Skip to main content

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 6/20/21

 


3 Up

1. Father's Day Weekend - Always an awesome weekend! Much love and celebration to those who do the unquantifiable and incomparable as dads. And of course, the same wishes to those who are standing in as dads, and of course, let's remember those who changed our lives as dads. Happy Father's Day to all of you! 

2. Juneteenth Federal Holiday - Well, the unofficial celebration that has been known within a black culture is now a federal holiday. Despite the classic American debacle of granting a new day for federal observance while said holiday is not allowed to be taught in several states,  we'll stay positive. After all, the establishment is not the end goal, just part of the process. And of course, it is a serious step forward. Regardless, I hope you had a chance to reflect on the day this past week. 

3. Rachel Scott Gutsy Question - Yoooooooo!!!!! So much kudos to ABC News' Rachel Scott. She stood up, looked Vladimir Putin dead in the eye after her substantial preface, and said, "What are you afraid of?" Go ahead, Rachel! Go on with yo bad self. 

3 Down

1. Violence in America - Another weekend and another rising tally of gun violence, mass shootings, and even for ridiculous videos of fans fighting over sports fandom. The "Suns in 4" guy deserves some props for whooping that guy's ass after attempting to sucker punch him, but my gosh, what is wrong with us? 

2. Delta Coronavirus Variant - Ah yes, right when we start to get back to normal life, this news of a new variant of the Coronavirus that is easier to transmit and more severe is making itself at home right now in England. Ugh. Please go get vaccinated, everyone. Please. 

3. Baseball Culture - Baseball I love you. But you are in a VERY interesting period where much of your past and culture is flooding to the surface. There are chaotic on-the-field topics such as "sticky stuff" on the baseballs, players starting on second base, analytics, and many others to weigh. But there are also other rampant issues such as what we've seen from Jared Porter and Mickey Calloway. And now, there is the story of Kat O'Brien in a recent Op-Ed for the New York Times openly discussing her rape by a Major Leaguer while on the beat. Baseball - you have to be better. 

3 Awesome

1. (Project) Regional High School No. 1 -  This project is really cool. Dr. Dre and Music mogul, Jimmy Iovine has received approval for a public - PUBLIC! - school to be created in East LA that will focus and prepare kids what "they're interested in". The concept is not new but breaks the mold of traditional education which is excited and interesting in so many ways. Again, this isn't a private or charter school - I recommend definitely reading into this. 

2. Jacob deGrom - This guy is having a season unlike we've seen before. deGrom has more RBI than he has allowed earned runs. Uhhhhhhhh, what?!?!?! For me, it's easy - best pitcher on the planet. 

3. Kevin Durant - It's easy to dislike Kevin Durant. His Twitter. His choice to join the Warriors. Whatever. His play in the series against the Bucks is one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen in the NBA. He left it all on the court. You just gotta respect that guy. 

Cover Photo

Frank Wheeler dances as people celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves elsewhere in the United States, in Washington, D.C. 

Photograph: REUTERS/Ken Cedeno

Labels:

Recent Favorites

Exorcising Demons with a Breen "Double Bang!"

These sorts of moments feel like they don't happen to us.  Well, they happen VERY rarely - I'm talking Larry Johnson's 4-point play-rare. Yeah, it's been THAT long.  But watching this New York Knicks team score eight points in less than thirty-five seconds, including a sequence that will forever live in my fandom, sits right with that LJ garden-rocking shot.  I sat on my couch in absolute shock at what I just saw.  "How the hell did they just win that game?!"  It's the kind of moment this fanbase deserves. It's the moment that releases and exorcises some demons that haunt us from the trauma of experiences.  Namely you, Reggie Miller.  I loved it. And the icing on the cake was Mike Breen - Oh, Mike Breen, the loveable man with the most epic voice that has narrated so much of my basketball-loving fandom - with not one, but two signature "Bang!" calls.  I'll never let this one down. Ever.  I'm not sure where this team will wrap up the se
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 4/28/24

3 Up 1. DiVincenzo Shot - Yeah, I'm biased. And you know what, I don't care. This moment brought me so many jobs this week, and it still is. "Bang! Bang!"  2. Caitlin Clark Effect - Well, here we go. So many of the WNBA teams have begun moving their games against the Indiana Fever to larger arenas. The upcoming WNBA season is going to be so incredibly interesting. 3. Candace Parker - Rounding out a hoops-heavy "Up" this week is the retirement of Candace Parker. Yes, she drives the Knicks fanbase bonkers, but Parker is one of the greatest to ever lace them up. It's a shame she had to retire due to injury, but nonetheless, she should be proud. I personally will remember the 2021 WNBA Finals where she led her hometown Chicago Sky over the star-studded Phoenix Mercury.  3 Down 1. Campus Protests - I've witnessed them personally at NYU. And we are set to see these protests continue, and likely grow, on campuses over the next few weeks. We are likely to s
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 4/14/24

3 Up 1. Gun Control? - Wow. We have somewhat new gun legislation - so it is possible?! Of course, I'm being a bit cheeky in regards to the recent new plan to offer background checks for gun purchases, which really is a big part of the gun control debate. No?  2. Solar Eclipse - I didn't get a chance to experience it, but the idea of it is rather cool. Our world - and universe - is a remarkable experience and thought.  3. Women's Basketball Ratings - The boost continues as women's hoops continue its surge in ratings, interest, and overall star power. It will likely continue next week with the WNBA Draft.  3 Down  1. Iran Missiles on Israel - The entire saga in Gaza continues to get more complex. Throwing Iran into the mix, and now the US intercepting drones and missiles, the entire thing is super sad as innocent people continue to be killed.  2. Tennessee Teachers Carry - Well, just when we thought the gun debate was moving toward a reasonable decision, we get the sta
Read more