Paula Deen, Ham Brigade at Nats Park

Courtesy Washington Nationals.

In calmer times, I might have gone down to Nationals Park on Wednesday to watch Paula Deen, various Nats and their wives, and team employees form a Ham Brigade to deliver "more than 100,000 servings of donated protein" to Capital Area Food Bank as part of Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes initiative. The players and employees were passing hams from one truck to another outside of Nats Park, and there's nothing I love so much as celebrities passing ham.

Instead, I stayed home and listened to radio interviews, but the Nats were kind enough to provide some Ham Brigade photos. Deen is throwing out the first pitch on Wednesday night, though I'd much rather see her toss out the initial ham. And yes, this is the rare Nats story in which you can use the word "makeup" without referring to Bryce Harper.

(This was the kickoff event for the Nats' annual food drive; you can bring your own non-perishables on Saturday and Sunday outside the center field gate.)