Dome Pondering

3 Up 1. Jason Arday Story - I absolutely love stories like this. Jason Arday overcame autism, and a delayed reading track, and stands today as a young black professor at Cambridge University. Absolutely amazing. I love stories like this.  2. Femke Bol - I will forever be amazed at track athletes. It's probably because I'm so slow. Nonetheless, Bol smashed a four-decade-long world record in the 400M. This week has been filled with some fantastic human-accomplishment stories.  3. Brian 'Thee beast' Story - Continuing the trend this week is this story about an individual who used video games as not just an interest but an escape from poverty. Again...great stuff this week.  3 Down  1. Ohio Toxic Crash - There is so much happening out of this incident in Ohio that is unfortunate, and even more that feels speculative, secretive, and somewhat controversial enough for great concern. So many "Erin-Brokovich-like" vibes coming out of this incident.  2. Turkey Afters...

The WWE continued the massive machine moving towards Wrestlemania with this Elimination Chamber event. It was likely the most anticipated Elimination Chamber for this fan in recent memory, and it didn't disappoint in any way. This has been the trend for the company since Triple H has taken over creative (just my opinion, though, not a massive hot take).  Of course, like many others, I was hooked because of the payoff (or first of many to come?) of the highly acclaimed Sami Zayn/Bloodline story with the eventual clashing of Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn. Also, it should probably be said, that Roman Reigns is just money (sorry, Carmella). The dude just is. He's at a level where he is a must-watch and feels enough like a rare, yet, big deal, whenever he is stepping into the ring.  I've often said the oversaturation of the wrestlers is currently a plague in pro wrestling. Roman is the perfect example of that holding some water.  Nonetheless, here are some of my quick thoughts on...

3 Up 1. India's Tap Water Access - This is a rather remarkable story. It's a story that offers humility wrapped in the extraordinary. India's Jal Jeevan Mission provided almost 79 million - 79 MILLION! - households with tap water. Just tap water!  2. Jordan Make-A-Wish Record - MJ is often loved through nostalgia, narrative, and remembrance for being politically neutral - even in giving. MJ these days has made some influential contributions, including this latest $10M donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation.  3. WWE Elimination Chamber - A tremendously entertaining pay-per-view on the road to Wrestlemania. The best storyline in pro wrestling continues to evolve between Sami Zayn and the Bloodline.  3A. City of Montreal - Give it up to the city of Montreal for what made a few nights of pro wrestling an awesome experience. Can we get this city more events?  3 Down 1. Michigan State Shooting - We're broken. Very broken. My thoughts and prayers are with those friends and ...

3 Up 1. Turkish and Syrian Rescue Teams - The entire region hit by a massive 7.8 earthquake earlier this week is in disarray. All the credit, thoughts, prayers, positive energy, and whatever else possible, towards those who are frantically rescuing those alive, or giving them a fighting chance to do so.  2. LeBron Breaks All-Time Record - It's really, really, really an impressive feat for LeBron James. And even after all of that thought and reflection, you realize the dude isn't done! LeBron can quite frankly finish with 40,000+ points. Unbelievable.  3. Biden State of the Union - I'm giving Biden some props here. With hecklers, a continuing political climate that seems only to be getting worse, and so much more, Biden delivered a great speech, and at times, pinned his opposition in various areas - specifically that point of the night where stated" ok, so we agree on social security then". Not bad for the guy everyone thinks has no fight.  3 Down 1. Turkey and Syr...

I said back in July when Kevin Durant rocked the NBA world with his trade request, that he "showed us who he was".  It wasn't a negative comment, but one that encompasses his entire career being a product of our current sport climate - success and focus on legacy. We emphasize the value of a career on rings, and thus, Durant has too. Why wouldn't he?!  Upon waking up and realizing that Durant will don the purple and orange for the Phoenix Suns in what is clearly now a team to watch come the NBA Playoffs, I find myself further pondering if Kevin Durant is the prime result of what we - yes, us! - have done to the modern athlete.  Today, Durant is one of the greatest basketball players I've ever seen. EVER. The dude is rare. He's a seven-foot magician which makes defending him even more difficult based on how damn efficient he is on the basketball court. It's downright poetic and beautiful to watch Durant play. And yes, I'm romanticizing his game. I belie...

3 Up 1. Beyonce History - The Queen made history at the Grammys with her 32nd (!!) win. The number alone sounds absolutely ridiculous, but after all, it's Beyonce we are discussing here. Congrats to Queen B.  2. Viola Davis - We're going career acknowledgment this weekend and up next is the wonderfully talented, Viola Davis. Davis entered that rarified air in entertainment rounding out her "EGOT" with a Grammy win. Every time you think about an EGOT, it makes you appreciate just how damn talented you must be to be in that conversation.  3. Tom Brady Career - And then there is Brady, who finally called it a career. It's wild to think I was a teenager watching Tom Brady win his first Super Bowl. Congrats to Brady on a remarkable career.  3 Down 1. Florida Higher Ed Proposal - If Florida leadership wasn't doing all sorts of cringy things within the education system, this week we saw proposed bills to eliminate diversity programs and a call to reduce tenure for ed...

3 Up 1. Five Memphis Officers Charged - It's a bittersweet "Up", but one of necessity. The five officers who brutally beat Tyre Nichols to death in what has been determined as a traffic stop filled with procedural violations and a hellacious video of their beating to go with it being charged is a step in the necessary direction.  2. City of Memphis - Kudos to the City of Memphis and their office for understanding the duty and responsibility of releasing the videos of the murder of Tyre Nichols. We've seen in various cases where these kinds of evidence are withheld - that office deserves credit.  3. Royal Rumble Event - On a much lighter note in the "Up" section - and in the world - is the Royal Rumble event this weekend. So much fun. Check out my thoughts and reviews here .  3 Down 1. Tyre Nichols Video - Just utter disbelief, and worthy of a shake my head. We need answers, justice, and of course, change. Some of my immediate thoughts on the video release t...

Absolute drama. Wrestling at its best.  That's all I can say as the 2023 Royal Rumble premium live event went off the air. This is not some rare take or outlier perspective I'm going to offer. The wrestling was good. But damn, everything that is the Sami Zayn and The Bloodline storyline is why pro wrestling is the best form of entertainment there is. Yes, they've twisted and turned along the way, even in some areas where you thought this was going to be predictable, but the entire thing has been layered magnificently where it's honestly conceivable to understand anyone's perspective in the entire thing.  I've long thought Sami vs. Roman wouldn't headline Wrestlemania with the E opting instead to go with The Usos vs. Zayn and Owens, but I honestly at the posting of this, cannot state that's the best direction.  Although, while it may not be on the front burner (and it'll probably eventually get there), having Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns where both of...

I didn't want to watch the video of the five Memphis police officers beating killing Tyre Nichols.  Yet, I knew I had to.  For myself, I needed to feel the entire situation. Not just the details from the incident. Not the sadness from the confirmed facts. Not the hurt as I empathize from my own experiences. Not the thoughts from the social discourse and political climate.  Nope. Just for the raw evil that it is. That is us. America.  I've shared my story about my own encounter with police officers when I was a teenager. Now, at thirty-seven, that experience still carries with me. I'm forever marred by the idea that my skin, my look, my presence - which at the decision of someone else  who may consider it a threat - can be the complete elimination of me.  And that is not entirely understood from a viewpoint that even loved ones, or those who may claim to love me, love my skin, my body, and my presence, still may not completely understand. They may not und...

I honestly had zero interest in this year's Hall of Fame Ballot.  I know, I know...how dare I?  For me, the 2023 ballot wasn't as sexy or overly interesting. I really thought this would be another year in which no one got in. From the names on the ballot, the controversial ones like Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield that we knew the outcomes for, and the lost hope for guys like Jeff Kent, I found myself feeling like the theme which now clouds Scott Rolen's 2023 selection - just a lot of VERY good guys.  There isn't anything wrong or disrespectful about that. A lot of the names are now those that resonate with me as I get older and can honestly decide on without extrapolating numbers from baseball references. Call it old school, or somewhat ignorant, but like many, I'm at the point of my life where my first evaluation is instant - did he feel like a Hall of Famer?  If the answer is yes, then it's settled. If the answer is no, I'll do my due diligence in look...