Dome Pondering

3 Up 1. Jake Arrieta - I'm sorry, but Jon Lester is no longer the ace of the staff. Arrieta is the big gun for the Chicago Cubs moving forward, and throwing a no hitter against the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball is proof of that.  2. Class of 2019 - As someone who works in collegiate athletics and very much tied to the higher learning environment, college campuses across the nation welcomed the new class of 2019 (crazy!) this past week. Good luck to the new freshmen and the impending future of this nation/world! 3. Toronto Blue Jays - I hate to say it as a die hard Yankees fan, but these boys are rollin'! And of course, Canada, yes the entire nation, has adopted this team as their own and have supported them with enough energy to make them a tough out in the coming weeks, and possibly come playoff time.  3 Down 1. Virginia Shootings - How sick have we become as a culture where shootings on live television are now our reality. We can't even trust the f...

After the recent unfortunate shooting in Virginia, I wanted to share some thoughts, but rather than be redundant on another gun control/public shooting issue, I figured I would just post this photo which truly wraps up my feelings right now.

There is just something about pro wrestling and the New York City area fan base that just seems right. It just feels like a perfect connection. I'm not looking to be a homer, or give my hometown and current city a plug, but the two have always fit together.  So when this past weekend came around, I'm sure many pro wrestling fans in this area were excited. The weekend was filled with various events, and the cards were all stocked. All in all, it was a good week to be in NYC (more so Brooklyn). I managed to attend ROH's Field of Honor and of course, the big show, SummerSlam. Below are some quick thoughts on what was an absolutely fun weekend.

3 Up 1. Spencer Stone - The U.S. Airman doesn't want to be called a hero, but that's exactly what he and his two friends are after they foiled a planned terrorist attack aboard a train headed to France. The three men tackled and took on the gunman, disarming him, and punching him until he was unconscious. Thank Mr. Stone and friends. Thank you so much for truly saving what could have been a horrific day.  2. John Cena's 500th Make-a-Wish - His wrestling character aside, some pro athletes aren't even near 500 wishes granted, and they have an off-season! That just accentuates this accomplishment even more. Cena is truly a good guy who busts his ass for the fans and makes lives better for children who need the inspiration. Kudos to Cena. Keep rockin.  3. Pro Wrestling in Brooklyn - What a weekend it was, and boy was it so much fun! From ROH Field of Honor, NXT Takeover, and SummerSlam, pro wrestling was alive and oh so entertaining. I had a blast all weekend...

What is it about? An anonymous super secret spy organization recruits the son of a former agent, whose life has been that of a street kid, just as the world is on the heels of a takeover from a global tech.  Who is in it?   Colin Firth - Gary "Eggsy" Unwin Taron Egerton - Harry Hart Samuel L. Jackson - Valentine

It's been awhile since I've tackled a Pondering 10 column, but in the spirit of the topic of this post, I'm due. In the middle of what has been such a fun and exciting baseball season, I decided to go ahead and rank, of course, as of today, my favorite right handed batters to watch. We all know lefty swings are the prettiest, natural turn to first base and all, but I'm going to give the righties some love. With that said, here are my favorite right handed hitters of all time - most who I've imitated a few times in my lifetime.

3 Up 1. Cleveland Indians - Major kudos to the Cleveland Indians who have been ultra supportive of Mike Aviles and his daughter, who is fighting leukemia. Not only did the organization agree to not trade Aviles out human respect as he deals with the personal issue (his daughter is being treated at the Cleveland Clinic for Leukimia), they also had his daughter toss the first pitch at this past Thursday's game. Well done Indians, well done.  2. LeBron James - At the number two spot, we're staying in Cleveland with LeBron James this week announcing that he is funding college scholarships for up to 1,200 children in the city of Akron. Besides "The Decision", how can anyone find fault with LeBron James as a superstar athlete? A great way to give back to Akron.  3. Dare Devil - Sure, this Netflix series came out in early 2015, but because of my work schedule (semester-by-semester academic schedule), I haven't gotten around to it until this summer. Dare De...

What is it about?  A former linguistics professor at Columbia University, and her family deal, with the issue of her diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.  Who is in it?  Julianne Moore - Alice Howland Alec Baldwin - John Howland Kristen Stewart - Lydia Howland

Pondering with Plumtree is a column on the popular blog, TNAsylum, that is written by yours truly. The blog is focused towards being a fan site for TNA Wrestling fans where they can get news, rumors, opinions, and any and everything else, TNA Wrestling. Known as "The Haven for TNA Wrestling Fans", I'm hoping to bring some of my thoughts to an already impressive roster of columnist for as long as the site will have me. You can read the latest column here , or in the text below.

3 Up  1. Frank Gifford - Unfortunately, the sports world lost Frank Gifford this week. From his legend at USC, with the New York Giants, and finally, as a broadcasting legend, any sport manager or fan understands the impact Gifford has had on the sports and athletics industry.  2. Toronto Blue Jays - After making the deal for Troy Tulowitzki and David Price, the Blue Jays have gone from a pretender to a serious threat in the AL East with a bludgeoning win-sreak. The Jays have rejuvenated an entire fan base and country as the Jays look to end their playoff drought.  3. GOP Presidential Debate - The debate drew some big time ratings, but it also introduced many of the faces, positions, and stances we will hear in the coming months. Solid debate, with hopefully more to come.  3 Down   1. Floyd Mayweather - Yup, "Money" Mayweather is the big loser this week. I don't care about Mayweather's money. We all know his bank account is very healthy. How...