Dome Pondering

3 Up 1. Biden Drops Out of Race - I think this needed to be done. I always wondered why Biden rallied for re-election and ultimately, why the Dems allowed him to seek it. More importantly, the optics from the 1st Presidential debate resonated loudly with what many do feel - we must have other candidates, right? Well, now we do. Thankfully, Biden stepped aside.  2. WNBA All-Star Game - Could the WNBA All-Star Game be the last entertaining version that exists? The game was competitive, felt like it meant something, and overall, had a substance that was worth the All-Star feel. Great job from the W.  3. Taylor Swift - Taylor is always in some space of epic accomplishments. After dominating 2023, she's doing it again in 2024 in a quiet way via her latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department" which topped the Billboard 200 for the 12th week in a row.  3 Down 1. California (Newsome) Law - There is nothing I like about this law passed by Governor Newsome. Nothing. What happene

3 Up 1. Corey Comperatore - In a divided country, these moments make us realize that maybe (hopefully?) things have gone too far. Comperatore died shielding his family from the gunfire in the Trump's Assassination attempt. It's so commendable, and also, so sad. We've gotta be better.  2. Michael Bloomberg Johns Hopkins Gift - Kudos to Bloomberg on donating $1 Billion dollars to Johns Hopkins in order to give medical students free tuition. It would be great if so many other billionaires contributed opportunities such as this one.  3. Inside Out 2 (Highest Grossing Pixar Film) - I haven't seen it. But considering Pixar's history, that is quite the accomplishment.  3 Down 1. Trump Assassination Attempt - I said most of my thoughts on this in a post earlier this week . As noted above on tipping a cap to the memory of Corey Comperatore, we've gotta be better.  2. Gun Problem in the U.S. - It's such a crazy thought that a twenty-year-old is able to acquire such a

We're undoubtedly in a special time in history, specifically in politics.   We're so fractured. Tremendously fractured. Beyond differences, in ways that I'm not even sure either party or those who identify with either party, remember the ideals the parties are to represent.  And now, we find ourselves in the aftermath of a potential Presidential candidate, and a former President, in an attempted assassination. One inch - probably even less than that - from being in a catastrophic rock bottom moment of which we would have no one to blame but ourselves.  Thank the Good Lord for the minuscule distance of separation.  But this is where we find ourselves. In this political divide. In the middle of this toxicity within the political community. Unable to pull ourselves from the hyperdrive medium that is our national media outlets. Our continued issues with guns in a modern age, and how they end up in the wrong hands. And yes, those damn conspiracy theories. Here we are. And yet, t

Welp. There it is.  The whole "Bridges to the Knicks" concept felt so obvious that it almost seemed like it wouldn't happen because it was such a perfect thing that needed to happen. Plus, there is still that underwhelming feeling that good things like that don't happen to us.  Well, not anymore. Mikal Bridges is a Knick, and it is official.  This organization finally pushed all of its picks into the middle of the table and swung for the big move we all knew was inevitable.  Here is the final story on that deal: NYK Receives: Mikal Bridges, Keita Bates-Diop, 2026 MIL/DET/ORL 2nd (least favorable) BKN Receives: Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton (sign-and-trade), Mamadi Diakite, 2025 NYK 1st, 2025 MIL 1st, 2027 NYK 1st, 2028 NYK Swap Rights, 2029 NYK 1st, 2031 NYK 1st, 2025 BKN 2nd Some love the deal. Others thought we overpaid. And of course, the national media will #knicksforclicks this thing... Here are some quick thoughts on Bridges to the Knicks for this Knicks fan: 

3 Up 1. FDA Drug to Slow Alzheimers - It's always a good thing when these drugs hit the market. Alzheimer's disease and dementia hit me hard because of what it did to my dad. It's nasty. Anything to help slow or eradicate it is welcomed.  2. July 4th Weekend - It was a nice long weekend. At its core, the holiday is sometimes hard to appreciate or celebrate. Very complicated. In the end, we are fortunate to be in this nation.  3. John Cena - The GOAT. He's my pick (and that's not because of the WWE machine). Cena announced his final tour in 2025 before retiring from the squared circle. What. A. Career.  3 Down 1. Middle Schoolers in PA Impersonating Teachers - This story is wild. Just wild. It makes me fear for my sons in the future as well as the environment they are headed into. I'm at the point where I would be okay if social media just went away. Really, I would.  2. Hurricane Beryl - Hurricane season is now early and it has pummeled the islands, including St

"You (really) deserve it." Coming from the right person, that can mean everything. 

3 Up 1. Aaron Judge - The (new) Captain started the year off slow, but has quickly put together what is shaping up to be a historic season. Judge has been an absolute monster.  2. Florida Panthers - Kudos to the Florida Panthers for winning the Stanley Cup. Despite them narrowly avoiding a historic collapse by dropping a 3-0 series lead and finding themselves in a Game 7, the Panthers finished a dominating run to the Cup.  3. International Basketball - This week's NBA draft saw a large amount of international talent get drafted, especially in the two top spots. Just me, but we need to seriously look at our pipeline here in the States. Also, the route to the NBA is so incredibly diverse.  3 Down 1. Presidential Debate - Unbelievably bad. I'm sure we all had strong opinions this week. Here were mine . 2. Supreme Court Obstruction - The recent run for the Supreme Court seems rather odd. Nonetheless, the ruling that various January 6th individuals  3. Democratic Party - They wanted

Welcome to the NBA, Bronny James!  In what was the worst-kept novelty of a storyline in the sports world in LeBron and Bronny one day gracing the NBA together, we're finally here!  First, congrats to Bronny! Entering the NBA is incredibly difficult, especially more than ever considering its global reach. Regardless, he is now part of the fraternity and amongst the elite in the game. Haters will say what they want, but he's there.  And second, congratulations to LeBron and Savannah James. What will be lost in all of this is that they raised a strong young man who yes, took advantage of his access and genetics, and is now at this point in his life - his ultimate goal. Bronny at the core, had no reason to want this - none. He easily could have rested, relaxed, and enjoyed the spoils of this birth lottery. Instead, he wanted what h knew would be the shadow of a massive legacy - and still did the work. That takes guts.  I commend the kid for not resting on Dad's name and wealth.

It’s the most unwanted rematch likely in history. Biden vs. Trump What we saw tonight was exactly what many moderates expected and solidified what we didn’t want to say out loud - we have to have better options than these two, no? There isn’t much to say about this debate, especially from this debate nerd. This was the absolute shits in regards to inspiring a nation for an upcoming election season, which in many ways, still resonates with political fatigue from 2020. But you know that, already. You knew that ten minutes into the debate. The two best quotes I’ve come across to wrap up my overall feeling are the following: On one side it’s hell no, and on the other, it’s oh no. It’s who we shouldn’t have be President vs. who we can’t let be President A few more quick thoughts on last night 1st Presidential Debate:  - For me, this format was the biggest positive of the night and a very good baseline for where future political debates need to go. In a world of “takes” and who shouts the lo

---6 Years Old --- Dear Son,  Happy Birthday!  I punch the keyboards for this post with so much adulation and pride after your sixth birthday. Six! I can't help but think of the person you're becoming. The word that comes to mind is...super.  Not for some form of alliteration or compliment, but because you're at the core just, well...super. My favorite thing about you is your developing personality, combined with your ability to reason, respond, and react within your own style and wit. And yes, you can read now, so there are some smarts behind it all at this stage.  Yet, under the "come on bruhhs" and the use of the phrase "literally" for every statement of relevance you want to exclaim, there is the constant thread of the fabric that is empathy that remains within your personality that is so beautiful to witness and experience.  "Are you okay?"  I especially love the way that you feel for people (and things) in the moments. The way concern dra

It's been a long time since I've talked hockey on this.  Wait! Huh? Come again? Yes, hockey. In fact, the last time I posted anything, I was mesmerized by the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals between the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers.  Fast forward to 2024, and my hockey fandom took another step forward. For years I've been the admitted casual. And you know what, I'm okay with that. Unfortunately, my unconditional love fandom for my New York Knicks presents a conflict that will forever curtail anything serious from happening between hockey and myself.  Nonetheless, I felt like this post-season heightened my hockey fandom to another level. Hockey is amazingly awesome. I very much enjoyed the Stanley Cup Playoffs, caught myself choosing Rangers games over early April Yankees baseball, and overall, found myself playing NHL 24 on the ol' Playstation 4.  Yeah, I fell hard. But before I shelf my spring fling with hockey until April 2025, here are just a few quick pon

3 Up 1. Connor McDavid - In what might be sports' biggest kept secret, McDavid has put up two 4-point performances in the Stanley Cup to not only force a game 7 for the Edmonton Oilers after being down 3-0, but solidify himself as one of the most dominant athletes in sports.  2. Marijuana Pardons - I've always had an issue with the way our society has moved into accepting marijuana legally, and thus, never rectified how we exploited black and brown communities by over-criminalizing the drug.  By the way, is it fair to say we lost the "war on drugs?" Just saying... 3. Inside Out 2 - I have yet to see it, but the film took advantage of a huge heat wave nationwide and became the highest-grossing film in 2024.  3 Down 1. Heat Wave - It. Was. Hot. Summers are becoming sort of ridiculous.  2. Ecuador - The country suffered a huge blackout with over 17 million people losing power. It's not what you want.  3. Justin Timberlake - This guy has all of the money in the worl

3 Up 1. Father's Day - Happy Father's Day to so many fathers out there who sacrifice, extend themselves, worry, step outside themselves, and so much more, to raise decent human beings for the next generation.  2. Elijah Hogan - This story renewed so much faith in me in regards to working hard, the ambition of today's generation, and so much in regards to social mobility by means of education. I have to admit, I started losing faith in the midst of today's climate. Elijah Hogan is a tremendous story and an inspiration.  3. Jerry West - West was an absolute legend within the basketball (and sports) circles - that's obvious. Remembering him this week, however, returned a failing discourse (and common trend) in and about basketball about past generations and tired tropes. We've forgotten to embrace greatness, and in a way, West was a reminder of that.  3 Down 1. Bump Stock Decision - Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Sandy Hook was the (and remains) the mome

Let's drop some thoughts and comments on Caitlin Clark, shall we?  ::: enter collective sighs, groans, and eye rolls here ::: I know... The continued discussion on Clark and her presence as a professional athlete continues to fascinate as well as enrage me. As discussed in an earlier post , what we are experiencing with Clark is the evolved coverage of an athlete, beyond just social media presence in what LeBron James endured, into a place of injecting every intersection of society into the discussion.  Nope, it cannot just be about basketball (or sports). Because nothing ever is anymore. Ever.   It's about all of it. Even when it doesn't have to be. So we're going to talk, yell, argue, insinuate, speculate, and what drives me crazy, have discourse in the most irresponsible manner possible.  The simplest truth to Caitlin Clark's presence is this, there are multiple truths at play. And that's okay!  Just a few more quick thoughts going forward: - The most salien

3 Up 1. Claudia Scheinbaum - Mexico's first woman President! And even more impressive, is that Scheinbaum won more than any other candidate did in decades. I'm sure it'll bother some people, but the political change around the world in leadership, from country to country, has been interesting. 2. Simone Biles - Is Biles the most undisputed (and undeniable) GOAT in a sport that we have ever seen? Sorry for the hyperbole, but her dominance has been fascinating. Another U.S. Championship for Biles heading into Paris for the Olympics.  3. U.S. Defeats Pakistan - Casual cricket fan here by blood and culture - but I really don't think many Americans understand just HOW big of an upset this is. Kudos to the men on Team USA!  3 Down 1. Sudan - The images coming out of the Sudan and the current war is utterly heartbreaking. I know there is so much going on in the world, and this is just another one, but the images grabbed me this week. Millions have been displaced as is - supe

Experience  should  must enhance purpose, not progress. 

3 Up 1. Bruhat Soma - Every year I'm amazed by the Scripps Spelling Bee champion. This year is no different. Even crazier is Bruhat is 12 years old. Unreal.  2. Negro League Baseball Stats - MLB finally consolidated the statistics of the Negro Leagues into that of Major League Baseball, forever changing so many of the all-time lists we've become accustomed to. The irony is that baseball served as a beacon for integration within our society, and here, it is serving as a way to acknowledge the wrongs of the past.  By the way, it's amazing to see so many people vastly upset by this.  3. Mexico Presidential Race - Mexico is set to elect a new President next week, and since the two favorites are women in Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, it almost guarantees that Mexico will have it's first female president.  Meanwhile, here in the States, we're running back the the most embarrassing rematch in two white men over 80 years of age. Mexico's race makes you wonder -

You just have to shake your head at the reality of the situation.  A former President of the United States was just convicted - on several counts - of a crime.  It's the kind of thing, even in a post-Trump Presidency, where even strange things seem normalized, going too far is desensitized, and you ultimately laugh hysterically at the uber strangeness to suppress the sadness, that even this - THIS! - is still attention-grabbing.  It's no secret if you follow this site - I'm no Trump supporter. I understand why voters elected him in 2016 and struggle to understand why so many stay with him through it all for a 2024 campaign.  We've reach a new level where American voters will outright neglect crimes, and vote to elect a convicted felon as President of the United States. It's quite hard to describe this time in history.  Yet, here we are.  Several other quick thoughts:  I still wonder whether Trump wins or loses, how does the Republican party move on after Trump? I do

3 Up 1. Memorial Day Weekend - It's the unofficial start to summer. Most importantly, it's a weekend to remember those who lost their lives for this nation. Hope you were able to utilize the extra time on the weekend to do it all.  2. Katrina Hero Story - I need a story like this every so often, and quite frankly, we need more of these human-interest stories in the mainstream. There is good out there!  3. Target  and Walmart - Sure, we are seeing these stores dial it back after trying to get greedy in the current climate, however, it's still a good thing that we're getting stores becoming more conscious of the American shopper pysche. And also, just the reality of the climate.  3 Down 1. Missionaries Killed - Heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking. I have a soft spot for missionaries, who literally are a great example of caring for the most dire straights in life (and on this planet). To see this story is so sad.  2. Imnternational Criminal Court - This gets the down

I turn 39 today, and everything I read in regards to such a "milestone" is that it's dealing with the anxiety of turning 40. The big 4-0!  Yet, I sit here punching the keys completely unaware of fears, trepidations, and emotions towards the future. Instead, I find myself immersed in the present - in exactly that, 39. I also find myself slightly looking back on the road to get here - my final year in my 30s.  I look back on my thoughts on turning 30 ( Praying on a Cool Thirty ) and, ironically, I very much vibe and can feel the essence of where I was at the time. At the time, turning thirty meant a whoooooooooooole sort of different expectations and responsibilities. I am in that same place - a center of gratitude for the journey. My 30s have been a ride.  For me, I became a father, and I lost my father. I lost one of my best friends, yet, I gained another in my son - and then a second one just recently. I finished coursework on my second Masters degree, and I also watch

Caitlin Clark is the most scrutinized athlete since LeBron James.  That's my take.  And in today's sports landscape, you not only do you need to have a "take", but you having one about Caitlin Clark is trendy - perfect for said sports take.  But on the real, the current rhetoric around Caitlin Clark and the "Caitlin Clark Effect" as we've seen throughout women's basketball has stirred some of the most ridiculous narratives, conversations, and evaluations we've seen yet since the "take" has become how we measure engagement and profound discourse in sports.  Only a few games into her professional basketball career, we've heard it all... She's only popular because she's a straight white female! If the WNBA were smart, they would ease up and let Clark entertain the way she did at Iowa! Not sure why the women in the WNBA hate her - they oughta be thanking Clark for private travel! The WNBA players are jealous of Clark! Why are on

Moving into  this phase of  health, my family's happiness,  and that Tina Turner "Proud Mary" transition-dancing kind of joy.

I'm disappointed.  Not because I expected a championship. No, that feeling has been very rare within my Knicks fandom.  I'm disappointed because this season is now over. Done. The ride, the thrill, the heartache, and the overwhelming way this team gets me amped and carries me through my personal life is over.  I loved this season. I LOVE THIS TEAM.  This Knicks team, for me, is just short of that 98-99 squad that I still hold as my all-time favorite. If you know me personally, yes, that is the team (and playoff run) in which I wore my Knicks "Hubert Davis" jersey to school every day (literally, every day - to the point my parents received a phone call from the school). Ahh yes, that team that was the #8 seed that ran it all the way to the NBA Finals.  I wasn't ready for it to end, but not only was it inevitable, but not sustainable. And how fitting, rather than losing on a buzzer-beater, or a fluke call, or something that would've likely left me in a mood and

3 Up 1. Knicks - I'm biased. And you already know that. Our season ended today, and quite frankly, I'm in awe of what this team was able to overcome this season. My boys in the top spot. Don't come at me... 2.  Oleksandr Usyk - Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 25 years! Boxing is in such an odd space when it comes to casual access for fans, but eh. This is still a big deal for the sport - too many titles!  3. 5th Grader Beats Olympian - This was a nice story all around - but of course, mainly, a 5th grader dusting a former Olympian is quite impressive.  3 Down 1. Robert Fico Assination Attempt - If the world isn't getting crazier, we've got assassination attempts on world leaders - absolutely wild.  2. Iran President Helicopter Crash - More in the realm of political leaders, unfortunately, Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, is feared dead after a horrible helicopter crash.  3. Reclassification of Marijuana - I'

He said. She said. They said. I said. The bet is on me.

3 Up 1. Mother's Day - Happy Mother's Day to all the variations of Mothers out there.  And of course, strength, power, and prayers to those who have lost a mom and moms who have lost.  2. Northern Lights - I didn't learn about this until it was too late - pretty much scrolling pictures of Instagram in complete shock. Where was this? I could've seen this?! HUH?! God's earth truly is amazing.  3. "Not Like Us" - So much can be said (and has been) regarding the entire Kendrick vs. Drake spat. For me, Kendrick won. However, I've never witnessed a diss track that is not just a dance banger, but also mainstream - easily one of the songs of the summer for sure!  3 Down 1. Rafah Dire - The entire situation continues to be saddening, and as you can imagine, a cause for concern worldwide.  2. Campus Protests - This one links to the above "down" as we enter Commencement season on so many college campuses. It's quite unfortunate, especially as the Cl

191. Would you rather clean the same mess in the kitchen every day or not be allowed to clean up the mess at all?  Clean the same mess in the kitchen. At least I'll know the workload, and of course, know I can contribute in getting it done. Call me crazy, but I actually enjoy (!) cleaning the kitchen sometimes. Give me some good tunes, and it's a great way to clear the mind.  192. Would you rather get rich in a way that disappoints your family or just make enough money to live?  Ummmm, what level of "disappointment" we talkin' bout here?  193. Would you rather have no internet or no cell phone?  No cell phone. I sometimes wish that were the case in reality.  194. Would you rather go back in time to meet your ancestors or go into the future to meet your great-grandchildren?  Give me the future Robos. My family history is too conflicted with all sorts of colonialism and imperialism and out-of-touches to make anything worthwhile other than a discovery act. I'd li