I will not read these books until they are retitled 50 Shades of Grey, 100 Shades of Grey and 150 Shades of Grey. This is inflexible.

Someone who likes the Nats posted this??

I liked the joke someone made on twitter yesterday. The North Korean President's wife was seen reading 50 Shades of Grey. Only over there, it's a clothing catalog.

Has anyone had the veal yet?

Wow

Someone who likes the Nats posted this??

How could I not, given its 'odd factor'?

This is a Nats-positive video. Always more fun to root for guys who show a sense of humor.

I dunno, I think this is the best work by any bullpen since the 1990 Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.

Bob, does that mean come 2031, one of them is going to be a particularly obnoxious analyst on Nats telecasts?

That was AWE-SOME. I am sure that some PC idiot somewhere will attack it for some reason, but screw 'em, that was HI-LARIOUS.

I thought it was a lot of goofy fun myself. And a bit more daring than the safe corporate types at MLB are usually willing to get. I'm guessing it was an idea suggested by one of the players.

I enjoyed that. Excellent blocking in the final scene with the page turn and then: "You know this contract is legally unenforceable" "I am fully aware of that, Ms. Steele."

Still, not as good as Gilbert Gottfried reading 50 Shades of Grey. The stinger of that clip makes me laugh every time. (NSFW)

As a work of fiction, 50 Shades of Grey is at least less historically inaccurate as The DaVinci Code.

The problem with parodying or satirizing works like "50 shades of Grey" is that you have to read the damn thing first. What's worse, what if you start to like it?

Ready, Grey?

That's really well done. Funny stuff, nationals bullpen.

And, shockingly, safe for work. That I did not expect.

The problem with parodying or satirizing works like "50 shades of Grey" is that you have to read the damn thing first. What's worse, what if you start to like it?

50 Shades of Grey fact: It was originally conceived as, I #### you not, erotic Twilight fanfic. James was urged by her publisher to change the relationship, so she left Bella basically the same and replaced Edward with an older SM enthusiast, and replaced "becoming a vampire" with being initiated into SM.

Starting to like it really shouldn't be a concern.

Still, not as good as Gilbert Gottfried reading 50 Shades of Grey. The stinger of that clip makes me laugh every time. (NSFW)

That's probably my favorite, but I think that Ellen Degeneres reading 50 Shades of Grey is also quite wonderful.

"Mmmm. Naaah. I like it."

I think I'm glad I have no idea what 50 Shades of Grey is. At first I thought maybe this was going to be a book about the Homestead Grays and the Nats were being awesome by hyping their history in D.C. a bit. Seems I was very, very far off...

50 Shades reminds me on both sides of the opinions of DaVinci Code. Common LCD pablum of a genre that could be done very, very well and intelligently, hitting at the right time and place for widespread appeal that - for that reason - is then mocked by a counter-group. Us, basically. And deservedly.

So along with that, I DO think ignoring and discarding the "event" and reactions is a mistake. There may be nothing of value or to learn from the specific work itself, but from the reaction on either side there's plenty to keep one occupied.

The problem with parodying or satirizing works like "50 shades of Grey" is that you have to read the damn thing first. What's worse, what if you start to like it?
50 Shades of Grey fact: It was originally conceived as, I #### you not, erotic Twilight fanfic. James was urged by her publisher to change the relationship, so she left Bella basically the same and replaced Edward with an older SM enthusiast, and replaced "becoming a vampire" with being initiated into SM.

Starting to like it really shouldn't be a concern

I read it. Its really not a concern.

"50 Shades of Grey" fact: It was originally conceived as, I #### you not, erotic Twilight fanfic. James was urged by her publisher to change the relationship, so she left Bella basically the same and replaced Edward with an older SM enthusiast, and replaced "becoming a vampire" with being initiated into SM.

In other words, Elinor Glyn for the 21st century.