Dome Pondering

It's hard to believe we're already at mid-season for the 2026 MLB season.  With a potential looming lockout next season, there's some added incentive to appreciate all things baseball right now. With that said, I soaked up all of what the MLB All-Star break was this week.  For what it was, it was a nice ode to the game. I enjoyed it, and lots to love about where baseball is going...except for the pending labor talks. Regardless, here is the latest Pondering 10 - my favorite things for the 2026 All-Star Break. --- 10. Uniforms It's a small thing. However, Nike's attempt to invoke what we've seen in the takeover in the NBA with the MLB backfired. The previous All-Star jerseys were a disaster. Getting back to the fellas representing their teams is a visual that should always remain. Welcome back.  PS - They tried to do something different with the hats...wasn't a fan.  9. Netflix Presentation I don't know what the overall viewership will be for Netflix. Net...

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. WNBA It's been a tumultuous season for the "W". While the on-the-court competition has been enjoyable - normal pro sports stuff - the WNBA has begun to carry a lot of baggage around its league. From the obvious Caitlan Clark saga (ahhhh yes, Caitlan Clark drama), to the Sophie Cunnigham stardom, to the villainization of Alyssa Thomas, and the constant complaining about the officiating by everyone, the league has felt...exhausting in some ways.  Mainly, because so much of what makes the WNBA is its purity in basketball and its physical nature. You know, the style we always ask of the NBA all the time... In the WNBA, as of late, there is just always drama. Always... Jay-Z Weekend With Drake's last album, the hip-hop world was once again ignited in GOAT conversations. In this, Jay...

The expense of maturity, is the pain in realizing how much of yourself was given to others who did not deserve it. 

What is it about?  The story of Nike's pursuit of a then-unknown Michael Jordan by a struggling Nike Basketball division.  Who is in it?  Matt Damon - Sonny Vaccaro Jason Bateman - Rob Strasser Ben Affleck - Phil Knight Favorite Scene:  Sonny heads to Wilmington, North Carolina, and ends up with a face-to-face meeting with Deloris Jordan Favorite Quote:  I believe the saying that if you say what you want, that's fine and good, but doing something about it is what really counts. Review:  Air is as good as expected. In many ways, it was better than expected. After all, how riveting could this story have been, especially when we're aware of some parts? It's tough to make this an entertaining vehicle when a documentary could do it, right?  That was the tough part, and this film crushed it. Kudos to Affleck for doing so in the director's role as well as in portraying a quirky Phil Knight. Could it have used MJ's perspective? Of course. But staying focused o...

Well, the run is over.  However, we took a step forward...right? Right?  Well, something felt all too different about this World Cup for the United States Men's National Team until...well, it didn't. There was a lot of juju brewing, a lot of national pride bubbling, and a lot of casuals suddenly invested...and then, just like that, it was back to normal.  Eh, it's just soccer.  With the US falling short to Belgium, 4-1, in the Round of 16 in a disastrous manner (and some high-level politics involved), it's quite difficult for me to gauge what was accomplished for United States soccer during this World Cup. Quite plainly, it felt like the United States was one win away from not only their first trip to the round of eight since 2002, but from setting the entire world ablaze with the unthinkable, and outright pushing the United States into full-fledged soccer frenzy.  But it wasn't meant to be. And while a lot of good came from this tournament for USMT - more on th...

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. Storylines and Sports  It certainly was a week to feel much deeper than attachment for your favorite team. Sports gave us deeper storylines and occurrences where we felt, we appreciated, and we found the unexplainable in life. From that magical cinematic match that was Serena Williams' comeback match versus Maya Joint in the 2nd Round at Wimbledon, to everything that was Cape Verde's run and challenge against the defending World Cup Champions in Argentina, sports provided some amazing feels this week.  Making Sense of ALS I'm not a huge football fan, but this story really shook me when it made mainstream headlines. Former NFL superstar Chris Johnson announced his ALS diagnosis. As shocking as the announcement was, the reality settled in as you saw the image of a once powerful and a...

American Dreams (and some Nightmares).  Happy Birthday, America. 

What is it about?  A young couple's relationship develops quickly when one of them is diagnosed with cancer.  Who is in it?  Jeremy Allen White - Elliot Maika Monroe - Mia Favorite Scene:  [spoiler alert] After confronting Elliot during a strain in their relationship, both finally come to the conversation they've been avoiding. Favorite Quote:  "It's not that I don't love you. I do love you. You're my first love. I... I just don't... I just don't know you're my only love." Review:  After Everything has been on my targeted Netflix list for some time. The Trailer once hooked me enough to engage with the story.  I finally pulled the trigger over this July 4th Weekend, and I was glad that I did. I'm a sucker for a good coming-of-age film, and this one was right in my wheelhouse. Especially, in tackling the concept of illnesses, how they can alter a couple's relationship and overall growth.  The film does a good job of outlining the backgrou...

Strength for the self-audit, Freedom by the reset, Grateful for the mercy.

Cinema.  It's a phrase too often used, but that is exactly what the opening round match of Serena Williams vs. Maya Joint at Wimbledon was - must-see.  It was the kind of drama we all love about sports in its purest form - storylines galore, the unexplainable, and the unimaginable before you. A contest so rich and gripped with fascinating qualities and intangibles that it is uncapturable in words and photos, other than - you had to see it live.  Cinema.  I sat there for the duration of this match, in pure awe of the comeback of Serena Williams. At 44, returning to the court on the game's biggest stage after four years of retirement. A mom, before her kids, husband, and family, but more so her fans, all willing her on for yet another win.  At 44 years of age, what do we expect? The truth is, not much, but the essence of the beauty lies in the effort. The triumph is not in the matter of victory, but in the level of competitiveness. She still got it.  And ther...