2. True story: I am pretty sure I scared WFAA meteorologist Pete Delkus by peppering him with questions about his shirtsleeves LAST winter. He won’t respond on Twitter to my pleas for a shirtsleeves status anymore. Which is a crying shame, because he got slap happy last night and threatened everyone with basketball sized hail. He also said he fired Dale Hansen. Clearly Pete Delkus = God, and should not be mocked. But for the record – suit jacket on means you’re safe; shirtsleeves rolled up below the elbow, gird your loins; tank top – look for the wavy rapture thingies in Wick’s picture.

3. Bad news: If you travel on roads in Texas, you have a good shot at dying. I mean, other states are bad, too, but according to a new Reader’s Digest story, which took into account Federal Highway Administration data, Texas is ranked as having the 29th best roads in the country, the 16th deadliest roads, and the data puts Texas in the top 10 in both Deadliest for DUI and Deadliest for Speeding.  After suspending your disbelief that Reader’s Digest is still in print, buckle your seatbelt so we can see you on Monday, k? Maybe some protective headgear. Bubble wrap? I worry about you, FrontBurnervians.

4. So the U.S. Office of Special Counsel was all, “Ummmm, that FAA manager let Southwest fly planes that were unsafe. I’m telllllin’.” And then they told President Obama on that manager. If this plays out like it did when I was a kid, everyone will be sent to their rooms for quiet time because Daddy needs a drink and they’ve made Jesus cry.

5. And finally, this is my first Leading Off. Be gentle. I’m not allowed to drink until 3 p.m.

MLB started drug testing managers, coaches, and clubhouse personnel in 2008 on recommendation from George Mitchell.

Washington has already been through outpatient substance abuse counseling for the past nine months and first time offenders are not usually subjected to punitive measures, per MLB regulations as told by SI. Their names are also withheld from the public.

Now that the cat is out of the bag it looks like either Nolan Ryan or Jon Daniels will have to publicly explain their decision not to fire the manager of a team with at least one recreational drug addict already on the roster,  while they were sporting a 48-39 record that put them 1.5 games behind the Angels for first place in the AL West.

UPDATE: Evan Grant, while on 1310 The Ticket’s BAD radio show, said the Rangers organization could have fired Washington last year without fear of facing any sort of legal repurcussions.

UPDATE 2: Tip O’ The Hat to commenter SDM for pointing us to an ESPN Dallas chat with Nolan Ryan where he shared his reaction to the news:

Chris Smith (Dallas)

What was your first reaction when you learned of Washington positive test?

Nolan Ryan

(3:43 PM)

I was in total shock. Then I was mad. Then I was very disappointed. I went through an array of emotions.

Two footnotes: One, you’ll want to read VVM’s official take here, which explains this was legally necessary but they’re in no danger of going under, and two, yes, I used to work at the Observer and even interviewed to be its editor a few years ago (and was told, um, that will never happen), but if those circumstances kept me from commenting on local media companies, I’d have to stop altogether.

2. You know how you stop graffiti? You cover your walls with pictures painted by local kids. You have to be a pretty big jerk to scribble your name on that. In related news, Jason Roberts, everyone’s favorite bicycle enthusiast, is branching out, launching Go Oak Cliff. Go Oak Cliff describes itself as “a non-profit news, advocacy, and quality of life organization focused on supporting and inspiring the Historic Oak Cliff Community.” Sounds like Jason is looking for a way to do stuff without being referred to as “the bike guy.”

3. As a former moderately-decent center who grew up in a hockey-obsessed corner of a northern state, I can confirm: the hockey season starts with the playoffs. That’s why it is always sad when you don’t make the party.

After a spirited torch relay ignited pride in every corner of the country, the Olympic Games began and quickly galvanized the nation.

Flags were everywhere. The country’s national symbol hung from windows and was worn on nearly everyone’s clothing.

Fervent crowds cheered every victory by the host nation.

But enough about the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Deadspin does a good job of tearing it apart. The Candians have their hackles up. LeBreton has issued a weak apology of the “I’m sorry if you were offended” variety. I have a hard time mustering much outrage over the affair. I do have one question, though: how the cuss did an editor let that get into print? It’s just a horrible analogy.

1)      How many t-shirts/hats will $25K get you?

2)      If it costs $21K for an adult day care center to cater your events, did you properly bid the service?

3)      Why did the Observer run this thing on the blog and not the print publication? (Probably a deadline issue, but this piece look like it was weeks in the making, why not make sure it gets in print?)

4)      Did Sam Merten really list himself as a Republican on his Facebook page? Is so, dude, what were you thinking? You’re a political reporter.

5)      Did the commenters from Watkins office not think that their knee-jerk, Merten-bashing would make them look rather guilty?

6)      Does the stupidity of some of the commenters merely prove that Watkins, like probably all of us, has a truckload of relatives we’d rather not be associated with, or something more? I mean, at this point can he wiggle out of this by 1) blaming sketchy cousins, and 2) admitting poor judgment in hiring them?