Dome Pondering

3 Up  1. NYPD Full Support - It was for an unfortunate event - the fall of Officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora - but there was empowering strength in thousands of NYPD officers flooding the streets for the funeral of both officers. Also empowering was the voice of Dominique Luzuriaga, who delivered a touching eulogy for her husband, Detective Rivera.  Bad stuff, but good stuff...because of bad stuff. Our city is in such a dangerous place.  2. Rafael Nadal - The premier tennis player set a new record of 21 Grand Slam wins with a victory at the Australian Open this weekend. The Fuscia King is now arguably, the GOAT of men's Tennis. 

The Royal Rumble is easily my favorite wrestling event of the year - solely for the sake of the match, the aura of the pageantry, and all of the drama that comes with it. Nothing is like that buzzer going off, the surprise entrant, and that possible encounter we've been waiting for, or we thought would never happen. It's pro wrestling's All-Star Game in a nutshell.   The event carries so much nostalgia for this wrestling fan, that no matter how bad I think the WWE product currently is - and believe me, I'm no longer avidly watching it - I will still plan my weekend around the event. Unfortunately, this year's Rumble provided that nostalgia, but the sheer struggles of the current product - again, at least to and for this fan - came glaring through the cracks.  Overall, I found the event to be fun. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns was awesome. Mickie James getting her flowers was super cool, you can't replicate that big fight feel of Lashley vs. Lesnar, and of course

What is it about? A young Columbian woman struggles with the reality that she is the only member of her family without magical powers.  Who is in it? Stephanie Beatriz - Mirabel  John Leguizamo - Bruno Maria Ceclia Botero - Abuela Alma

Okay, so this year's Hall of Fame election results might be the tipping point for me. And from the general reaction around the topic, it seems that I'm not the only one who feels that way. Because after all, we just spent ten years discussing the "morality of the game" and not rewarding those who soiled the game with PED use, just to pin the blame on a select few.  With this outcome comes the crazy hypocrisy and historical injustice that now rises to the surface of the game. This of course, is among the other challenging items on the list for baseball - you know, like this lockout scenario that has all fired up to talk baseball - really, about anything baseball!  This HOF stuff is literally the cold stove exploding.  What an amazingly bad off-season for Major League Baseball. Awful. Awful. Awful. 

3 Up 1. NFL Playoffs Divisional Round - Well, your boy actually watched some football this weekend. Yeah, like for reals - and I wasn't disappointed. I watched all four Divisional games and what a weekend it was for the NFL. All of them, highly entertaining games, that even a super casual fan like me who occasionally tunes in, was absolutely hooked. I'm actually looking forward to next week - truth be told, I've always been a big fan of Conference Championship Sunday.  1A. Chiefs vs. Bills - Tonight's game might have been the absolute best football game I've ever watched. Gripping. Entertaining. And yes, outright in awe at what I watched tonight.  1B. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen - Mahomes has always been my hook to football, the way Michael Vick and Peyton Manning were. But damn, Josh Allen, that dude is legit! Again, so much fun tonight. 

3 Up 1. Dr. King Weekend - I love this weekend, because, I'm just a big fan of Dr. King. Sure, this is the weekend of many who will ill-use his quotes, water down his message and purpose, and hold up his work in such a way to accommodate and support their message - at times, it's comical.  However, it's a weekend to be reminded, to reflect, and to celebrate his life. Don't ever forget, Dr. King was hated during his time. He was killed for fear of what he would bring to America. Let's not forget that as we reflect this weekend. 

3 Up 1. Justice for Ahmaud Arbery - It won't bring Ahmaud back. It won't right the wrong done. I'm not even sure if it provides solace for his loved ones. However, having those three men finish their lives in prison is the most that could have been done. Kudos to Judge Timothy Walmsley and the point he made by holding a minute of silence to prove it was just a fraction of how long they chased Arbery.  2. Sidney Poitier - I learned about Poitier through a film class in High School. To this day, I'm thankful for a teacher to recognize the greatness of black actors and the contributions of others to the entertainment industry. From "To Sir with Love" to "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", I adored his work, and him as a person. A life well-lived. 

IMPACT Wrestling kicked off their 2022 campaign with big noise that made waves throughout pro wrestling and has now set them up for some intriguing things ahead. Before this event even took to the airwaves, there was the subtle, yet huge bomb, that was the voice of Pat McAfee on FOX announcing Mickie Jam...err, excuse me...IMPACT Knockout champion, Mickie James, would be in the Women's Royal Rumble. Yes, that's wrestling in 2022. Like you, I too was stunned. I sat there with Smackdown as backdrop entertainment, just to snap up wide-eyed and amazed, rewinding it, over and over again. You know, just to make sure I wasn't going crazy. So yeah... And then of course Hard to Kill happened. And this event continues to be such a fitting name for a company that truly embodies that slogan as it moves forward. Right now, that includes acknowledgment from the industry leader on national television, as well as offering up a metaphorical couch to its one-time rivals in ROH, for them to c

What is it about?  An Interpol agent works with the second most wanted art thief in the world in order to catch the top most wanted art thief as well as to clear his name from being framed.  Who is in it?  Dwayne Johnson - John Hartley Ryan Reynolds - Nolan Booth Gal Gadot - The Bishop

I immediately warn you, this review will be skewed. Why? Well, yours truly hasn't followed the WWE product since Summerslam. I just haven't been interested in any way through 2021, and finally, I stopped hanging on with the hope that the product will hook me. I just simply gave up. There is too much out there to wait.  RAW has been atrocious - I don't even skim through the DVR recordings anymore unless something pops up in the general wrestling news feed worth seeing. Smackdown will typically and occasionally get a fast-forward style of viewing (mainly due to having to see Roman Reigns' work), and NXT feels more and more like a product that is Triple-A baseball - it's okay, but I can spend time invested into other products.  So yeah, I've been out of the loop. And this review surely will reflect that. However, with a new year (and a lazy Saturday Night), I gave the WWE my time and interest. I wasn't disappointed. And this is good heading into the Royal Rumbl

What is it about?  A legal guardian, who is deceitful and cold in her practice with the elderly and their loved ones by draining their savings, meets her match when a woman she tries to swindle becomes a bigger challenge to her scheming empire.  Who is in it?  Rosemund Pike - Marly Grayson Peter Dinklage - Roman Lunyov Eliza Gonzalez - Fran