Dome Pondering

It's difficult not to make it personal.  I stared at the words on the screen of my phone as I made my way to the section of S's... Saint Vincent and the Grenadines I knew it was coming. After all, before I got there, listed were Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia...islands of the beautiful Caribbean that make up my family. My culture. My roots.  Then, yes, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.  Damn, son! What did we do?! Surely, we aren't considered a threat, right?  Interesting. --- The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people. — Department of State (@StateDept) January 14, 2026 There is a lot changing in our country right now. There are also many people who have strong opinions on immigration policie...

I watched the video on a Subway platform while waiting for the Q Train.  I found myself learning more about what happened in Minnesota after a late night in the office, completely shut off from my phone, the news, radio...just one of those days. "What have we become?" was all I could manage to think. As the night has gone on, and I've immersed myself in coverage and learning more... I'm angry.  I'm sad.  I'm heartbroken for her son.  I'm frustrated with the constant politics being pushed.  I'm exhausted. I'm amazed that - once again - we all can watch the same clip of a horrific incident and come away with two different conclusions.

I can’t say that I’m shocked that we’ve gotten to a point where coaches are now leaving institutions in the middle of a season - a long-time honored commitment - for another school.  The most salient point is that he is leaving a situation that is was committed to him, with students who have were committed to his leadership, and the current status of the team, the University, and the fanbase on the brink of success never seen before.  All of it, full of constant reactions of “SMH” with a lot of eye rolls.  How did we get here?  It's not lost on me - I’m just a mere Northeasterner commenting on the culture of College Football…especially within the South. I’m aware I’ll never fully understand the emotion, but I’m just peeking in, and it’s not great. The departure has given college athletics yet another turn in what feels like an increasingly snowballing culture evolving into chaos. More so, operating in a space lacking ethics and foundational qualities surrounding t...

It's been a fear for many leagues, especially as gambling and sports are closer than ever in the current climate that is sports betting - today, that fear becomes a reality .  With the downfall of Chauncey Billups (didn't his name seem random?) and Terry Rozier (who has been connected for quite some time now), and the insane details coming out of leaked inside information, rigged poker games, and yes, altering participating in games - this is all terrible for the NBA, and for modern sports.  No bueno.  Here are a few more thoughts on this entire mess: - Didn't we all know at some point we'd be here with how accessible and prevalent sports gambling is today? - Regardless of the lawful outcome, we have to assume that both Billups, Rozier, and anyone else connected to this is done in the NBA, right?  - Is Pete Rose still the standard in this space and punishment?  - And wasn't he the ultimate poster boy for NOT betting in sports? What happened to that fear? - Doesn...

Today was a day. With heavy reflection before September 11, we got this day. A cruel September 10 that was so much for the soul. So much so that I can’t articulate my thoughts in a seamless way today.  Because of that, here are my ponderings, in a segmented way: - No one should be killed for their opinions or political beliefs. It is outright scary that our political dialogue and the overall climate has devolved into this. From January 6th, to the Hortmans in Minnesota  a few months ago, and now this. What are we doing?!!  - I’ll take it a step further - no one should die because of gun violence! I understand that might be unrealistic, but I still struggle with why it is. Why are we willing to tolerate anything else? - But, I'm also reminded of the many throughout our history to were gunned down for their political stances. It is in the DNA of our nation. Whether that's banned in schools to discuss or not.  - We also had a school shooting - yes, another one. Th...

What a complicated mess this news leaves me in. Hulk Hogan. Dead. At 71. I was never a fan of Hogan (in the world of pro wrestling)…I was a Macho Man Randy Savage guy, and later on, a Bret Hart guy (and still am). But like every other wrestling fan from the ’80s through now, Hulk Hogan’s presence and legend are undeniable.  Terry Bolea transcended wrestling as Hulk Hogan and helped the art form take its first step into the mainstream of pop culture.  He later reinvented the business once again with the greatest heel turn ever at Bash at the Beach 1996. Many have changed the business once, but twice? Significantly?! Hogan’s run as Hulkamania and as Hollywood makes a case for the best to ever do it - I can't think of anyone on such a high level on both sides of the pro wrestling coin as a babyface and heel. Every pro wrestling Mount Rushmore (as dumb as these lists have become) includes Hulk Hogan, period. But Hogan is also so instrumental in my ever-evolving ability to separate...

Celebrity deaths rarely phase me. A few do. Very seldom do they hit an emotional chord. The unfortunate tragedy that was the death of Malcolm Jamal Warner hit a chord. Like many, The Cosby Show was my childhood. It was the first show where the television screen felt relatable. People of color. A family from Brooklyn. Scenarios that mirrored my home. “Theo Huxtable” was a part of that. You don’t ever realize it when you’re young. But you let some of these characters in your homes, then into your subconscious…and they live with you forever.  So many memorable scenes and moments still carry on. Still inspire. That still makes my stomach rumble with laughter in mere thought, and more so in rewatching them. Even beyond the character, MJW’s poetry, of which I discovered and came to enjoy just recently, moved me the way Theo did. I'm on the mend/ my need is to love me/ and tend to my self care/ hiding in plain view/ is just me choosing how much of my soul/ I'm willing to share.  - Hi...

I've been sitting on this thought process for a while now, mainly because the topic has seen itself unravel in the thick of what has become an ultra-politicized society. And that topic is that of the Church. Specifically, the Christian Church.   In September, the Pew Research Center published an article, " Modeling the Future of Religion in America " and within it's studies and findings was significant theme that Christians in the United States of America are well on their way to not only becoming a minority, but ultimately, losing generations.  Or, the way I see it at the surface level, the church has lost its purpose. If you've followed this little site, you are well aware that I do consider myself a Christian. I do believe in Jesus. Or as I find myself at times, almost akwardkly saying to students who ask, "sooo, you like believe in God?" - yes, I do believe in God. Yes, I do.  The idea that sentiment feels more and more awkward to announce or identif...

Bernadett Szabo / Reuters Anna Semyuk hugs her children at the Beregsurany border crossing in Hungary on February 26, 2022. The children were handed off on the Ukrainian side of the border by the father—who was not allowed to cross—to Nataliya Ableyeva, a stranger to the family, who brought the children across the border and kept them safe. It's been tough lately to watch what has been unfolding at the Ukrainian border. It's been tough from the standpoint that the images of people fleeing West, many hunkered down in bomb shelters with kids, and outright images of casual common apartment buildings with missile holes in the side of them, all have evoked the biggest reaction from me to this ongoing crisis.   Yes, on the surface, there is the anger and the want to wish bad things upon the Russian government. After all, we are here because of them, and of course, Vladimir Putin's need to offer a flex that no one else but he and his inner circle wants or finds even necessary.  ...

The alert came across the screen on my phone and I didn't even address it. Not even a flinch from me to tap it for more details. The news alert read on the home screen "Rittenhouse Not Guilty" in the short blurb that illuminated my phone for my eyes to see, for my mind to absorb, and for my feelings to remain unmoved.  I expected it. Much like many others did.  I turned on the TV to the usual cable networks for a little bit, flipping between their coverages to get the pulse of the nation - or at least, how each political side expected to present, explain, or even spin the narratives that come from the occurrence.  I watched clips of the moment - seeing Kyle Rittenhouse's body tremble as each count was read. I watched him collapse as the final "not guilty" rang throughout the courtroom, unable to control his limbs, incapable of holding together his breathing, and clutching the lawyer desperately who just literally saved his life. 

I sat on this topic for a few days because I could not understand what was beneath the surface of the hysteria that is Simone Biles and her recent withdrawals from events at the Tokyo Olympics.  Here we are on one of the biggest stages in sports - the biggest for niche-interest sports like Gymnastics - and suddenly the greatest gymnast in the world, our own fully spirited American, being torn down, ridiculed, debated, and on the backend of undeserving backlash.  There were the low-hanging fruit remarks - I go to work every day. I can't just quit because I want to!! You just have to love the remarks from those who easily want to compare themselves to Simone Biles but are unable to understand her experience. We all have hardships. But imagine naivete to compare yourself to an Olympic Gold medalist?

There is little doubt that the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial is historic - in the result and in occurrence. It ranks up there with the likes of the OJ Simpson verdict, of which I was a young child, of which that I will always remember where I was, my feelings, and the aftermath.  I wanted to let the moment, and even the loud aftershocks, settle before sharing my thoughts or writing this post. As you saw from news channels, columns, Twitter, and everywhere and anywhere else this verdict was discussed, the thoughts, opinions, and discourse became skewed, partisan, and unfortunately, a tool for various agendas.  In many respects, the trial, and verdict further exposed so much of what we have to work on - away from the obvious of racial and systemic equality. 

We're here too often.  After everything that was the experience of 2020 - loss, death, and the suddenness of it all, we're sadly moving away from a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic that has halted our society, for a slice of unfortunate normalcy that are public mass shootings.  The continued underbelly of everything that is on the table of Americana is the saddened and alarming state of mental health within this country. And too often, we perceive mental health as issues surrounding those who are at the deep end of this suffering pool. You bundle that with social unrest, a continued heightened political climate, continued isolationism (intentional and the virtual normal), and an economy that slams the door on social mobility, and access to health care, and thus, we've got the result of a mixing of blame-reliance, finger-pointing, deflection, and of course, privilege. 

Change is here. And for many, the week has brought about one of the starkest transitions of Presidencies that I've experienced in my lifetime.  Much like the terrorist attack on the Capitol, I wanted to give myself some time to absorb inauguration day in order to harness my feelings and thoughts. As we experienced with the Capitol, it's very easy to get wrapped up in the emotion of everything that was the morning of January 20th, 2021. And yes, those emotions are easily spurred and influenced by political leanings or voting interest.  Hint: I voted for Joe Biden. I discloe that. This is where you can like or hate me, I guess. You can read a little bit about why I came to that conclusion, here .  Yet, even after the day has passed and the current administration begins its work with sweeping changes - or undoings, however, you currently view it - this inauguration is so unique and carries enormous reflection beyond the obvious stark contrast of administrations and the very ...

It's so easy to react to what came across our televisions yesterday. The optics are very clear throughout the analysis of the occurrence. From the incendiary acts of the President, the hypocrisy of the law enforcement present, the privilege that exists amongst that base, and the overwhelming lack of accountability and leadership that exists within our country's political consciousness and within our government spheres, it all doesn't need explaining.  It's still quite unbelievable what we witnessed, and really, I tried to absorb as much as I can from the situation before coming to a rational decision on it all. Yes, I held dialogues with others, I read thoughts on social media, I even devoted myself to only watching FOX News coverage last night to attempt to see this beyond my usual lens.

I took a few days to process the results of this year's Presidential election - yes, the actual, real, valid results. Not the disputed one as per the claims of the current President and his devoted followers.   As many around the nation erupted in celebration at the confirmation that Joseph R. Biden Jr. had attained the 270 electoral votes needed to become the President-elect of these United States...or this nation (more on the "united" part in a bit), I too found an inner victory within. I didn't celebrate as much as others did as Biden isn't the perfect candidate for America in my opinion, but he is the right candidate at the right time for this country. Translation: He isn't Donald J. Trump. And that's where I've been in this political space.  Now, I already know many of you who read this blog and completed that last paragraph may have just exited this page. And that's okay - for now. Quite frankly, I haven't hid my feelings on my voting int...

I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to say. After all, here we are AGAIN - another young black man killed by the men and women who swore to "protect and serve". We're just mere days away from Ahmaud Arbery and from Breanna Taylor, an example of how rapidly the lives of people of color in this country are snuffed out without any care - without cause. There are no words, thoughts, or feelings I can relay here in this post that can express what is occurring in our country right now. I'm still attempting to figure out all of the emotions, especially as I wrestle with the idea of one day having to educate and relay this heavy information to my son. For now, I did want to hit the keyboard, merely for therapy and archiving this moment in time, and share some very quick thoughts on this issue:

I may have just watched the worst State of the Union address in my lifetime. And I really mean that. No. That isn't a shot at Donald Trump, but rather a statement at the atmosphere that is our political stream and space as of today. Off the heels of an impeachment hearing that looked, felt, and seemed rather pointless in terms of what it would do (and really, we all knew what would happen), the SOTU was delayed, giving the country just a week or two extra to prepare for President Trump's final speech heading into an election year. I haven't come across anyone who believed the trial would result in the removal of Trump as President. However, what it did do is further divide a nation that is probably as separated and antagonized in its thinking, again, more than any other period in my lifetime. The entire impeachment ordeal thing felt like a giant SMH, and in many ways, a WTF. I wish the dems would focus on 2020. After all, as of right now, this year is looking ver...

"Did you hear what happened to Kobe Bryant?", she said to me as I pushed my son on the swing. I shook my head nodding no, wondering why this random lady suddenly has the disbelief she does on her face. "Kobe Bryant died." I gazed at her in shock, which then suddenly morphed into a sense of my own disbelief, with the slight reflection on my face that may have given away thoughts that this lady got taken by a celebrity hoax on Twitter. "He did." she urged, almost trying to push me passed the stage of incredulousness. I suddenly grabbed my phone, opened up Twitter, and there it was at the top of my screen: Kobe Bryant Dead at 41. ---- We would later learn the complete story and the details that came from the horrific crash, but it definitely is and will be one of those "where were you...?" moments, forever. In the moment, my wife and I continued to chat with this mom, all of us staring at our children as we pushed them on the swin...

So in shocking fashion, the juggernaut that is Nike has now backed Colin Kaepernick and all that is, was, and has become, in this on-going dilemma. And of course, has now added a new layer to it all. Interestingly enough, the company fully supports Kap, and has centered the 30th Anniversary of it's "Just Do It" campaign around him, continuing a clear divide of idealism and ridiculousness across the country. And shall I say, even more absurd rhetoric on defining patriotism in the good ol' United States of America. First things, first. If you're new to this blog, I'll catch you up to speed on my stance - I've been with Kap. And no, I'm not "anti-American". But I'm pretty sure you will jump to conclusions and tell me that I am.