Skip to main content

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 10/17/21

3 Up

1. WNBA Finals - The WNBA playoffs are definitely going to be in the running for my Sporting Event of the Year Award. What a series! The Finals were capped off by an amazing game before a raucous crowd in Chicago. Kudos to everyone, especially the amazing story of Candace Parker returning home and winning a chip. Major props to Courtney Vandersloot. 

2. New 2022 Quarters - Get ready for your money to diversify - well just a bit. But it's a start! Beginning in 2022, the US quarter coins will feature trailblazing American women such as civil rights activist; astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; Wilma Mankiller, the Cherokee Nation's first principal woman chief; Adelina "Nina" Otero-Warren, a leader in New Mexico's suffrage movement; and Anna May Wong, the first Hollywood film star of Chinese American descent. 

Very awesome. 

3. Adele - The awesome singer caps off a sweep in the "Up" category for women this week. Adele, in only the way Adele can - dropping albums in the old school way with long hiatus' and tracks with the depth of life experiences - gave us her new single, Easy on Me, this week. The track is of course fire, and genuine, as Adele bares her soul about her recent divorce and her plea to her son about explaining it all. 

Can't wait for the album to drop. 

3 Down

1. United States Infrastructure - According to this recent report, 25% of our Infrastructure is vulnerable to climate change. As someone who lives in the NYC area, and one who just endured and experienced everything Hurricane Ida destroyed, I cosign on the urgency. Soooo, what's the plan here? 

2. Jon Gruden (and the NFL) - Everything that is the Gruden debacle - including the lackadaisical investigation - is so NFL. 

And of course, there is the elephant in the room that Peter Rosenberg - an active ally - touched on. 

3. Democratic Party - Fair is fair. Everyone was so quick to jump aboard the bash-Trump train (and deservedly so) during his term. But honestly, what are we getting right now from the Dems? The lack of agreement on the left side to get things done - really, anything - is concerning and frustrating. 

We need the rise of other parties, but of course, that would require disseminating power. 

Blah...politics. 

1 Really?!

1. Texas School Official - I'm all for reading opposing literature, even to further strengthen your belief in a topic. I've done it before. You could say I do it every day (see who I follow on Twitter). 

But this is what we're turning to and the lengths we'll go in policy-making in order to not discuss race, inequality, and the tough history in our schools. The "opposing" view of the holocaust - Pshhh, wow. 

1 Interesting

1. The Great Resignation - The current job market continues to fascinate me. So much to discuss, dive into, and evaluate. It's surely an interesting time in history for the labor market. 

Cover Photo

A vandalized statue of Christopher Columbus is pictured in London, Britain, October 12.

REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Recent Favorites

50 Wins and the #2 Seed

The New York Knicks are the #2 Seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  Unbelievable.  Oh yeah, they also put together an unbelievable fifty-win season to do so.  I've already expressed some thoughts on this season - from the trade of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Julius Randle's injury and obvious absence to the brilliance that was Jalen Brunson - there has been so much to take in, and appreciate.  I can't say it enough - I love this team. THIS team.  Just a few other quick thoughts as we reflect on 50 wins and the #2 seed before heading into a tough first-round series with either the Miami Heat or Philadelphia 76ers:  I know Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the hot narrative for MVP and there is a big-time Serbian in Denver who easily makes a claim for the award once again, but damn it, Jalen Brunson deserves recognition and some lower-place votes. That's all I'm asking for... Speaking of giving flowers to Jalen Brunson, it's about time a real basketball dis

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

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