Nov 21, 2023

Welcome back, folks. We can call today's newsletter The Name-Drop Edition. Names such as Musk and Trump rub shoulders with some of our usual dignitaries.

And don't forget that the results of yesterday's quiz are down below.

Ike Morgan

Billionaire Elon Musk is not impressed by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's short-selling of stock in Tesla, the automaker he owns.

AL.com's William Thornton reports that Musk took to X, the social-media site he owns, and responded to a disclosure of Tuberville's recent transactions by tweeting "They're gluttons for punishment."

Musk reportedly has been critical of short-selling before. It's like betting that a stock's value is going to fall, which Tesla's did. You borrow shares to sell them at today's market value and buy them back later, hopefully at a lower price.

Imagine one day you're homeless, about half-starved and wandering along a stretch of Alabama highway. Then, imagine that suddenly you've found your way into the Trump family.

I realize this might get different reactions from different people and that some hardcore political folks might pick homelessness.

Nevertheless, Simba, a Germany Sheperd-Lab mix is now hanging with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kuchner, their three kids and fellow canines Winter and Chester in Miami, reports AL.com's Leada Gore.

The Kuchner/Trump family rescued the abandoned dog from Big Dog Ranch, the nation's largest no-kill dog shelter. It has a location near Shorter, Alabama, and another one Palm Beach County, Florida.

As he prepares for his first-ever Iron Bowl, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze began Iron Bowl Week telling fans he'd touched base with a colleague of his who's been in this very situation, reports AL.com's Matt Cohen.

Ten years ago, Gus Malzahn was preparing for his first Iron Bowl as a head coach. That was an Iron Bowl that would end with Chris Davis returning a missed field-goal attempt 109 yards with one second left to give Auburn the win.

Freeze said on the Tiger Talk radio show that he didn't see the Kick 6 live but spoke with Malzahn about it as soon as he could.

Regarding yesterday's conversation between the coaches, Freeze said that Malzahn warned him this week's rivalry is not like any he'd seen.

Quote -- and this is Freeze quoting Malzahn from their conversation, “I know you’ve been part of a big one across state lines. But this one here’s on another level.”

Auburn coaches have been competitive with Alabama in their Iron Bowl debuts. Every Auburn coach since Pat Dye has held a fourth-quarter lead against Alabama in their Iron Bowl debut.

In 1933, astronaut Henry Hartsfield Jr. of Birmingham.

Here's how readers did on yesterday's "Week in Review" quiz:

How many candidates filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from the redrawn Alabama District 2?

12 44.0%

21 (CORRECT) 38.9%

1 13.4%

47 3.7%

Auburn University offers a Master's Degree in ...

brewing science and operations. (CORRECT) 84.9%

pickle-ball officiating. 6.4%

greenfield baiting. 5.4%

Iron Bowl history. 3.4%

The marching band from which school will appear at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Alabama A&M (CORRECT) 78.2%

Alabama State 14.4%

Jacksonville State 4.0%

Troy University 3.4%

What's the average composite ACT score in Alabama?

18 (CORRECT) 46.0%

19 37.2%

20 10.7%

21 6.0%

The Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson unanimously captured an award last week. What was it?

AL rookie of the year (CORRECT) 56.0%

Roberto Clemente award 16.8%

AL Cy Young award 15.8%

AL MVP 11.4%

We appreciate you for taking the time to read today. Hope you're able to check back soon. Meantime, reply to this email with any suggestions you might have.

If you're so inclined, we'd love it if you'd forward to friends who might be interested in reading. (And if you're someone who's been forwarded this newsletter, we encourage you to subscribe and get this in your inbox every day.)

The “Down in Alabama” podcast is short and free. Listen to it by clicking on the player above or subscribe by looking for “Down in Alabama” on the device of your choosing.

You can find “Down in Alabama” wherever you get your podcasts, including these places: