Dome Pondering

3 Up 1. Moonlight - I haven't watched it as of it, but I'm super happy for those connected for Moonlight for two distinct reasons: 1) Diversity and Inclusion!; 2) Watching an indie movie prove that you don't need large budgets to make great films.  2. Jordan Horowitz - So yeah, there was a snafu, the kind that really is the epitome of event management 101.Obviously, that's what the world will focus on, because, that's what we do now. But, Jordan deserves plenty of credit for having his dreams crushed on national television, but he handled it with poise, class, and honor. Awesome job, Jordan.  3. Spring Weather - How awesome was the weather this week?! And my goodness, baseball is back! College baseball. Spring Training. People are playing catch, taking swings! I'm so happy!!!! 3 Down 1. White House Media Ban - I try to give politics a break from this section every week. I really do. Even this week when I shared a conference space with CPAC

Today, I was in the same building as the President of the United States of America. In any time, and probably in any other era, that used to mean something special. I would have been excited. Heck, I waited for twenty-eight minutes after work just to see President Obama's motorcade make it's way down the street of my office. Just to see the car he was in drive by. That was cool. I was excited. Just for the brush. Just to be in the same air with the most powerful person in the free world.  Of course, you know where this post is now going. Today, I was not. I wasn't excited. I wasn't thrilled. Nor did I have the overwhelming angst to rush the area to see him. I just didn't.  This past week, I attended a national conference within the field of which I work - Higher Education and Campus Recreation. As it goes, this year's conference was held in the National Harbor in the DC area. And as you probably know by now, so was CPAC, a conservative union confere

I very much dislike the idea of the automatic walk, baseball's new rule as part of the initiative to improve pace of play. Yes, I am all for increasing the pace of play, always have been, and I am a fan of the new commissioner researching and searching for ways to effectively help the game of baseball. As I've been saying, this is the first time baseball has been proactive, and I love it.  But this new rule approved by both the MLB and the MLBPA (Important aspect to remember), in my opinion, doesn't solve that. In some ways, I think it takes away from the game. Here are some of my reasons:

So yeah, part of what inspired me to start doing these was in fact my infatuation with All-Star Games because of the unique gear and aesthetics that came with them. While the 2017 NBA All-Star Game (really, the entire weekend) was a complete dud, a few things did catch my eye. Of course, the game itself did garner the highest ratings since 2013 - go figure. No, that's legit. But hey, what do I know? I guess people really do like watching that display of "basketball".  Anyway, sorry, back to what caught my eye this weekend. As always, I'm willing to share.

3 Up  1. Youth Basketball Team Inclusion - This story is remarkable. A CYO youth team from New Jersey forfeited their season after their league did not permit the two girls on their team to continue playing. After much resistance, the league gave in. Ahh, the power of resistance and inclusion. Gotta love it.  2. UCONN 100 Wins - However you feel about the UCONN women's program, 100 wins in a row is pretty damn impressive. Seriously, thats one-hundred wins in a row! Just crazy.  3. Charlotte and Bayley - These two lit it up on Monday night with their Women's title match on Raw. The WWE's women's division remains must-watch stuff, and as always, Charlotte continues to be one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers (and overall athlete) in pro wrestling right now.  3 Down 1. Presidential Public Relations - Ahhhh, another week, more stuff. Yeah, just stuff. From Flynn's resignation, to more DeVos, to a phony Sweden attack remark - it's only been a

What is it about?  A father who raised his kids in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, is forced to enter the real world, and is challenged by specific values he holds dearly.  Who is in it?  Viggo Mortenson - Ben George McKay - Bo Samantha Wisler - Kielyr

3 Up 1. Charles Oakley - Did anyone else win the week more than "The Oak Man"? As I briefly mentioned ( Living Vicariously Through Oakley ), Oakley gave us all a moment we wanted to live vicariously through, and even more ammunition against James Dolan and the Knicks brass.  2. Yale - Kudos to Yale University on renaming Calhoun College because of ties to white supremacy and slavery. Hopefully, this starts a trend for many institutions who still have various ties on their campus to slavery and other forms of white supremacy. 3. WWE Elimination Chamber - Bray Wyatt?! What?! Where did that come from?! Not going to lie, throughly shocked by tonight's outcome.  3 Down 1. Betsy DeVos Confirmation - Ugh. I can't even...I just can't.  2. New York Knicks - Talk about a disaster of a week. From the entire Charles Oakley incident, to James Dolan making it all sooooooo much more worse - the Knicks are just an outright disaster.  3. Twitter Wars

Am I the only one who envisions an epic wrestling story line between Charles Oakley and owner of the New York Knicks, James Dolan?  Okay, maybe I watch too much wrestling (I do), but how else am I supposed to deal with latest news to come out of my fandom that is the New York Knicks? We're not necessarily awful in terms of talent, but merely production and effort, thus being a kind of awful that is even more awful. Making this all so unbearable is the glaringly obvious issues that lie within this team, and even so, within the organization. Yes, there is Phil Jackson vs. Carmelo Anthony. Of course, there is the ever-continuing debate regarding Carmelo Anthony's ability to lead. Sadly, there is the regression of (my guy) Kristaps Porzingis. Strangely, there is the obvious malcontent between the members of team. And obviously, there is Phil Jackson, and the daggers he throws at everyone from above, but has said nothing - NOTHING! - to explain any of it. And as always,

3 Up 1. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick - The amount of dominance these two have reigned over the NFL is rather mind blowing when you attempt to wrap your mind around it all. Yet, I'm sure there are any two who have done it better than these guys. They simply restock the herd around them, and wham! Super Bowl. All the time.  2. Super Bowl LI - So yeah, I released that post of me giving up on football this weekend. You should still check it out! Regardless, I decided to catch the big game this week, and I'm glad that I did - amazing game. I'm really glad I did. While I still stand by my feelings of struggling moving forward in being a fan of this league, I must admit, this game was very entertaining and for several hours, it erased the reality of the world's happenings.  3. Erase of Subways Swastika - While this one typically would have the top spot, the world needed a break from it's reality, which the Super Bowl happily provided tonight. Nonetheless, the

I pretty much quit watching football this year. I know, that sounds absolutely crazy to most sports fans, especially Americans to whom football is more religion that just sport and fandom, but yeah, I just stopped. In fact, the most football I sat and really watched this entire season was the drive in overtime of the National Title game between Clemson and Alabama.  So, why did I give up football?  Well, for starters, I was never the biggest football fan. Ranking my favorite sports, it's easily as follows:  Baseball More Baseball Basketball Soccer Everything else... So yeah, quitting football wasn't all that hard. I'll root for the New York Jets from time to time (more reason to ditch the entire football thing from my life) but I've never been the guy too excited about football Sunday. Honestly, my fall Sundays were more so, really football Sundays in watching the MLS. But that's another post for another time.

This is a section of the blog I've been looking to add for a long time. As you can probably tell from Twitter and from previous sections (like here and here among others) of the blog, I'm a big nerd when it comes to the aesthetics of sports and athletics (uniforms, courts, fields, stadiums, apparel, etc...) and I figured why not add it to the blog. After worrying about formatting and ways in which to present it, I just decided I'll just - as I typically do - just punched the keys on what comes to mind.  First up, the newly released MLB Spring Training Caps and Jerseys. You can see the entire reveal here .

What is it about?  A man going through an incredible amount of loss takes on the care for a boy with physical disability. Their journey on a road trip helps both overcome their troubles and past, to see the world in a new perspective.  Who is in it?  Paul Rudd - Ben Craig Roberts - Trevor Selena Gomez - Dot Megan Ferguson - Peaches

71. Would you rather watch a long film of all the best moments of your life thus far or a short clip of the only most pivotal moments? I would definitely go with a short clip of the most pivotal moments. I don't need a long film about myself. Although, a documentary about these pivotal moments would be very interesting. And yes, I love documentaries and knowledgeable pieces. 72. Would you rather go on a trip with your friends or your significant other? Ha, easily my significant other. We've been to a handful of places around the globe already. She's an awesome co-pilot, and a tremendous travel partner. 73. Would you rather look young and beautiful and never age or have the ability to be invisible? Invisibility. This may sound weird, but there is some grace in growing old. Plus, youth doesn't always equal beauty.