed up Cactus League bliss: “Beautiful day here in Scottsdale. Perfect weather, no clouds just blimps above @SaltRiverFields #Dbacks”
LOVE FOR PHX MUNI
Major League Baseball blogger (and former ESPN and MSNBC newsman) Keith Olbermann is digging Phoenix Municipal Stadium. He tweeted: “It doesn’t have to be new to be great; Phoenix Muni in its 50th year. A’s are leaving in 2015”
CLASSIC FUN
The Republic’s visuals guy Michael Meister tweeted a pic epitomizing the fun of baseball games: “Kids watch #USAvsMexico game in Phoenix tonight during the World Baseball Classic”
HOOPS MEETS PUCKS
Suns player Channing Frye is becoming a hockey fan: “More people need to come to the @PHXCoyotesHKY games this is unreal fun to watch!
PALM DOWN
Senior editor at AZ Central Chad Graham tweeted a pic of a storm victim in the East Valley near Dobson Road: “This palm tree did not survive today’s big storm in #Phoenix: (photo by @tamottwolverton) #azwx”
TOO MUCH ARIAS
Republic courts reporter Michael Kiefer: “A day off from the Jodi Arias trial to enjoy the Arizona desert in springtime.”
Tempe’s Ellen Streiff: “I should never have sat down to watch this trial coverage. #JodiArias”
The author of “Backroads & Byways of Arizona,” Jackie Dishner weighed in: “Oh, so now Travis just hauls off and slaps you. Just keep making it up as you go, girl. Something might stick. #jodiarias”
SODA STILL MAKES YOU FAT
Arizona politicians celebrated news out of New York that a judge struck a measure that would have limited the size of sugary drinks to 16 ounces at restaurants, theaters and food carts. Bottom line is that no matter how you feel about Mayor Bloomberg’s initiative, obesity and soda are now being discussed across the country. In that respect, it’s a win for Bloomberg.
The former mayor of Paradise Valley Vernon B. Parker: “American freedom 1. Mayor @MikeBloomberg 0. #sodaban”
U.S. Senator Jeff Flake : “Court slams Mayor Bloomberg’s #sodaban. I’ll drink (an extra large soda) to that!”
BIPARTISANSHIP ALIVE AND WELL
Phoenix councilman Daniel T. Valenzuela: “@MayorStanton and I had a chance to discuss w/Senator Jeff Flake, several issues including CIR with the DREAM Act.”
VICE’S SQUAD
The vice mayor of Phoenix, Bill Gates, tweeted an action shot: “Pic from our 32nd street bike ride on Sat – check out my COS @lauraetter drinking coffee while cruising on her bike.”
