The beginning of spring brings us warm weather, Easter brunches, bottomless mimosas, and plenty of empty carbs. Spring also brings us the NBA Playoffs, The Masters, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and a Rockies team that is not yet mathematically eliminated. Unlike the Dallas Mavericks, I was interested in the final games of the NBA season this fine spring weekend. Unlike Bryson DeChambeau, I participated in all four rounds of The Masters. And unlike Jorge Masvidal, I finished the weekend on my feet, and ready for more – despite the bottomless mimosas. • Intrigue at The Masters usually begins... Read More

I’m not going to lie. My March Madness advice and predictions did not go well. My brackets have more X’s than a Kardashian, more scratch marks than a cat groomer, and more regrets than a night of Jägermeister. The advice to generally pick a number-one seed to win it, because a one-seed has won the last five, and eight out-of-the-last ten. That didn’t work out. My prediction that Alabama would cut down the nets, and to roll with the tide. Not great. Choosing a Final Four that included Marquette and Kansas, who both lost in the second round. Not my best day. In retrospect, I could have... Read More

Are you struggling to find North Carolina on your bracket sheet? Does Northwestern sound more like a regional site than a 7-seed? Did you assume that Gradey Dick was the name of an adult film star? If the answers to these questions are yes, I am here to help you. Like you, I may not be able to find the Furman Paladins on a map or define exactly what a Paladin is – but I can tell you that the 13th seed is a 5.5 point underdog to the Virginia Cavaliers, and that the point spread is a little misleading due to Virginia’s slow pace of play and defensive prowess. I can also tell you that the March... Read More

In the 1992 classic film, White Men Can’t Jump, Woody Harrelson plays the role of Billy Hoyle. A short, white, basketball hustler that makes his living on the fact that everyone underestimates his abilities. Last weekend, at the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Matthew “Mac” McClung went Billy Hoyle on the entire viewing world. The NBA Slam Dunk Contest used to feature such stars as Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and Kobe Bryant. McClung was only eligible because he basically signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers – with a locker still waiting for him back in the G-League. As a matter... Read More

Let’s see if I have this right. Kyrie Irving demands a trade from Cleveland, bails on the Celtics, and eventually ends up a Brooklyn Net. In Brooklyn, Kyrie chases James Harden out of town, refuses to get vaccinated, shares antisemitic posts on his social media, refuses to apologize, eventually apologizes, and begrudgingly opts-in to stay with the Nets for $36.5 million. Things finally calm down in Brooklyn as Jacque Vaughn takes over for the fired Steve Nash, Kyrie rarely misses a start, averages 27 points-per-game, and the Nets start playing some of the best basketball in the NBA as they look... Read More

The memory is still fresh in our minds. A player lays motionless on the field as fans watch in disbelief. A sight so horrific that many cannot bear to watch, and yet, cannot look away. A stadium of enthusiastic fans, painted faces, and cheering voices – suddenly turned silent. No, I am not talking about Damar Hamlin. He’s doing great! I am talking about Georgia’s 65-7 drubbing over TCU in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night. Actually, it wasn’t just one player laying motionless on the field, it was an entire TCU secondary that seemed motionless. The defensive... Read More

The lights flickered off the Christmas tree like stars in the dark sky. The table was set with fancy holiday dishes, festive wine glasses, and charcuterie filled with various gourmet cheeses and prosciutto. Filled stockings hung off the fireplace, expensive bourbon poured into those with eggnog, while the scent of Grandma’s sugar cookies filled the air. It was the perfect Christmas. The matching family pajamas may have been a little over-the-top, as was the hula-hooping Santa Claus that rotated around on the mantle. But nothing was going to embarrass me on this day. Nothing was going to spoil... Read More

Historically speaking, Jack Faulkner’s 1963 Denver Broncos are considered the worst squad in franchise history as the team finished the season with a disastrous record of 2-11-1. But that was a little before our time. Recent memories may have you thinking about Vance Joseph’s 2017 Broncos (5-11) that relied on the laughable trio of Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiller, and Paxton Lynch to steer their sinking ship. Or Vic Fangio’s 2020 Broncos (5-11) and the failed Drew Lock experiment. But I always refer back to the Josh McDaniels team of 2010 as Denver’s blueprint of football futility. In... Read More

Who doesn’t have World Cup fever? After all, the sport of soccer is played by more than twenty million people in 140 countries, with an estimated viewing audience of 3.5 billion fans. The World Cup offers you stars like Lionel Messi of Argentina, Neymar of Brazil, and Cristiano Renaldo of Portugal. Packed venues with crazy fans, painted faces, and waving flags. And Cinderella stories of David vs Goliath, Morocco vs Belgium, and Costa Rica vs Japan. Call me at 6am so I can head down to the local pub no matter what time zone, ask me to throw on my favorite Juventus FC jersey, tell me paint my... Read More

The Peloton bike was rolled into the front room of the house three months after promised. It was the early stages of the pandemic, the gyms were closed, and the room had been converted into a home gym with a weight bench, exercise ball, and a view of the cul-de-sac. The bike cost around $2500 as I recall, unclear if that price included the four sets of shoes, Peloton logoed water bottles, hand weights, or yoga mat. The monthly subscription was another $40 per month for virtual classes, instructors, and guidance. Our family used it religiously for three months – until we didn’t. The Peloton... Read More