by John Walters
Starting Five
1. Macron and Cheesy
Inside the Oval Office, Donald Trump hosting French president Emmanuel Macron: “They’re all saying what a great relationship we have, and they’re actually correct. We do have a very special relationship. In fact, I’ll get that little piece of dandruff off — we have to make him perfect. He is perfect.”
2. Truck Stop*
*The judges who are KISS fans will also accept, “Detroit Truck City”
In Detroit, 13 trucks all stop beneath an overpass to help prevent a potential jumper from killing himself by leaping off the I-696 overpass. If this were a better world, Evel Knievel would then be seen flying over them on a motorcycle. Still, that’s a cool show of unity and what CB radios can do. This may be the best argument against driverless trucks yet.
It’s wonderful that they helped save a life, but when the foiled jumper wakes up this morning, he’ll still be in Detroit, so…
3. Philadelphia Freedom
Just in time for Game 5, rapper Meek Mill is released from prison, rings a replica of the Liberty Bell inside the Wells Fargo Center, and then the Sixers dispatch the Heat in Game 5 for their first playoff series win in six years. Bring on either the Celtics (yawn) or the Bucks (Yay!). Giannis, Ben and Embiid are the future of the Eastern conference.
Simmons and Embiid both posted double-doubles while veteran J.J. Redick scored a game-high 27 points.
4. Coast-to-Coast Pedaling
Did you know that there’s a TransAmerica Bicycle Trail? Well, there is and that’s it and it was launched unofficially in 1973. Here are details. Give yourself three months.
5. Hardware Store
Before Liverpool’s 5-2 victory against A.S. Roma at Anfield (Liverpool) in the first leg of their Champions League semi, violence erupted just outside the pitch. An Irish supporter of Liverpool was hit over the head and two Roma fans were arrested. He is in critical conditions. Guns are a no-no in Great Britain, which is why this hooligan was spotted carrying a hammer.
Music 101
The Jackal
The late Ronny Jordan (1962-2014; he’s playing the guitar here) wrote this song and released it in 1993 (the vocalist here is Dana Bryant) and most of us would have never heard of it if Allison Janney, as C.J. Clegg, had not lip-synched it on The West Wing in 2000 near the end of Season 1. What a treat. The song is phenomenal, but we need to mention Bryant’s name again, because what would this song be without her sexy, superfine voice?
Remote Patrol
Champions League
Real Madrid at Bayern Munich
2:45 p.m. FS1
Robert Lewandowski is not only Bayern’s top scorer (28 goals), but Real Madrid is looking to sign him after the season concludes. That’s cold.
These two super clubs have won four of the past five Champions League finals, but only one will advance this time. The first of two legs.
The Meek shall inherit the bell? Who is that guy, anyway?
While on ESPN, I saw the headline “Out of prison, Meek Mill sees 76ers clinch”. First I thought Meek Mill was Jodie Meeks, a previous Kentucky basketball player and current Wizards player (didn’t even know he was in NBA still, nonetheless the Wizards). All along, I thought an NBA player was in prison, subsequently released and then returned to their team for the playoffs. It sounded very odd.
Item#1 – “French & Fried”? What would be fab is if “macron” is French for “duck” & the header could be “Duck a l’Orange”. 🙂
I was called last night by a political polling group. I LIVE for this & had been waiting an entire year! Anyhoo, I was quite, er, profuse (no, not profane, didn’t want them to hang up!) & let’s just say I gave them lengthy answers beyond answering each question on a 1-5 scale. 😉 I was extremely disappointed when the final question was not about IMPEACHMENT & told the guy. Since he laughed at most of my answers (after getting over his initial shock), he agreed to write that in under “additional respondent comments”. 🙂
Did you sell GBTC yesterday? You seem to be a real-life Mary Poppins of the stock market (i.e. know which way the wind will soon be blowing) & thought maybe you did. Do you regret selling BA or did you already buy back into that one too?
About the college basketball “commission” – 1st, I didn’t know there had been/is one & 2nd, it should have been called the “PROFESSIONAL & Collegiate basketball Commission” as the issues affect & INCLUDE both. The One & Done sham was NOT the NCAA’s idea, it’s possible because the NBA started taking such young players. I’m also against it, but unlike yourself & this commission, I think players should NOT BE ALLOWED into the NBA until at least age 20. Also, they seem dead set against including the PLAYERS (i.e. those actually responsible for the “product”) into the MONEY BONANZA that is now college basket/foot ball. Hmm, who was on that commission besides Republican Rice? Anyone with a mandate of seeing the SCHOOLS continue to keep all the money?
BTW, can today’s college basketball players count? Over the past month, I’ve seen a continual ESPN crawl of players names that are declaring “early” to the NBA draft. FAR more than 60. Plus, if you are not taken in the 1st round, what are your chances of actually playing in the NBA?
Finally, I’m ALREADY sick of the Sixers & Embid is thisclose to being nothing more than an immature/egotistical blowhard who can’t actually stay on the court for a full season.
Susie B.,
Re: College basketball players and the draft, I believe players can go to the NBA combine and have a week or something to then decide if they want to continue on with the process. The most sensible thing, however, would be to let players return to school if they weren’t drafted.
YOU of all people should know the power of basketball players building a brand. In what ways is Embiid egotistical & immature? Your Sweat Pea (and I hope he wins 5 more rings) subtweets like a 13-year-old girl and holds organizations and players hostage as HE makes HIS decision. Sounds egotis…
Jacob got u there, Susie B. I enjoy the Sixers, enjoy Embiid. They’re young and they’re hungry and none of them sleep with their teammate’s mom, as far as I know. As for the draft and underclassmen, many of them have not hired an agent and as Jacob says, they’ve bought themselves some time if they want to jump back in.
I KNEW my Sixers comment would get a reaction! I’m just sick of them already! They’ve won ONE Playoff round & they’re acting like they’re the new champs! Actually, I was sick of them BEFORE last night, just too full of themselves. Plus, the Philly fans are still obnoxious from the Super Bowl. And Jacob, I thought Embid was funny until the past few weeks or so. What was immature? His WHINING & BLAMING his OWN TEAM/ORG about not being able to play when his team was just trying to PROTECT their very expensive porcelain figurine. Also, Sweet Pea hasn’t “subtweeted” at all this year that I can remember. And hey, when you’re the WORLD’S BEST PLAYER in basketball (& have been for at least the last decade), you’re damn right all the teams hold their breath for a chance to get him on their team or at least have to wait till his decision shakes the NBA land like an earthquake & its clear to come outta their house. 🙂
The ESPN crawl usually notes when the player didn’t hire an agent & believe me, the VAST majority of those names crawling by did not state this fact. I’m thinking there will be a LOT of shocked/panicked young men this June when their names are not called. I don’t know why any of them would declare early unless it seems a certainty to be taken in the 1st round.
Speaking of the NBA, the #1 Eastern seed (Raptors) are 2-2 with the #8 seed! Why is no one having a hissy fit over this?! Too busy shrieking over the Cavs I guess. 😉