September 1, 2018 Posted in  NFL News, Raiders, Tributes

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for the memorial service… to the Raiders’ 2018 playoff chances.

As you likely have heard by now, the Raiders traded Khalil Mack and two beans (2020 2nd and conditional 5th in 2020) for a bag of beans (2019 1st & 6th, 2020 1st & 3rd). I hope this resembles Jack and the Beanstalk more than a child’s book where the patriarch sells the farm for practically nothing.

This has the potential to be a good trade for both teams, if the Raiders hit on their draft picks that they’ve just acquired. Mack alone to the Bears was worth three 1st rounders. The Bears are not a playoff team, even with Mack, but the Raiders went from a boss to a janitor real fast.

In memory of the Oakland Raiders’ 2018 playoff chances, the NFL family requests donations to the New York ...

September 1, 2016 Posted in  PSAs, Tributes

Ah, the National Anthem. Played at every sporting event in America. Is that really necessary? Is doing so an attempt to indoctrinate Americans? Should we be outraged over this practice, when conducted excessively?

The answer to all three of these questions is no.

What exactly are we trying to honor when we sing the anthem before sporting events? I get the Conference Finals and the Championship game, as well as after special (and occasionally infamous) occasions. Other than those, what are we honoring? What’s the point of doing this?

Contrary to recent belief, Americans are not indoctrinated by the anthem. If our decadence could’ve been prevented by it we’d sing it a lot more...

July 24, 2016 Posted in  Tributes

In the desert of Southern California baseball is played three months a year. In June and July the Palm Springs Power play in the Southern California Collegiate Baseball League. In the California Winter League, played in mid-January to early February, players from all over the country come to showcase their talent in front of Major League Baseball scouts for the MLB Draft, held in June.

In other sports, tennis and golf are the primary sports in the desert, though basketball, football, soccer, and ice hockey are also played.

In all, sports is always the mind’s refuge to temporarily escape life’s stresses. Where would the world be without sports?

June 28, 2016 Posted in  Tributes

When legends die, the day seems to be strange, as though time has compressed and there is a weird presence being felt. In the cases of Pat Summitt and Buddy Ryan occurring in the same morning, it feels doubly strange.

Pat Summitt is the all-time wins leader in NCAA basketball, women’s or men’s, and was a pioneer in certain ways for women’s athletic accomplishments. Title IX benefited them greatly.

Buddy Ryan was the architect of the great Chicago Bears defenses in the mid 1980s and helped lead them to a 15-1 record, and a blowout of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. He was also a head coach for the Arizona Cardinals and a defensive coordinator for the then-Houston Oilers.

Rest in Peace to two legends.