Dome Pondering

"Hey 2020, where are you?" I actually wrote those very words to start last year's Year in Review. I had no clue...none of us did of what 2020 really had in store for us.  2020 will go down as the worst year in my life - ever. And for many, including you reading this, that very statement may be true. It was filled with sorrow, despair, frustration, sadness, fatigue, rage, isolationism, fear, chaos, uncertainty, and death. And even after listing these adjectives, it doesn't accurately capture the 2020 experience - pun intended.  A once-in-a-generation global pandemic. Economic strife. Mental health challenges. Inequality exposure. Social awakening, uprising, and unrest. Political divide. Historical truth. Countless deaths. 2020 delivered body blow after body blow.  I am so very ready to leave 2020 behind. We all are.  As is tradition around these parts - the fifteenth Year in Review(!) - let's slam the door on this shitty year by giving out a few awards in reflectio

3 Up 1. Christmas Day - Merry Christmas to all - I hope you all found unexpected happiness in what has been a challenging year.  2. Nashville Police Officers - Timothy Miller, Breona Hosey, James Luellen, Michael Sipos, Amanda Topping, and James Wells - the six Nashville PD officers who raced into danger and alerted nearby citizens prior to the explosion that rocked the downtown areas of the city. Much respect.

Well, 2020 was the shits. And that is putting it very lightly. It gave us plenty to think about, and A LOT of time to think about them. Before releasing the biggest post of the year - the 2020 DP Year in Review - let's jump into what has become a similar tradition - a Pondering 10 on the things I found most fascinating for the year. Here we go...

  3 Up  1. Keyontae Johnson - In what could have been an utter tragedy, news of Keyontae Johnson's health improving brought a huge sigh of relief to so many. The horror that is a young 21-yeard old suddenly collapsing during a contest, even entering a coma for a brief time, is not welcoming, to say the least - especially in this horrific year that has been 2020. Here is to hoping Keyontae continues to improve and returns to the court and classroom soon.  2. Negro Leagues Identified - I touched on this news earlier in the week - I'm very excited about the acknowledgment of forgotten history as well as getting to know the names and accomplishments of so many amazing black ballplayers who were never given their chance due to sheer racism.

The announcement by Major league Baseball of the addition, and overdue recognition of the Negro Leagues to their record books, shocked me. Throughout my entire life - a devoted fan and lover of the game of baseball - I've always had to learn about the Negro Leagues under my own accord. A deep dive that often requires research that involves reading old newspaper headlines, listening to podcasts of Negro League ballplayers, and lining up the true history of the game with that of what is readily available and pushed through the MLB lens.  The fact of the matter is, much of the experience mirrors heavily what black history is in this very country. Separated, and needed to be sought. Often, never talked about to hide or prevent the complete truth in fear of facing the biggest reckoning yet to be dealt with within our nation - racism.  Yes, that is heavy. But again, there is no way around talking about this latest development without laying down some thick and hard-to-hear rhetoric. 

  3 Up 1. Vaccines - Well, it's here. The FDA approved emergency use of multiple vaccines (with more to come) and it now feels like there is a significant light at the end of this dark, scary tunnel. We're not out of it yet as the virus continues to rage, shutdown are pending, and vaccines distribution is sure to be polarizing. But at the very least, there is an answer forthcoming. Continue to stay safe, ya'll.  2. Rashinda Jones at MSNBC - This is small, but it is super cool. Rashida Jones - no, not that Rashida Jones of Ann Perkins...or Karen Filepelli fame - became the first black President of a major news network, taking over at MSNBC. The country needs a new shift in cable news in the worst way, and hopefully Jones can be a part of it. At the very least, it's nice to see the industry having representation at all levels.

 3 Up 1. MORE Act - The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the MORE Act this week which could decriminalize marijuana on the federal level. Of course, the Act can have sweeping effects, including the way we perceive the thousands of individuals currently incarcerated for marijuana possession.  2. Stimulus Discussion - It's overdue. Long overdue. With the Coronovirus back in full force throughout the nation, help is definitely needed if we're asking individuals to comply with stay-at-home lockdowns. You can't have it both ways.  3. Lavar Ball - Say what you want about the guy - loud, boasting, arrogant, annoying, whatever. He has essentially gotten all three of his boys to the NBA. You can't argue with that.  3 Down 1. Coronavirus - The numbers are rising, and in many areas grim. Even worse, we haven't fully seen the backlash from the Thanksgiving holiday, nor what is to come with the gatherings of the upcoming Holidays. Please continue to stay safe out ther

The NBA released their newest "City Edition" uniforms for all 30 teams, and as always, I'm here to weigh in on the new threads. From examining the complete batch, this year's is the best collective design by far. Quite frankly, many of the designs have had much more thought placed into them than years prior. However, there are still plenty of duds in the group. Here is my take on the latest sports threads: