Women's Basketball: Worth Watching?

Angel Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream. Creates a twin towers situation with Brittney Griner. Atlanta gave up a staggering TWO first round draft picks for Reese. The city rejoiced in the news, as if she were the second coming of Michael Vick. She probably is. Perhaps Angel will have an impact on attendance. 

Evidently Angel had burned bridges in the Windy City, and the trade wasn't unexpected. So why give up two number ones?

I learned about the trade when I went looking for the Dream's upcoming schedule. They'll be playing Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever in State Farm Arena. Want to go? Man, the cheapest Dream tickets start at like $70. Goodness.

The Gamecocks lost the national championship game. Women's basketball used to be a different brand of basketball than the men's game. More passing. More movement without the ball. Working to get an open shot. Sadly, nowadays the women's game is much worse. The women beat each other up inside, especially in the WNBA. It's the survival of the biggest. Instead of taking advantage of the resurgence in popularity over the past year of two, the women's game continues to receive bad press. 

date.time.Dream games of note.

5.17 3 pm Dream vs Las Vegas

6.20 1 pm Dream vs Indiana 

7.04 1 pm Dream vs Golden State

7.09 8 pm Dream vs Seattle

7.31 730 pm Dream vs Seattle

8.03 730 pm Dream vs Vegas

8.16 7 pm Dream vs Indiana

It's Masters week, so I'm seeing lots of interesting articles.

Masters undercover: Inside the sprawling Masters merchandise operation.

How Jason Day gets Augusta National to himself before the Masters.

Brookgreen Gardens is just southeast of Murrell's Inlet, just north of Litchfield Beach. Might have to visit the next time we're at Pawley's Island. What I'm doing these days instead of watching woman's basketball.

Saw Rick Ross on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. He mentioned that he hosts an annual car show at his house, the spread he bought from Evander Holyfield. I looked it up - it's a big deal. Probably not my thing. Tickets are pricey, though they find a charity. I noticed Ross named the property The Promised Land. I was learning this while studying Joseph's story in Genesis, where as Pharoh's lieutenant was able to save his family from famine. Joseph's elderly father was happy to be reunited with his long lost son - but still chose to be buried back in the land of his fathers - the true promised land.

Cars I like, in no particular order: Ford Ranger, Bronco, F150, and Raptor. Teslas, Honda's CRV, Passport, Pilot, and Ridgeline pickup. Toyota's RAV4, Highlander, Prius, and 4Runner. Nissan Frontier. Jeep Ricon. Subaru Crosstek and Forrester. 

Denison on using AI to form opinions: "When we delegate our thinking to machines, we become like them. We stop doing the hard work of seeking to understand the world and our place in it. We outsource the procurement of information to the apps on our phones. We lose what it means to be made in the image of God—the feeling, relating personally by which we love our Lord and our neighbor as our purpose in the world."

Easter Anniversary

On Easter Sunday 51 years ago, in 1975, I've always counted Easter as the day that I became a Christian. I'd grown up going to church with my family, and had enjoyed the youth group at Westminster Presbyterian there on Wimbush Road. A fun youth director named Jim McNaul. He also coached our church basketball team. 

But I had classmates and friends who went to another church not far from my house - Northside Christian Church. I started going, then my entire family started going as well. The pastor met with our family, and it was decided that we'd all be baptized on Easter Sunday. I was finishing up my sophomore year. That fall my high school team won the state championship. 

Crazy about the protesters at the SPdL Good Friday service. Ever find out why they were there? I was glad to see Times Square was packing with Christians celebrating and worshiping the risen Christ. Also worshipers climbed Stone Mountain.

Were you able to attend Easter services? We went to the 830 am service. Packed. JFBC did a rare simulcast, showing on the video screens how the worshipers in the sanctuary and activities center were singing the same hymns at the same time. At the 1130 service the pastor usually preaches from the gym, but at the 830 service he preached in the sanctuary, so we watched the large video boards. Probably a good thing, because right at the climax of the sermon someone had passed out in our service in the gym. Lots of people rushed to help out, which caused a minor disturbance. The person must've been okay, because they remained in their seat for the rest of the service, instead of leaving.

Lunch at the house with Anna and Caleb. Tomato pie, salad, fruit, and strawberries and whipped cream over pound cake.

Worked hard Saturday, getting ready. Made a Kroger run in the morning. After a ham & cheese sandwich for lunch, I drove down to Bellwood Coffee to exchange a bag that C had ordered wrong. Got back and cut the grass. A 9000 step day, but with lots of bending and lifting. This evening we hosted W&MC and the girls, Matthew, and MC's mother. An Italian ziti dish, salad, baked broccoli, grilled chicken, and the strawberries with pound cake. 

We were so tired from the weekend. We both slept late. I made it to the gym around the regular time. Weights, sauna, treadmill. Came straight home, since we had so many leftovers. For lunch I ate tomato pie, some grilled chicken, and roasted potatoes. Also strawberries and pound cake. C ate yesterday's grilled chicken and Friday's leftover mashed potatoes.  

The last Detroit Tiger player to wear a retired uniform numbers before those numbers were officially retired.

 

# Retired to Honor   Last Tiger to Wear It

 6 Al Kaline................Al Kaline 1954-1974

11 Sparky Anderson...Bruce Kimm 1977

47 Jack Morris...........Jack Morris 1977-1990

 2 Charlie Gehringer...Richie Hebner 1980-1982

 5 Hank Greenberg.....Howard Johnson 1982

16 Hal Newhouser......David Wells 1993-1995

23 Willie Horton..........Hideo Nomo 2000

42 Jackie Robinson....Jose Lima 2001-2002

10 Jim Leyland...........Fernando Vina 2004

 3 Alan Trammel.........Ian Kinsler 2014-2017

 1 Lou Whitaker..........Josh Harrison 2019

Denison: how the US airman was rescued from behind enemy lines. Just heard that the first message sent by the downed pilot was "God is good". Some wondered if it was a botched attempt to extract Iran's uranium reserves.

Children of the Space Race

Following the Artemis II mission? Since there hasn't been a moon mission in over 50 years, many have questions about why things are done. On the launch pad the capsule had the same escape mechanism that never had to be used on Mercury and Apollo. After blastoff the astronauts went into earth orbit to check systems, and get lined up for the next step - escaping earth's gravity. It is interesting that instead of orbiting the moon, Artemis will just circle behind it and head immediately back to earth. 

I grew up right during the sweet spot for the space program. I was a little young during the Mercury missions, but later caught up by reading the recaps in National Geographic. Articles about training missions in the jungle. Then each Gemini mission. 

How Gemini 7 blasted off eleven days before Gemini 6 after the Agena craft wasn't ready to rendezvous with Gemini 6. Since Gemini 7 was scheduled to keep the astronauts in space for a long time, it was hustled out to the launch pad and blasted off ahead of 6, so 7 could be used to rendezvous with 6. Made for some great pictures.

I used to sit at my desk and draw pictures of the rockets. To this day I can still draw the three stage Saturn V rocket, with the Apollo command and service modules on top. Then the missions: the deaths of the Apollo 1 crew, Apollo 8 orbiting the moon and reading from the Bible on Christmas Day, the Apollo 11 landing in July 1969. While the movie made for great drama, I don't remember the nation poised on the edge of their seats, watching the outcome for Apollo 13. Alan Shepherd hitting golf balls on the moon. The lunar rover. Then Skylab and the space shuttles.

When W&MC were in high school, we were able to tour the Kennedy Space Complex at Cape Canaveral in 2009. Good stuff. Even got to go behind the scenes and drive through the adjacent marshlands on Biolab Road. Below: MC front left, Will front middle.  

M came over Thursday afternoon, and I was able to prepare his tax returns for 2024 and 2025. I hated every minute of it, and there were several. So glad my taxes are too complicated for me to do. 

Since M was here, C ran up to Pizzaria Luccia for dinner. Not my favorite. After M left I retreated to my office to catch up on stuff.

Crazy about the protesters at the SPdL Good Friday service. Ever find out why they were there?

Were you able to attend Easter services this morning? We went to the 830 am service. Packed. JFBC did a rare simulcast, showing on the video screens how the worshipers in the sanctuary and activities center were singing the same hymns at the same time. At the 1130 service the pastor usually preaches from the gym, but during this morning's 830 service he preached in the sanctuary, so we watched the large video boards. Probably a good thing, because right at the climax of the sermon someone had passed out in our service in the gym. Lots of people rushed to help out, which caused a minor disturbance. The person must've been okay, because they remained in their seat for the rest of the service, instead of leaving. 

Lunch at the house with Anna and Caleb. Tomato pie, salad, fruit, and strawberries and whipped cream over pound cake. They have their final doctor appt this coming Friday morning.

Worked hard yesterday, getting ready. Made a Kroger run in the morning. After a ham & cheese sandwich for lunch, I drove down to Bellwood Coffee to exchange a bag that C had ordered wrong. Got back and cut the grass. A 9000 step day, but with lots of bending and lifting. 

This evening W&MC are bringing the girls for dinner. Plus Matthew and MC's mother. Having an Italian ziti dish, and salad.    

I was glad to see Times Square was packed with Christians celebrating and worshiping the risen Christ. Also worshipers that climbed Stone Mountain. 

DAVID WELLS [SABR Bio] shares the record with Kenny Lofton and Josh Donaldson for most  franchises played for in the postseason. Wells had postseason appearances with  TOR, CIN, BAL, NYY, BOS, & SDP with 3 World Series and 2 rings.. Lofton went to the playoffs with CLE, ATL, SFG, CHC, NYY, & LAD. The 2015 AL MVP Donaldson did it with OAK, TOR, CLE, ATL, NYY, & MIL. They have since been joined by Max Scherzer with DET, WSN, LAD, NYM, TEX, & TOR as well as Fernando Rodney with DET, WSN, TBR, CHC, ARI, & OAK. Wells and Lofton faced each other in postseason play, in the 1998 ALCS & the 2003 ALDS. Wells pitched for the  CHW in 2015. When Wells and Jamie Moyer pitched against each other in 2007, they fell 1-1/2 years shy of becoming the oldest pitching matchup in history. They were a combined 88 years, 307 days when the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies started them head-to-head on July 21, 2007.  When Don Sutton and Phil Niekro had faced off in 1987, their ages totaled 90 years, 135 days. Wells and Don Larsen, both graduates of Point Loma High School in San Diego, California, threw perfect games for the Yankees in Yankee Stadium in 1956 and 1998, respectively. The baseball field at Point Loma High is named after Wells.

Thursday

Thursday: up early to golf. Arrived at 6:51 and the little parking lot was full. Lots of activity. They're resodding around the greens and tee boxes. Forklifts carrying pallets of sod, and other vehicles riding around. My playing partner, the GSU professor GT Chen was already there, and I played with him. Mostly only hit one ball, and considering that played well. Some of the good shots.

1. Decent 4 iron off tee. Hit a low fairway shot that got a good roll. Nice high chip, but it landed on the other side of the green.

2. Decent 4 iron off tee. Good distance but it faded left. A good chip.

3. Didn't hit the 8 iron off the tee well, but it stayed straight and rolled down the hill almost to the green. Good lag putt, but I missed the par putt.

4. Hit a decent mulligan that rolled down to the left rough. Decent chip. 

5. Hit a good 4 iron off the tee, that rolled off the back of the green. Okay chip back onto the green. Good lag putt. Bogey.

6. Hit driver off the tee, low and left - where I had lined up. Would've landed far down in the fairway had a bush not knocked it down. Hit a provisional that was decent. Fairway shot wasn't great, but it got a good roll. Lined a chip that rolled off the back of the green.

7. Sliced by drive. Mulligan was better. Hit a good 5 iron that got knocked down by a tree branch. Decent approach, but it rolled off the side of the green.

8. Hit my drive where I aimed again - a nice liner straight toward the left side of the fairway. Got a good roll down the hill - one of my best drives ever on this hole. Flubbed my chip, but my third shot on the hole rolled close. Par.

9. Pulled out my hybrid and hit it nice and straight, a good distance up the hill. Decent chip to the left fringe. 

After our round I had a nice chat with the new course manager, who's been on the job since October. He said he took the job only with the promise that he could get it fixed up. Moreso than previous years the leaves have been raked away, the fairways cleared, and areas of the rough trimmed back. things seem headed in the right direction.

Stopped by Hardees for a Frisco Breakfast burger - a ground beef patty with bacon and egg on Texas toast. Pretty good and big, except the Texas toast was soggy. Also hash rounds and a Coke. Drove straight to the gym. Sauna and treadmill. Got home and C had me cleaning up for Sunday.

This week C prepared perhaps her best batch of beef tips yet. 

My watch counts steps and miles. I recorded my six walks last Friday to and fro Truist Park, to see how long each was, but rarely actually look at the info. I think when Lang was in Europe he walked like 28000 steps one day. 

At the gym when I get on the treadmill I just walk for a certain amount of time, usually an hour or 30 minutes. I set the treadmill to a certain pace, but also boost the incline to walk uphill, at a grade of 3-6%. I've just now started back mixing in running with my walking, to start getting ready for the Peachtree Road Race. I'll run fast for one minute or so, then walk for a minute, and repeat - at only a 1% incline. 

 

When I used to run laps at the FLC back in the early 1990's it was all I could do to count laps. I know that you use a different hymn to help keep track of your laps. I'd use a handheld clicker counter.

When I'm on the treadmill I will listen to my audiobook, but not when I'm lifting weights. Then it takes all my concentration to count my ten repetitions per set, and how many sets I've done. When I'm in the sauna I don't have my phone, watch, or earphones - so I'm trying to use that 30 minutes of unplugged time to pray. 

Accidentally left my phone at home one morning this week, so while I was on the treadmill I wasn't able to listen to my book. I'm listening to a book about the Donner party's journey west from St Joseph Missouri. Not the greatest book. So many little details.

I would spend more time at the gym, but C always has something for me to do. I didn't go to the gym last Friday because I got in over 18000 steps at the game.

Yet Another Blah Falcons Uniform Unveiling

Falcons released their new uniforms this week. Pretty plain. Red jerseys, which are few and far between in the NFL - a good thing. With jersey sleeves being so tiny there days, it's hard to have a unique jersey (though some teams manage it). Both the TV numbers and the Falcons logo is so tiny, it's almost not worth having them.

Stripes on the pants - another plus, though they're a new, weird stripe pattern. Some say the stripes mimic the Cardinals.

Same black helmets. Evidently the team took pains to make sure the low gloss matte shell was retained, which looks best inside domed stadiums.

White road jerseys will be mixed with either white or black pants. I hate black pants. At least they have the stripes.

Fortunately the all white look is in right now, though I'm sure the Falcons will wear the black pants more than I'd like. No black alternate jersey was unveiled. Not a huge fan of the numbers, though they're an improvement over the old ones. Some people couldn't tell the 1's from the 7's. 

The same throwback uniform was pictured: red helmets, black jersey. Thank goodness.  

Hard to get good french fries these days. Ceil is really liking the fries these days. Earlier this week she served up a big plate of fries. Whenever I have fries with a meal, I always eat them first, while they are still hot. C is liking slaw as well. Monday night she fixed a slaw with grilled chicken in it. Pretty good. 

Ceil went to to the gym two straight days. She needs to. Tuesday I ran / walked for an hour, did the sauna for 30 minutes, then cooled down with 30 more minutes on the treadmill. For some reason my face was burning every time I wiped sweat off my face. Not sure why.

A lady in the sauna was wearing a bucket hat because her friend said it would keep her head cooler, and she would be able to stay in the sauna loner. She said it didn't work. I mentioned that she should put a cabbage leaf inside the hat, but didn't explain that back in the day that's what ballplayers would do to keep cool. She kept talking to everyone about her hat. There were six of us crammed in the sauna. Time for me to leave. I joked "I just can't stay in here any more, with you wearing that hat!" Everyone laughed. I left. 

Tuesday: after the gym I went to Whattaburger again. Was going to get just the free burger, but instead got fries and a drink as well. The fries were just okay. All afternoon we worked to declutter. It is a slow go. We did sit outside in the sun for 20 minutes. Vitamin D.

Wednesday: I watched the rocket launch just after 6:30. Then I got dressed for small group, then Winnie wanted to go outside. Still made it to small group on time. Didn't get home until 10 pm.

Alton Brown's favorite place to eat steak in Atlanta: the Blue Ridge grill in Buckhead. 

The number of AI chatbots ignoring human instructions are increasing. 

Mysterious spike in meteors warrants serious investigation.

More and more people are saying that aliens and UFOs are actually demons. There are also reports of secret programs to breed a race of alien / human hybrids.  

 

FRANK CHANCE [SABR Bio] was the first California native inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was born in Fresno in 1876,  and was the Yankees manager in 1913 & 1914. They finished 7th & 6th in the AL (out of 8 teams). He entered the HOF 21 years after his death, in 1954. In 1906, he led the Cubs to a 116-36-3 record and a NL pennant while stealing a major-league-leading 57 bases. From 1900-1910, Chance was HBP an average of 11.6 times a season. During five of those years, the league leader was Boston’s Dan McGann.

"Solitude, silence, and the strait keeping of the heart, are the foundations and grounds of a spiritual life." —Robert Leighton (1611–84).

What Might Have Been

What might have been. Tiger was great. Won the Tiger Slam. Fifteen majors. Changed the game of golf.  Tied Sam Snead for the most wins in PGA history. But what if he hadn't changed his swing? What if he hadn't worn out his body, training like a Marine, wearing combat boots? But as great as he was, as much as he accomplished, could he have done even more?

The inner drive that took Tiger to the pinnacle of the golf world was the same drive that led him to make the changes, train so hard. The same drive tore apart his marriage. Did the surgeries and wrecks lead to a dependence on painkillers? Did the surgeries leave him with a body that could no longer compete on the PGA tour?

Woods recently signed up for the Senior US Open. Maybe that's what got him depressed. 

What might have been. Say he didn't change his swing, or miss time in rehab and to all the injuries. Say he only won a major every other year in his 30's, and every third year in his 40's. How far would he be past Jack? By my count, Tiger could've had at least 21 majors.

YR AGE MAJOR 

97 21 Masters (1)

99 23 PGA (2)

00 24 PGA, US Open, British (5)

01 25 Masters (6)

02 26 Masters, US Open (8)

05 29 Masters, British (10)

06 30 PGA, British (12)

07 31 PGA (13)

08 32 US Open (14)

09 33 (81)

10 34 (15) (82)

11 35 (83)

12 36 (16) (84)

13 37 (85)

14 38 (17) (86)

15 39 (87)

16 40 (18) (88)

17 41 (89)

18 42 (90)

19 43 Masters (19) (91)

20 44 (92)

21 45 (93)

22 46 (20) (94)

23 47 (95)

24 48 (96)

25 49 (21) (97)

Had Tiger won just one tourney per year these last few years, he'd be close to one hundred wins.

Woods was indeed the stick that stirred the drink. Tournaments are different when he's in the field. Have we seen the last of Tiger? How will he handle that?

So many tweets. The parents who raised him to be the lone wolf are gone. Who does Tiger have in his life who will love and support him? Is there anyone? Can Tiger live the life now being led by Michael Jordan - the former GOAT? Elvis couldn't handle the success. Michael Jackson couldn't either. Joe DiMaggio did okay. But Tiger seems to feed off competition. 

Is this the end? Kinda feel sorry for the guy. Like all of us, Tiger needs Jesus. I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Denison: Gary Woodland vs Tiger Woods: Two divergent paths to recovery. These statements from Woodland stood out to me:

“I hope somebody that’s struggling sees me out here still fighting and battling and trying to live my dreams. I’ve talked to veterans, and one thing I’ve heard from multiple people is you can’t do this on your own, no matter how strong you think you are”.  

“I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I’m dying, and I feel like I’m living a lie. I want to live my dreams and be successful out here. But I want to help people, too. I realize now I’ve got to help myself first”. 

Both are statements that Tiger Woods needs to take to heart.

The current world #1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, gave us a perfect example of how we can approach life and success when he said that striving for wins and being No. 1 in the world is not a fulfilling life, nor is it his end-all, be-all.  He wants to be remembered as a follower of Christ and a family man rather than a great golfer. 

Golf writer Kyle Porter, himself a Christian, put it well: Tiger has done foolish things for a long time because when everyone treats you like you’re a god, why wouldn’t you act as if you’re invincible? Why wouldn’t you live as if you’re above reproach? Why wouldn’t you reject any accountability? You are a god! This particular incident, though, is a good reminder that he’s very much not a god and that he, like millions of others in the world, is desperately in need of help.

As Joel Beall noted in his Golf Digest article “Tiger Woods Is Not OK": Chronic pain and how people manage it are not moral failures. They are medical realities that have unmade careful, disciplined, strong-willed people for as long as the drugs have existed. Tiger Woods is, whatever else you want to say about him, among the most disciplined human beings to ever stand over a golf ball. That discipline did not protect him. It may have obscured how much protection he needed. Something’s wrong with Tiger Woods. We don’t know the struggle’s precise shape, but it’s there. It has been there. The evidence is not subtle, and it is not new. That is the sad and disconcerting thing, and until it is reckoned with honestly, everything else is secondary.”

Golf journalist Alan Shipnuck sounded the alarm on CNN, saying that Tiger’s arrest “makes you worry about his future…makes you worry about his kids and that too much of Tiger’s inner circle is ‘on his payroll’ and has enabled his addictions for years.” 

Another appropriate Denison for today: Henri Nouwen wrote in his marvelous book Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World: "The world tells you many lies about who you are. You simply have to be realistic enough to remind yourself of this. Every time you feel hurt, offended, or rejected, you have to dare to say to yourself: "These feelings, strong as they may be, are not telling me the truth about myself. The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called the Beloved from all eternity. Being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence. That is the spiritual life: the chance to say 'Yes' to our inner truth. The spiritual life, thus understood, radically changes everything."

Tiger Woods is facing big challenges, says Paul McGinley of Golf News. 

AL KALINE  [SABR Bio] played his first big league game in 1953 and became the team’s starting right fielder in 1954, the year the St. Louis Browns moved east and became the Baltimore Orioles. Kaline was born in the Charm City, and was an 18 time All Star. He was the youngest to slug 3 HR in one game. Twenty-year-(and 119 days)-old Kaline left the yard three times against the Kansas City A’s in April 1955. Eddie Matthews is the only other player with a three-homer game to his credit before his 21st birthday, though he was 231 days older than Kaline when he did. Kaline won ten gold gloves. In 1955, Kaline was a runner-up to Yogi Berra for AL MVP; in 1963, he was voted second-best behind Elston Howard.