Dome Pondering

It's been a fear for many leagues, especially as gambling and sports are closer than ever in the current climate that is sports betting - today, that fear becomes a reality .  With the downfall of Chauncey Billups (didn't his name seem random?) and Terry Rozier (who has been connected for quite some time now), and the insane details coming out of leaked inside information, rigged poker games, and yes, altering participating in games - this is all terrible for the NBA, and for modern sports.  No bueno.  Here are a few more thoughts on this entire mess: - Didn't we all know at some point we'd be here with how accessible and prevalent sports gambling is today? - Regardless of the lawful outcome, we have to assume that both Billups, Rozier, and anyone else connected to this is done in the NBA, right?  - Is Pete Rose still the standard in this space and punishment?  - And wasn't he the ultimate poster boy for NOT betting in sports? What happened to that fear? - Doesn...

Well, here we go! Another year where my New York Knicks are one of the favorites to win an NBA Championship. Still feels all too surreal to say that. Is this the year?! Wayyyyyy too much pressure! I'm excited to have the NBA back in action. There is a lot of talent on all teams, and the league is as wide open and as balanced as it has ever been. Thanks, second apron! Also, with a pending MLB work stoppage on the horizon, I'm going to need some other leagues to be enjoyable, maybe even more so than the usual. But that's another topic, for another day.  As always, here are my 2025-2026 predictions, with some wild guesses thrown in:  --- EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF TEAMS 1. Cleveland Cavaliers (56-26) 2. New York Knicks (54-28) 3. Orlando Magic (51-31) 4. Philadelphia 76ers (48-34) 5. Detroit Pistons (45-37) 6. Atlanta Hawks (44-38) *Play-In Tournament Teams* 7. Chicago Bulls (42-40) 8. Milwaukee Bucks (40-42) 9. Boston Celtics (39-43) 10. Toronto Raptors (39-43) WESTERN CONFE...

What is it about? Adrift in their broken-down space shuttle with little hope of rescue, two astronauts argue over their future as friends or something more.  Who is in it? Anthony Mackie - Adam Gherrity Zoe Chao - Jane Kuang Favorite Scene: [spoiler alert] After learning they'll be headed back to Earth, Adam wishes Jane would remain his best friend, but she declines.  Favorite Quote:  "People are meant to be together." Review:  Stuck on "My List" for the better part of a year, I finally fired If You Were the Last up for watch, and ultimately, wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was upset I left it on the list for so long!  The film is a weird blend of hokey meets serious, comedic meets thoughtful. It's quite the blend that causes you to not take the plot overly seriously with its flashback scenes, cut scenes, punch lines, and cheesy "technology". The space aircraft displaying a frown face, followed by a skull and bones 8-bit graphic, isn't exa...

For the first time in a verrrrryyyyyyy long time, TNA's Bound For Glory event felt like the company's "biggest event of the year". For years, the historical context of the event has often lifted up Slammiversary in this role. Nonetheless, this year, both events felt huge.  Having attended Slammiversary back in July and witnessing firsthand the magic that was inside the UBS arena on the night of TNA's new (up until now) North American attendance record, I very much found myself overly excited for BFG. For me (for me! My feelings! - I know pro wrestling fans are ready to pounce on this) - it carried an excitement similar to that of WWE's major PLEs (e.g., Wrestlemania or Royal Rumble).  I was very much in front of the TV at 6:00pm - I wanted the entire experience.  What we got was TNA putting on yet another great show! At times, it felt overdone creatively, and I think TNA often has to be perfect in all aspects in regards to criticisms; however, overall, Boun...

--- 7 Years 4 Months --- Dear Son,  Today is one of those days I am super proud of you.  Of course, I'm proud of you every day, but today, I wore it on my sleeve...just a bit.  See, today you tested and earned your yellow belt. And while it feels like you'll be sticking with this martial arts love for a while, and there will be many more belts to come, today provided a lot of firsts for me. It was the first time I've seen you in an environment where you truly applied preparation and perseverance. I watched you practice in our basement on your own. Kicking. Going through combinations and striking patterns. Practicing pushups and situps to get yourself where you need to be for the fitness test. I will forever remember the visual of watching you studying the definitions and principles of a fighting spirit in the car through my rear-view mirror before each training session. I sat at every practice and training for the past fifteen weeks - for the good ones, the bad ones, and ...

Because of the response I received last year for my ponderings on last year's World Series , I decided to do the same for this year's MLB Postseason run. I'll drop some quick ponderings on the Yankees and their playoff run here. Because, well, I don't do "response videos".  Yeah, still a words guy. Still a nerd. Nonetheless, who knows? If the Yankees drop a quick two to the despised Boston Red Sox, this might be a quick wrap-up. Orrrrrrrrrr, we're looking at a collection of thoughts for a World Series title.  I'll calm down.  Dropping some ponderings below - thanks in advance for following along... --- Game 1  Red Sox d. Yankees, 3-1 (BOS leads series 1-0) And. Here. We. Go. [in your favorite Joker voice] Yankee fandom is likely going to be in full insufferable panic mode after this loss. I'm expecting the usual takes of "it's Boone's fault" and something to do with Cashman, and other bad takes on why "they trust anayltics ...

I miss lying in bed no screen naive with a side of ignorance just staring at the ceiling with feelings, fears, and dreams.

Before the playoffs get going, let’s get this out of the way: Aaron Judge is the American League Most Valuable Player. Co-signing and confirming the statement above - Yes, I believe Aaron Judge should be awarded the MVP award. But what about Cal Raleigh? He’s a catcher?!! More on that in a bit… My reasoning for Judge is very simple and very straightforward. I’m also removing my Yankee fandom from this assessment. Yeah, sure. Whatever, Yankee boy! Aaron Judge leads in all of the important categories that hold the most weight in baseball.  The most important being fWAR, which accounts for defensive (and if needed, pitching) value.  Aaron Judge leads ALL of baseball with a 10+ fWAR, which is extremely rare.  For me, that is enough (and historically, the trend usually supports this). But if you’re not a fWAR person - or one of those “analytics ruined the game” folks - there’s more… In a world where so many baseball romantics get angry about the diminishing value of batting av...

Lately,  there is a lot of people living someone else's reality. Whose reality are you living?

211. Would you rather be royalty 1,000 years ago or an average person today? Being royalty at any time seems like a really cool concept and experience. But, 1000 years ago? Like, 1025? I'm not sure how "beneficial" a life that would be. I'm fine being average today. I mean, aren't they already? 212. Would you rather lounge by the pool or on the beach? Either is completely fine with me. But yeah, give me the beach. In the Caribbean, preferably.  213. Would you rather wear the same socks for a month or the same underwear for a week? This is...weird. I'll go for the shortest amount of time and wear the same underwear for a week.  214. Would you rather work an overtime shift with your annoying boss or spend a full day with your mother-in-law? Over time, with the annoying boss. Everyday. All the time. No doubt. Yup. 215. Would you rather cuddle a koala or play around with a panda? There is no losing option here. I'm a big fan of both animals. Give me the "...

Today was a day. With heavy reflection before September 11, we got this day. A cruel September 10 that was so much for the soul. So much so that I can’t articulate my thoughts in a seamless way today.  Because of that, here are my ponderings, in a segmented way: - No one should be killed for their opinions or political beliefs. It is outright scary that our political dialogue and the overall climate has devolved into this. From January 6th, to the Hortmans in Minnesota  a few months ago, and now this. What are we doing?!!  - I’ll take it a step further - no one should die because of gun violence! I understand that might be unrealistic, but I still struggle with why it is. Why are we willing to tolerate anything else? - But, I'm also reminded of the many throughout our history to were gunned down for their political stances. It is in the DNA of our nation. Whether that's banned in schools to discuss or not.  - We also had a school shooting - yes, another one. Th...

Emotion. Reaction. Connection. All of it heightened.  Blazing with immediacy, and without substance.  Without empathy. Further emboldened  by the weapons we carry Everyday. In our pockets, and in our faces. They dictate our reality For clout. For money. For that extra hit of  Dopamine. Unable to  reason, to feel Or critically think. Somehow we’ve  managed to  separate, disconnect and lose our values, ourselves, And each other.

I didn’t appreciate Melo as much as I should have during his tenure with the New York Knicks. His run was marred with heightened expectations, sometimes lofty, and often, little to no rational (or reasonable) understanding of his role. The guy? Savior? Piece to a greater puzzle? Every knick fan knows the feeling - we acquired Melo but gave up a core that, in the long run, was worth it, but at the time, meshed really well and played cohesively.  Melo instantly became the disruptor to that when winning was sparse. He better be worth it!  Once you get beyond the pipe dreams of scenarios, what the Knicks fanbase does so well, Melo was an absolute beast of a scorer during his time in orange and blue. He had those nights, and you know what I'm talking about if you watched him play. Those nights! The most memorable was the one against the (then) Charlotte Bobcats, where he put up a franchise and MSG record of 62 points. There were others where he showed off his arsenal, scoring 30,...

Year 16 in higher education, loading. The landscape is changing. Self-philosophy over everything. Remains the inspiration. Changed, is me. Not "career building", but doing, what I now do. Self-spirit over everything. Becomes the motivation. Not significantly focused, but understanding effort and priority. Protecting, my spirituality. Where it should be. Year 16. Whatever, the change. My heart is free.

A possible change is coming to Major League Baseball!  That statement alone has triggered every baseball fan into their feelings, and what possibly could Rob Manfred have cooking for the game's future? As he's done before , Manfred dropped yet another controversial nugget, this time regarding possible expansion and realignment for MLB in the future.  To begin, I don't think this is set in stone...yet. I truly believe, like the "Golden Bat" rule was mentioned, Manfred is floating this out there to gauge the reception of it from fans and how it plays in the overall fan-o-sphere of sports discourse.  Second, I believe this is also a strategy for upcoming labor discussions. Everyone is geared up for the inevitable doom that is "to salary cap" or "not to salary cap". Work stoppage is likely, but a gentle early toss on the table of possibly adding more jobs for players can't be overlooked in labor negitoations.  Expansion Let's start here, as...