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Showing posts from April, 2016

BU$TED - Time to Hit PED Users Where it Hurts

Dee Gordon is not exactly the prototypical ballplayer we all think of when we look to slap the scarlet "PED User" label on baseball players. For years, despite Major League Baseball doing more than any league in North America to ensure fair play, fans still prefer to stick to the irrational judgement on who gets shunned and who gets another chance. Gordon's use now throws a wrench in the whole "eye test" standard we've had.  Just look at him, dude, he has to be using.  Despite it all, I'm thoroughly shocked by all that has gone down. I like Gordon. I really enjoyed watching him play. I actually had just finished watching his very last game before the suspension between his Marlins and the Dodgers in which Gordon had the go-ahead hit. Then of course, immediately after, my nighttime religion routine of MLB Network broke the news that he was immediately slapped with an 80-game suspension for the failed test.  Despite the disappointment in

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Spotlight (2015)

What is it about? The true story of the Boston Globe and their investigation which uncovered the scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese. Who is in it? Mark Ruffalo - Mike Rezendes Michael Keaton - Walter "Robby" Robinson Rachel McAdams - Sacha Pfeiffer

Sunday Sundown Rundowns - 4/24/16

3 Up  1. Autistic Boy's Poem - I'm a sucker for well written things, anything words, and especially, personal written pieces for interesting minds. This poem. from a boy with Asperger's just moved me for it's meaning, how well written it is, and just how damn good it is.   2. Jake Arrieta - Oh you know, just Arrieta tossing another no-hitter in the first month of the 2016 MLB season. No big deal.  3. Bryce Harper - Staying with baseball, if Arrieta's single-game feat wasn't enough, how about what Bryce Harper is continuing to do? His free agency is going to be quite the frenzy to watch when it goes down.  3 Down  1. Industry Deaths - Obviously, the world lost Prince this week in shocking news. Tough to see such a legend go. For pro wrestling fans, the business also lost Joanie Laurer aka Chyna, who was a trailblazer for women in the industry. Drugs, man...it's a shame to see such influential lives cut short due to substance abuse and tr

Progress or PC? Thoughts on Harriet Tubman on US $20 Bill

After several days of thinking it over, I'm very torn on how I feel about Harriet Tubman eventually being placed on the $20 bill. In a country where racism is still everywhere - intentional or not, the subtlety change of placing Ms. Tubman on the bill just doesn't pack the punch with me as I thought it would.  After all, lets be honest, why did it take this long for our nation to realize that we honor and memorialize a man who did some horrible, horrible things as President when it came to slavery and furthering the abyss that is coming together on social/racial issues? Think about that, blacks for years were forced to use currency that was represented by a face of slavery. And not once has anyone thought this was a bad idea. Not once.

Dome Pondering Import - Tupac on Greed, Back in 1992

I actually have no idea where I m leaning in this Presidential race. To be quite honest, I really don't like any of the candidates. And let me be clear, that's not an, eh, I can't decide who will get my vote.  It really is more like, jees, I have to give my vote to one of these people, whom should it be?! For me, yes, it's that bad. While there are things I do in fact like about the remaining candidates from the major parties, their dislikes are what have been giving me problems. I find Donald Trump's stance on social issues during a very sensitive time in this country to be highly irresponsible. I find Ted Cruz insanely arrogant, and this native New Yorker hasn't forgiven him for his "New York values" comment. Hilary Clinton flip flops and plays up the "feminist" card way too much for me. Bernie Sanders is outright delusional on his economic policies and new-wave socialistic thinking. Again, for me, the thought that one of these folks w

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 4/17/16

3 Up 1. Georgetown 272 - Many do not hold some of our "esteemed" Universities around the country accountable for it, but this New York Times piece on Georgetown University, and it's history of selling 272 slaves to keep the institution afloat is VERY thought-provoking. A very interesting question also is evoked - what do these institutions owe descendants?  2. NBA Week - Could the NBA ask for a better week than this last one? First, there was the unbelievable story of the Golden State Warriors breaking the vaunted 95-96 Bulls' single-game season wins record with a 73rd win (still unfathomable). And then there was the absolutely fun game that was watching Kobe Bryant go for 60 points on his final game. Oh yeah, playoffs began this weekend as well. Great stuff for the league all around.  3. Removing Andrew Jackson - There are sooooo many aspects that still evoke reminders of slavery and the dark parts of our nation's history in this country. Honoring

Thank You, and Good Bye, Kobe

That was absolutely, so much fun. Tonight, like the rest of the sports world, and every fan that appreciates talent everywhere, we all watched as Kobe Bryant played in his final game.  It was everything that we expected from Kobe over his twenty year career - he hoisted shot, after shot, after shot, after shot, after shot. Yet, he brought his team a win with an outstanding performance down the stretch that thrilled, and yes, equated to an inflated figure of 60 points. This was vintage Kobe Bryant, and it was so damn entertaining. For me, Kobe was never one of my personal favorites, but it's hard not to respect the guy. His determination, work ethic, and overall competitiveness is outright infectious and demands respect. Really, his numbers and accomplishments speak for themselves and it's hard to dispute that.

Predictions and Wild Guesses For The 2016 MLB Season

THANK GOODNESS! After a lousy winter of New York Knicks basketball that started intriguing and fizzled out once the calendar hit 2016, I've been eageryl anticipating the baseball season. So yes, thank goodness! Thank you sweet game played on a diamond. Thank you, Major League Baseball. And, of course, thank you, Spring and Summer, for beginning to make your presence a reality.  So yes, baseball me! As always, here are my predictions for the 2016 MLB season:

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Creed (2015)

What is it about?  Adonis Johnson, son of former World Champ Apollo Creed, seeks out his dad's long-time rival and friend, Rocky Balboa, to train him and help him become a professional boxer.  Who is in it?  Michael B. Jordan - Adonis Johnson Sylvester Stallone - Rocky Balboa

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 4/10/16

3 Up  1. Kris Jenkins - Will this kid make a more important shot than the one he did to lift Villanova to the National Championship? I doubt it. Regardless, it was epic. Kudos, Kris!  2. Golden State Warriors - I am not going to lie - the record of 72-10 seemed like something impossible, and something I would never see again. But here we are, with the Warriors one game away from history. It still seems very surreal.  3. Deadlifting Grandma - I love dead lifting. Its a great stressbuster, and an even better challenge. Thus the reason I love this story of a 78-year old woman who deadlifts 225lbs. How can you not love the effort and spirit of this woman? Better yet, what is your excuse to not workout?  3 Down 1. New Jersey 16 - Seriously, how in the world can a human being distribute child pornography? What in the world is wrong with people?  2. Politics - As the race for the Presidency continues to make it's move to crunch time, the more and more removed I

"Winning Too Much?" What?!

Sometimes, it's amazing to me the double-standards which we support in our society. In an era where ESPN drools over the entity and prowess that is LeBron James; Sports radio cannot contain itself in the persistent hyperbole conversation regarding the Golden State Warriors; A generation was not too long ago obsessed with the idea of anything that was Tiger Woods in his prime; Football-heads laud the consistency of the New England Patriots; and of course, every coach in America recites the words of John Wooden in praise of those once glorious UCLA teams; it's quite amazing to believe many are finding an issue with the UCONN Women Basketball team.  I get it. I do. Many already find women's basketball to be less entertaining than the men's game. However, the idea that this insanely great team is bad for television, bad for college athletics, and overall, bad for the game is absolutely beyond me. Quite frankly. it's mind blowing.