Truly a wide range of cultural flotsam that's tickled my fancy and/or given me cause for consideration over the past week or so. From sports to music to current political events, as always, we span the globe to keep you entertained.
I mentioned the kerfuffle the Sullivan brothers of the MLS Philadelphia Union got into against Inter Miami a few days ago. I told you to find the video. I know you, so I'm sure you didn't. So here it is. You'll see Quinn Sullivan (the older of the brothers at 22) get disrespected by Miami defender Ian Fray (Fray put his nuts on Sullivan's head) and respond with a textbook bodyslam. Cavan Sullivan (potentially the best 16 year-old male player the U.S. has ever developed) rushes to his brother's aid and squares up with Miami's much-taller Yannick Bright. Holds his own, too.
There's actually a G:TB connection here, tenuous though it may be. Quinn Sullivan has dated a girl who grew up in my neighborhood for several years. My wife and I are good friends with her mom. She played at Radford and did a year as a graduate transfer at the University of New Hampshire. Where she met and became friends with...Yannick Bright. Small world, y'all.
Also, remember the name Cavan Sullivan. He's contributing significantly to Philly's attack this season, with six goals and nine assists in 25 matches across all competitions. Despite the fact that he's 5'7" and 150 pounds, he's tough and strong and unafraid to mix it up with older and stronger men. He's been under contract with Manchester City since he was 14, and will almost certainly head to Europe when he's old enough for the appropriate visa. Says here he'll be a USMNT mainstay for the next 15 years.
Speaking of balls, which we were, at least obliquely, check out this scene from a recent Kacey Musgraves concert:
And veering wildly from the ridiculous to the profound, I commend to your attention New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie. The Virginia Beach-born, UVA-educated (nobody's perfect) is one of the clearest thinkers and writers about the current American moment. He writes a great deal about the politics of race and culture, but he's good on a wide range of topics. This video essay offers typically-thoughtful advice to the Democratic Party should it find itself in the majority in Congress after November's midterm elections. I sure hope the party leadership is listening.
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Piggybacking on previous post: NYT has piece this morning that says research found at least one in four NFL players is likely to develop CTE. Study suggests percentage could be much greater.
ReplyDeleteThere is a study from 2024 on NHL players where the percentages are even higher. Of course the player’s brains were likely donated because their family suspected issues, but the percentage was really high - over 90% I think.
ReplyDeleteReally hoping the speculation that the Dolly Parton rumor mill presently churning is untrue.
ReplyDeleteFuck. I don't think it is. Of all the 80 year olds to depart us, why Dolly?
ReplyDeleteNo shit, Rootsy. She was a good one.
ReplyDeletethat really sucks
ReplyDeleteNational Treasure
ReplyDeletei can't think of another celebrity whose passing was met with such universal love and genuine sadness. and i can't think of anyone alive at the moment who'd receive the same outpouring. truly the best of us.
ReplyDeleteThere's another octogenarian running about whose demise would be the yin to Dolly's yang, if you get my drift.
ReplyDeleteoh, the drift is got. who wants to pen the definitive gtb remembrance of dolly? whit pulled the 'i'm in philly' excuse. because there's famously no internet in philly.
ReplyDelete