It has been said that in order to win a NBA title you need three superstars. Even with Toronto turning that view on its head a few weeks ago there are still those who believe it. So much so, that the recent revamping of the NBA landscape is once again being done to either put together a “super”team or be in a postition to compete with one. Lebron and Anthony Davis turn the Lakers into a “sure thing” champion. Wait a minute…Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sign with Brooklyn….hold on, Kawhi Leonard convinces the LA Clippers to mortage their future and trade for Paul George. Even the Bucks, boring by these standards, re-sign Middleton, Lopez and Hill to complement Giannis. It was said before last season that Golden State was the sure champion. Very few folks were talking about Toronto. Now, the Warriors seem to be an after thought and we havent even mentioned the teams who will be trying to selltheir fans on teams that have no chance to compete. The haves and the have nots have never been clearer and the idea that instead of trying to knock off the big dog, you join him has become the norm. Is that good for the league? Certainly the TV networks love that both LA teams are relevant and you better believe that they will be a featured game on Christmas Day. I prefer the Bucks method myself. Keeping a team of complimentary players together to make another run. It may not be sexy. It may not even work. But if it does, won't victory taste that much sweeter?
The Brewers at the break….46-44, a half game back of the Cubs. As poorly as this team has played in stretches, the thinking is, well, we are still near first place and things will sort themselves out. Aguilar will start to hit (its seems he is)…the bullpen ahead of Hader will find its mojo again(I'm not convinced) and that the starting pitching will be good enough (not hardly). With only one trading deadline this year (July 31st) and every team in the Central Dvision within striking distance, you would think the Brewers have to make a move to shore up both the starting pitching and the bullpen. Hopefully David Stearns will pull the trigger.
Stat of the day…Cincy is in last place in the Central Divison, but is closer to first place than any second place team in all of the other divisons.
I, for one, am happy that Christian Yelich is bowing out of the contrived nonsense that is the Home Run Derby. Not only do you have a chance to mess with your swing but with his back tender anyway and the amount of games he has already played, plus the expectation that he will be in the lineup almost every day for the rest of the season, why would you want him to take part in a made-for tv crap-fest. Don't waste your time.
Stevie Wonder is getting a kidney transplant. He has a donor lined up and will have the procedure in September.
Brazilian boss-nova musician Joao Gilberto is dead at 88. He helped spur the bossa-nova craze of the early 60's with his iconic collaboration with Stan Getz
Another entertainment obit today is actor Arte Johnson who died at 90. He was always one of the best parts of Rowan & Martins Laugh-In…and even before…and yes kids, this was cutting-edge comedy back in th day.
Quotes Of The Day
“For those who say there is no difference between the two parties: In a new poll: 93% of Democrats and 60% of independents disapprove of the treatment of migrants by the Trump Administration; 62% of Republicans approve of the treatment of migrants by the Trump Administration.”-Matthew Dowd
“Now that billioniare child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein is back in the news, it seems like a good time to take a closer look at allegations that Donald Trump raped a 13 year old girl at Epsteins Manhatten home in 1994. Trump is more than overdue for his #MeToo reckoning”-Ian Madrigal
“Stop putting Trump's name in the same sentence as his friend Epstein's NYC sex trafficking charges. It's not like Trump ran an NYC “modeling agency” featuring girls of unknown age and dubiously trafficked from overseas and paid little to no wages at the same time he was an Epstein pal.”-Seth Abramson
“The fact that Epstein is being prosecuted by the Public Corruption unit means that there are public officials involved in the crimes. Tick Tock rapists, Tick Tock slavers. Tick Tock.”-Dirk Schwenk
“If the Epstein case takes down Bill Clinton along with Donald Trump, so be it. This is about justice, not politics.”-Tea Pain
“The fight of Black women has always been fueled and grounded in faith and belief in what's possible. It's why Sojurner spoke. Why Mae flew. Why Rosa and Claudette sat. Why Maya wrote. Why Fannie organized. Why Shirley ran. And why I am a candiate for President of the United States.”-Kamala Harris
“From now on it's just called “Soccer” and “Mens Soccer”, right?”-Honor Sachs
“This is it. We've finally arrived at that point in our lifetimes when every single citizen must vote to ensurer that we keep our democracy. Because if not, goodbye. So go buy yourself some comfy shoes. Because I don't care if you have to stand in line for two days. Vote.”-Jason Overstreet
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”-Abraham Lincoln
Songs Of The Day (on this date in 1977 Steely Dan released the “Aja” LP.)
