Skip to main content

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 8/30/15

3 Up

1. Jake Arrieta - I'm sorry, but Jon Lester is no longer the ace of the staff. Arrieta is the big gun for the Chicago Cubs moving forward, and throwing a no hitter against the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball is proof of that. 

2. Class of 2019 - As someone who works in collegiate athletics and very much tied to the higher learning environment, college campuses across the nation welcomed the new class of 2019 (crazy!) this past week. Good luck to the new freshmen and the impending future of this nation/world!

3. Toronto Blue Jays - I hate to say it as a die hard Yankees fan, but these boys are rollin'! And of course, Canada, yes the entire nation, has adopted this team as their own and have supported them with enough energy to make them a tough out in the coming weeks, and possibly come playoff time. 

3 Down

1. Virginia Shootings - How sick have we become as a culture where shootings on live television are now our reality. We can't even trust the fact that we are safe in our work environments, or from our fellow coworkers, or former coworkers. So sad. My prayers and thoughts to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims. 

2. ISIS Destroying Temples - This crew is out of control, and has now caused a migration problem in Europe for those fleeing in terror, and of course, the destruction of many historic sites. Disgusting. 

3. New York Daily News - Shame on the NY Daily News for using the still images of the suspect's recording of the murder as their front page. It's an absolute shame what now stands for "journalism". I've taken a personal indefinite boycott from the newspaper - such a garbage, and disrespectful act. 

1 Truly Unfortunate

1. Atlanta Fan Dies - Unfortunate is the only way to put it for the longtime season Atlanta Braves ticket holder who died when he fell over the upper deck booing Alex Rodriguez. Such a freak accident, and again, so unfortunate.

Recently Read

Quick Ponder: Future Self

We always think,  what would we say  to our  younger self? However,  what would  our younger self say  if they met us, today?

Turning 40 - Grateful and Renewed

I became a forty-year-old individual yesterday.  The milestone is very significant for many and has its societal measures and benchmarks that carry some fear for those approaching its gates. Regardless of approach, turning 40 is filled with reflection, pondering (of course), and preparation for what should be a "new" stage of life. A life stage centered around "transitioning" into a stage seen as the "pre-senior" years.  Sure. Whatever.  I won't disagree that the new "4" digit that sits in front of your age feels encompassing even without understanding completely. Yet, as I stated last year when I turned 39 (going into my 40th year on this earth), I was ready for it. Ready for 40. Today, oddly enough, I am not filled with profound life lessons, ponderings, or reflections.  I sit here, punching the keys, filled with gratitude. I am 40, and I love it.   I carry my baggage of life and bear scars from it at 40. I am grateful for so many experien...

Knicks Trauma - Ugh Not Again

Well, that was a kick in the stomach.  Coming off a week where the word "catharsis" was used as the description for the euphoria and release of joy from two and a half decades of suffering, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers brought about another word - trauma.  Watching the Knicks collapse was the kind of moments that come with these deep runs and moments. NBA Playoff basketball will do that. Yet, this loss - this one - feels about as bad as the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees collapsed in the series to the Boston Red Sox.  That one carries some serious trauma. Luckily, the series isn't over.  Some other quick thoughts from this awful, awful night, New York Knicks Basketball.  - Not to conjure up hyperbole, or even contribute to "hot take" sports reaction culture - but this might have been the worst loss in Knicks franchise history. I cannot think of another in my lifetime, or historically.  - Tyrese Haliburton's "choke"...