Skip to main content

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 10/13/19


3 Up

1. Marathon Under 2 Hours - Eluid Kipchoge stunned the world this week with a sub-two hour marathon. While some of question the "legitimacy" of the accomplishment within the running world, the feat is still rather amazing. A 4:34 min/mile for 26 miles is rather ridiculous to wrap the mind around. Congrats to Kipchoge on probably one of the greatest athletic accomplishments in our lifetime.

2. Black Girls Rock - Black women athletes ruled the weekend. Simone Biles solidified herself as the greatest gymnast ever (as if there was any doubt) by earning the most gold medals ever. Coco Gauff won her first Tennis Title (becoming the youngest champion - ever). And, Brigid Kosgei shattered a world record at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 4 seconds. Such impressive stuff.

3. Tyler Perry Studios (and Shelter?) - If you, like me, saw the images and videos from Ava DuVernay's instagram of Tyler Perry's new studios, you were also in awe. The massive 330-acre lot is a testament to success, and is extremely powerful (and ironic) in that it's built upon an old slavery. However, now Perry plans to use part of the old plantation to develop a shelter for trafficked victims, homeless women, and youth within the LGBT community. Just amazing.

3 Down 

1. Atatiana Jefferson Death - There are no words for this. Even when called upon to help, somehow, our police ends up taking the life of people of color. Watch this story closely.

2. Laquan McDonald Investigation - Hundreds of documents were released this week showing that sixteen Chicago PD officers participated in an attempted cover-up after Laquan McDonald's death. While the murdered was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison (eye roll at the verdict), the idea that THIS is how precincts operate in the name of "justice" is abhorrent and sad. Then again, this is not a surprise to anyone that has been paying attention.

3. NBA - The NBA disgraced itself this week. In the face of the spotlight, it showed nothing but cowardice in the China/Hong-Kong/Darryl Morley situation. I get it - China is a significant chunk of your business. However, after encouraging free speech in your league on social values, you decide to not only adopt China's values in silencing your players, you coward your way through the entire ordeal, including the preseason trip to China. A HUGE L this week for the NBA.

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/13/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. 25th Anniversary of 9/11 It is sort of hard to imagine that it has been twenty-five years since that awful day. It's been fifteen years since I've shared my experience as a High Schooler in Brooklyn, NY , and everything that came with that day (and the many to follow afterwards).  The world changed, and to this day, it still feels hard to grasp what happened (and what transpired with the health of so many afterwards). The lives lost, and the damage done. My son learned about 9/11, and his questions around it ignite some of that struggle with thought around it.  Daddy, how did they get the planes?  Did the building just, like, fall over?  On this 25th anniversary, it is even more concerning to see how the day is also politicized and sometimes weaponized in culture wars. I remember Americ...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/6/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. Chandika Shrestha I found so much of this story this week to be fascinating. Chandika Shrestha, a 64-year-old woman, was found alive - ALIVE! - after ten days below a collapsed house among the Nepal flood wreckage. The human spirit element and the sheer will to survive, combined with what can only be divine intervention. So much there to the spirit of life and an unexplainable reasoning.  Western Michigan vs. Michigan Ending Look, I'm as casual as they come when it comes to the college football space, culture, and fandom.  Nonetheless, somehow, I found myself (with my wife - who has about 3,485 things she would rather do before watching football) watching the final five minutes of this game on Saturday night. Little did we realize what we would witness.  I have no dog in the fight. But I fe...