The Sum of All Fears

The first Presidential debate was to be held this week.  We figured it would be on several channels.  We searched in vain only able to find a Maury Povich type show with two old dudes screaming insults at each other.  The moderator was incapable of controlling the chaos.  We were hanging on to find out if one of them was the father, but the debate mutated into a Pollock abstract and we opted out.  We switched to Women’s hoops in an assertive display of indifference.  Politicos, if that is the product, save us the nonsense.  Just tape it in front of a studio audience and put it on Bravo with the Housewives when the election is over.  The ratings will probably be decent, and you don’t have to pay the on-air talent.

 

Nevada has become a political battleground state.  Yard staff has never figured out why, our Democrat led state, is contested so vigorously for our six measly electoral votes.  Historically speaking, politicos have been a frisky group prone to bold statements and blowing off steam.  Some of the blowing part was not always steam and Nevada provided local cover for some hijinks.  Since Biden does not have to spend a nickel to carry California, Nevada is getting pummeled with steely eyed Joe ads touting how he is going to save us. It is relentless and unnecessary.  We doubt Biden can save us, but he will carry Nevada, so enough already.  It is like Coke vs. Pepsi. They both spend hundreds of millions on advertising annually while not moving the market share needle.

 

With all the drama and trauma that this pandemic has wrought,  the return of sports has been a tonic for our gin.  Never in history and hopefully never again, have our beloved Lakers and Dodgers been fighting for championships at the same time.  For baseball to complete the season after the rocky opening weeks, is a miracle.  The NHL and NBA built their bubbles and it worked.  Not one positive test in either league inside the bubble.  Baseball with no bubble had lots of problems.  Early on there were teams that had played eight games and teams that had played nearly 18.  But somehow, they all finished on time.  Pro Football will find out soon enough if a sport that requires physical contact can contain COVID as well as every opponent has contained the NY Jets in 2020.

 

The excitement and anxiety of having both of our teams in the playoffs at the same time can be immersive. Jo at the Yard is not sure what to expect for the next two weeks but let us commence. The Lake show clinched their first ticket to the NBA finals since their last title in 2010.  That was Kobe and Phil’s last dance with Pao Gasol on alto sax. After two titles in a row and a 31-year old Kobe Bryant, Laker nation never thought it would take a decade to return to the main stage.  But alas the team’s fortunes thrashed about with the bickering Buss’s. Laker relevance in the national news was about hiring and firing coaches not winning titles.  Jeannie did not right the ship until she found a King for the Laker throne. Lebron looks primed to heal the Purple and Gold from the death of Kobe and a decade of insolence.

 

The Dodgers have been a playoff perennial for a decade, but their last WS title was a generation ago.  Winning the NL West eight times in a row without a WS title, is like being the Minor League home run champion.  So, it is with fear and trepidation these MLB playoffs unfold within our fragile psyche.  The first series is best of three.  Milwaukee has two of the best closers in the NL.  It is the only box the Brewers check over the Dodgers but in a tight, short series it could be the only box that matters.  The big Dodger bats have struggled most postseasons.  Mokie could be their Gibbie that shows them the way back to the winner’s circle.  He is a difference maker, let us hope he spreads that vibe down the lineup.

 

The Yardlings have grown up loving the Dodgers but not witnessing a title.  Their devotion is a byproduct of early imprinting on impressionable youth.  The Dodgers are their team. The Lakers have won five titles during their cognizant youth but not really moving their needle away from blue devotion. In an unfortunate turn of events many years ago, Alex at the Yard became a Celtic fan when Kevin Garnett defected from the T-Wolves.  Every Laker fan's worst fear, a Celtic progeny. It changed our mutual Laker love dramatically through those years.  There was a bitter defeat and an exhilarating title afforded both us. Many story lines Wednesday night with the Lebron Lakers in the finals with Pat Riley’s Miami Heat.  James left Miami a bit butt hurt when he announced that he was going home to Cleveland.  I mean really who does that?  Go from South Beach Miami to South Lake Erie after two titles? Everyone was a bit pissed in Miami especially after the finality of their 4-1 loss to the Spurs in the NBA finals.  This past week head coach Spoelstra recalled all the former great Heat championship players at his press conference.  He did not recall James. Strange considering Spoelstra does not have two titles on his resume without James.  D-Wade was not getting him there and did not after Lebron left.  LBJ already has an MVP size chip on his shoulder with Kobe on the other.  Erik, maybe not the right snark prior to Game one.

 

First Overtime: Russell Wilson has exactly zero MVP votes in his eight NFL seasons.  It is hard to earn an MVP when you play like one and never get a single vote in the process.  Russell Wilson is one of the most exciting QB’s in the NFL.  He may not be as flashy as Mahomes or Lamar but he is on their par.  He maybe should not have been MVP, but he deserves a vote or two. Hopefully, someone is paying attention to what he is doing this season on a fairly average Seahawks team.

 

Second OT:  Cindy McCain made news last week by endorsing Joe Biden. Mrs. McCain, one of John McCain’s widows, went on national TV to make her proclamation.  She is not an influencer or politician so not sure why national news picked it up other than her last name.  Cindy, while you are up your pulpit calling out others for lack of values and ethics that you hold dear, can you tell us how you and Johnny B Not So Good came into a relationship? He was married at the time of your romance and 17 years your senior, right? The two of you carried on for some time until McCain finally got a divorce from his wife and married you two weeks later.  So please, save your value judgement of others because we don’t need yours.  Your money may give you a voice, but your history is who you are.

 

Final Plea:  Baseball gods, can you help the Padres beat the Cardinals?  I know the Padres do not have much starting pitching, but they have put together a nice season and deserve some love.  And those friggin Cardinals have done some bad things to the Dodgers in the playoffs. I know the whole exorcise your demons thing, but I would rather just avoid said red devils.