1. Domingo German - The 24th perfect game in MLB history. Still one of the most awesome things in sports (and so random). German has gone through quite a bit, and some still haven't forgiven him for his transgressions, but for one night, the dude was perfect. That's the beauty of baseball.
2. Bloodline Storyline - Easily the best storyline in pro wrestling in decades, and likely one of the best ever, this entire ordeal continues to morph, develop, get deeper, and suck us all in. This weekend was no different with the WWE Money in the Bank premium live event in London.
3. Independent State Legislature - The Supreme Court, which has been active this week (more below) voted to shoot down this theory that would give state power in federal elections. The proposal was shot down in a vote of 6-3. The ultimate win here doesn't radicalize our elections, but most importantly, keeps voting front and center away from legalized gerrymandering and other state sanctions that could suppress votes.
Sometimes I like to think we're better than this, but these theories get pushed to the high courts, and it makes me wonder and appreciate just how precious and fragile voting really is.
3 Down
1. Cancer Medicine Shortage - The drugs used for chemotherapy, Carboplatin and Cisplatin, are now in such short supply that doctors are rationing care, and patients are driving long distances for treatment. Cancer already sucks. Now we've got this situation.
2. France Riots - France is an absolute mess. Sometimes I wish our media covered international news in a much more high-profile matter. But the situation in France is rough, and the cause and narratives are very similar to what we've seen here in the United States around race, immigration, law enforcement, and xenophobia.
3. Baltimore Mass Shootings - Another weekend, another mass shooting in America. Happy Birthday to the USA.
3 Interesting
1. Race-Based Admissions - This was a big one for me working in higher education. The discussion is a nuanced one and goes so much deeper than many are giving it within discourse. It has much more to do with "merit" and is all about assessing access and privilege pipelines to education.
2. Bud Light Ramifications - The Bud Light boycott is now costing 600 people their jobs, and expected to see more. Bud Light is really struggling. All of this is due to culture wars. I'm all for boycotting services to make a statement, but the entire Bud Light ordeal is quite fascinating considering it's effect and the true impact on its cause.
3. Air Quality Warnings - Here in the NYC metro area, "air quality" alerts are now more frequent than ever. When did this become normal?
Cover Photo
New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German (0) poses with the team after pitching a perfect game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., June 28, 2023.
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports