Gives New Meaning to the Word ‘Barfly’

The so-called “ultimate” mint julep was sold at the Kentucky Derby for $1,000, with proceeds going to charity. Made of ingredients from around the world, it was served in a 24-karat gold-plated cup with a silver straw.

But now there’s competition.

The “Wings of Zadar” cocktail, mixed by a bartender freefalling from 10,000 feet, has been launched in Croatia, ananova.com reports.

Poured upside down so that the drink flies upward into the mixer, it is then shaken as the bartender performs a series of somersaults. The maraschino liqueur-based drink is chilled by the cold air rushing over the shaker and then served upon landing.

“The high-altitude mix gives the drink a distinct flavor,” said its creator, Ante Butic, who has been serving the drinks to clients on the beach at the Adriatic resort city of Zadar. “It is really popular.”

No word, however, on its price.

Trivia time: Who was the first major leaguer to be given an intentional walk with the bases loaded?

Can you spell ESPN? The National Spelling Bee was not shown on the most appropriate television network, according to Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun, who wrote that he wants to be able to root against somebody when he watches ESPN:

“Every one of those kids deserves credit for the long hours of study and intense preparation that put them in position to stand in front of that microphone and spell words that you and I ... do not even recognize as English.

“So you find yourself rooting for every one of them, and what kind of sporting event is that?”

He’s no Angel: Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen, to the Chicago Tribune, on Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s being voted the player other players would most like to see get drilled:

“His [teammates] voted for him too.”

Piling on: “Why put one or two NFL teams in L.A.? Why not move all the NFL teams to L.A.?” Scott Ostler wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle. “Save a ton of money on team travel costs, eliminate the terrible extreme weather that plagues most NFL cities, eliminate the dingy domes.

“Say you’re a Steelers fan. You’ll spend a few extra bucks for the plane ticket to the game, but you make a weekend out of it, visit the beach and Disneyland. Get the hell outta Pittsburgh for a few days. Where’s the downside?”

Looking back: On this date in 1888, “Casey at the Bat” was first published in the San Francisco Examiner. The author’s name, “Phin,” was the nickname of columnist Ernest L. Thayer.

Trivia answer: Nap Lajoie of the Philadelphia Athletics on May 23, 1901. Only three other players have been intentionally walked with the bases loaded -- none of them named Babe Ruth: Del Bissonette on May 2, 1928; Bill Nicholson on July 23, 1944, and Barry Bonds on May 28, 1998.

And finally: Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times: “Heard about the exasperated pet owner who renamed his dog Pujols?

“Seems the pooch won’t stop leaving the yard.”