Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
South Africa world champs again Given the myriad ills that beset it, South Africa has little to brag about these days. And so this World Cup win will seem like a panacea – at least for a day or two. No one had ever won four men’s Rugby World Cup titles. And, even on a soggy Parisian… Read more.
Springboks: Long way from Apartheid, stone’s throw from fourth title During Apartheid, the South African national rugby team, the Springboks, was nearly all-White. Back then, Black South Africans would have seen it as treason to support that team. Then, South Africa released Nelson Mandela. His Christ-like inclination to turn the other cheek was as disarming as inspiring.… Read more.
Stop the presses! That’s what all the news media did today to report on Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s budding relationship. Because what the world needs now is more Pavlovian coverage of the symbiotic relationship between pop and sports stars. Theirs is a match made in heaven or Hollywood, given its scripted nature. Travis and Taylor (TNT) are… Read more.
Hailing Colorado’s Coach Prime Six days ago, everyone was so effusive in their praise for Coach Prime that they seemed like cult worshippers. His Colorado had just defeated Colorado State 43-35 in a thrilling double-overtime game. But, as my Facebook Notifications will attest, I sounded this sobering note at Yahoo Sports: Yeah, but all the analysts had Colorado winning by ‘at least… Read more.
‘Call Me Coco Champion’ I couldn’t have been happier or prouder this afternoon as I watched 19-year-old Coco Gauff win her first Grand Slam at the US Open. It was merely a matter of time before Coco Gauff won a Grand Slam title. … Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus on Saturday, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, shrugging off… Read more.
Sha’Carri’s redemption Sha’Carri Richardson won the Women’s 100m last week at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Many are hailing it as her redemption. I understand why, but I disagree. They are hailing it as her redemption because of what happened at the 2020 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Richardson won the Women’s 100m. And she did so with speed… Read more.
The kiss that ruined Spain’s football fiesta Everyone was ecstatic. Hell, even Queen Letizia rushed down to the field to lead the Spanish players in jumping for joy – complete with fists punching in the air. After all, they had just defeated England to win Spain’s first Women’s World Cup. Who could’ve foreseen the scandal a jubilant… Read more.
Spain defeated England 1-0 in the final of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday, capping off a tournament that has broken attendance and TV records and raised hopes of a surge in interest for the women’s game. … England and Spain were both making their first appearance at a Women’s World Cup final, while England’s… Read more.
$40 million in gambling debts? Chump change! Remember when we were “shocked, shocked” at the breaking news about Phil Mickelson’s $40 million gambling debts? I duly commented in “Phil Mickelson Gambling Like Tiger Woods Cheating” on July 15, 2015. But we had no idea. Because today’s breaking news makes that figure look like the loose… Read more.
Sweden eliminates USA No women’s soccer team has been more celebrated than the US Women’s National Team (USWNT). But Sweden demonstrated today that no team is invincible. The United States was eliminated from the women’s World Cup on Sunday after losing to Sweden, 5-4, in a dramatic penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless draw in the round of 16 in Melbourne,… Read more.
