Dome Pondering

With the World Cup coming up this summer, all of the big brands took their biggest creative kicks in making sure their clients....**ahem** countries were looking their best.  There were some really cool kits unveiled. While I thought about sharing some favorites in an updated (and revival) of Dope Sports Threads, I thought dropping a Pondering 10 was more appropriate.  The following are my favorite World Cup kits ahead of the 2026 World Cup.  --- 10. South Africa (Away) Adidas kits are going to be a trend on this list. Their designs followed a specific template, but they brought the fire with so many designs. South Africa is on the list. The three patch/logo across the chest is done nicely, with an awesome cultural pattern to the kit.  9. Belgium (Away) Another Adidas product, Belgium's "Away" kits carry a really cool design and some bright colors, making for an overall great kit. The black trim/sleeves/color is a tying touch.  8. Brazil (Home) Kudos to Nike for...

Fly Me to The Moon The Artemis II mission came to a completion this weekend as the astronauts returned home - home being that of Houston...Earth.  The mission is just wild. So much so that the thought of flying to the moon is so simple, so easy, that the wonder of Apollo 11 is no longer questioned by conspiracy theorists. But also, it's the freakin moon!  This mission took humans the furthest from Earth, ever! Again, it's just wild stuff, even in a society where the amazing has desensitized us.  Global Effects from USA/Iran This week brought about a ceasefire that has calmed so much of the tension in the Middle East, as well as somewhat limited effects here at home - most notably gas prices.  However, it was this story that broadened the impact and the perspective of the current war in Iran. The idea of collateral lives being affected due to a lack of healthcare supplies and medicine is, well, sad. It does light a fire of anger, because why wouldn't it? What are we d...

I've thought a lot lately about raising my boys.  As my oldest son finds himself in spaces of needing discipline, routine advice, and instruction, I find myself slowly circling thoughts around this focus:  How do you raise boys to be men in today's world?  That question, to you, to me, and to any varied reader laying their eyeballs on this post, will elicit varied responses, beliefs, and some controversial/provoking thoughts.  In an era where the concept of masculinity is as loosely defined as it ever has been, equipping boys with the tools to become solid, substantial, respectful men in this age is a highly complex one.  In my mind - again, in my mind - the goal(s) for my boys, en route to being men, make sense. The characteristics, the goals, and the overall feel of what I expect from them is a linear approach. God-fearing boys, with empathy and grace for all.  But the path there isn't so simple. And the enemies of our time present challenges that make i...

--- 7 Years, 10 months--- Dear Son, Baseball is not something you love. And I know that. You like it. But right now, you’re a hoops guy. But bear with ol' dad for a moment with this letter… We played catch for the first time today - a legit game of catch, on a field, with an official NCAA baseball - and it was memorable. I didn’t think this moment would be as cool as it was, but it was. And each time you caught the ball and fired it back, it was surreal.  There’s a lot of beauty in baseball. It’s why I love it. It’s why my dad loved it - despite it being his second love to cricket. There are unexplainable nuances, indescribable accounts, and such randomness that threads through the game that elicits, yes, an unconditional love for the game. Shooting hoops with you gave me joy. And it still does, because that’s our thing. You love hoops. And as a city kid, basketball will always be in my blood. Every time we play, I enjoy it tremendously. And yes, you’ll never beat one on one. (Smil...

Learning how to pace, How to not give everything And when to give everything

Tiger Woods, Again In the news again is Tiger Woods, who crashed his car, injured himself, and once again finds himself in the public eye for a DUI charge.  I am not a huge fan of golf, so my Woods' perspective isn't clouded by his remarkable golf career. It's felt like a very long time since that was relevant in such a mainstream way.  What has gripped me in this latest unfortunate chapter of Woods' life is that shortly after crashing his vehicle and being detained for a DUI, Woods called President Trump.   Yes, my guy got pulled over by the cops and said, " Ayyoo, all good here, officer. I know the President! "  Privilege aside, it's this kind of story that allows a small lens into the world of the ultra-powerful and elite. And just how different the rules are based on your socioeconomic status and social capital. Even more so, it's an example of how wacky things are today, where the President of the United States is being called on a local traffic s...

We are very different beyond the differences, And that's okay. Like the stars  with contrast yet seamlessly  compliments our stripes And they, too, wrap themselves wavingly, passionately and comfortably, around our stars We are very different beyond the differences, And that's okay. Not through the ways of race, color, creed sexual orientation, faith, and class of which all  line the window of our divide and hides the beauty behind it. Beyond the differences, it is  each America of where we gather to break bread, grab our local cups of coffee, or find ourselves weekly for comfort. It is our expression in the local sports teams, how it makes sense to us, the colors,  the time allocated, the memories shared and its effects on our common bond. It is the common locations civically upheld for tourism, but more so, for pride and identity as the representation, of who we are. It is the architecture and landscape that grips our streets and roads flowing easily, whizzing...

What is it about?   An impromptu sing-off erupts on a normal night to decide the best singer.  Who is in it? Chris Smither - Singer (Man with Tubes) Will Harrington - Singer (Piano Player) Judah Kelly - Singer (Shy Man) Matt Corcoran - Singer (Last singer) Favorite Scene:  It's a short film that runs eighteen minutes, however... The bartender who sang "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers.  Favorite Quote: "You just don't feel like a person anymore. And you just want to feel like a person, again." Review:  The Singers is beautiful. It's art.  It's tough to review short films, and I've seen a few that have had a lasting impact. The Singers is one of them. And that is evident by its award resume.  The singing is amazing, and the characters are brought to life through those bouts with song.  The big winner here is director Sam Davis, who delivered this gem. From the focus on each man's face, where it spoke volumes on some prior experience...

What is it about?  A series of events together finally cause a struggling mom to go down an unfamiliar path.  Who is in it?  Taraji P. Henson - Janiyah Wiltkinson Sherrri Shepherd - Nicole Teyana Taylor - Detective Kay Raymond Favorite Scene:   [spoiler alert] It was early in the movie, however, the scene where Janiyah feels trapped in a decision at her job when her boss wouldn't let her off work, but she needed to go to school to attend to her sick daughter.  Favorite Quote: "People don't know how expensive it is to be poor." Review:   Straw is a film that is a lightning rod. Tyler Perry certainly crushed it with this one.  I'm not saying it deserves an Oscar, as the film has its rough edges, but the overall good of the film is great enough to carry it. That includes acting, plot, and the overall profound message it leaves with the viewer.  The obvious first and foremost, Taraji P. Henson was absolutely magnificent in her role as Janiyah. I felt ...