EOD May 26

Captain’s Log — or whatever the hell title I take on ...

Gotta keep up on the wins. They’re like Billy Mack sang in Love Actually —- they’re all around us. 

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1.     Watched some tremendous soccer action as I did show prep, read and got a workout in. Villarreal took down Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League Championship. The 1-1 game was decided by penalty kicks ... by the goalies. That’s right. The game went to the 11th penalty kicks, thereby goalie-on-goalie strikes ended the game. Geronimo Rulli drilled a shot to give Villarreal their 11th PK score, and then defended a shot by Man U goalie David De Gea to secure the victory.

2.    Made a nice chicken divan dish for dinner. Chicken with a broccoli sauce - cream of chicken soup and, yes, mayonnaise at its base. 

3.    NBA Playoff action. I’ll go deeper in video form on SwollenDome.com in the miserable activity of a couple fans that marred an otherwise fantastic night of NBA Playoffs action. The biggest event on Wednesday’s slate occurred at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks rallied from a 13-point deficit to upend the Hawks, and the crowd in the “Basketball Mecca” hit a level of raucousness not seen in quite some time. The Knicks last won a home playoff win in 2013. We’ve had big baseball and spring football crowds, a decent-sized crowd in Tampa for the Super Bowl. No, this registered differently. 

The Dodgers are calling a June home date - “ A Grand Reopening.” I think the Knicks beat them to the punch. 

EOD May 25

 I’m trying to be better about logging and acknowledging the good that comes on a daily basis. It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives - the (perceived) slights, lost sleep, schedule issues and so on. And sure, not every day contains some groundbreaking, life-altering greatness. 

But, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t little chunks of bliss during the day or that they’re even different events from the day(s) prior. Repetition and routine make up some of the positivity we experience. Right? Dependability and consistency are treasured ... until they become a rut. 

Without further ado, the reintroduction of the elemental “Find Your Wins” experience. 

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1. Creative space - blueprint for the evolution of this site, tied to pursuits in musings about sports, entertainment and the never ending search for the meaning of life (which may just be a good nap). 

2. Homemade gyros. Second iteration of a recipe turned out well. Perhaps needs a dash more salt in the mix. But, fresh ingredients made for a great flavor and aromatics. And that goes into #3 ...

3. I was able to smell the world around me a bit longer. No, not a Covid-19 thing. Since a cruise in the summer of ‘19, I’ve had some issues with my sense of smell. Doctor tied to Type-2. So, more weary miles and dietary adjustments to come (less gyros, more greens). 

4. BONUS - my Terra Core workout equipment came. Road to swoll intensifies. 

Giving Back: Barkley Dials Up For Education

Without a doubt, the pandemic provided its share of heart-wrenching stories. We know them all too well - job and business losses, racial divisiveness, sicknesses, deaths and isolation. 

But we also celebrated the best of humanity, with leaders stepping up to create food banks, fundraising to support those out of work and those displaced or affected by the aforementioned ills. And I’ll do it here. 

Charles Barkley has been the focal point of NBA coverage on TNT seemingly forever now. “Inside The NBA” has been one of the industry standards alongside FOX Sports’ “FOX NFL Sunday,” providing great content on coaching, strategy, game breakdowns and, let’s face it, grabass at its finest. The principals of the show don’t take themselves too seriously, and it oftentimes feels like you’re sitting around and listening to your buddies torment one another. 

I appreciate the brilliance of Charles Barkley & Shaquille O’Neal in building off of their on-court NBA careers (yes, they did play basketball, and Barkley’s abilities are criminally underrated) from merchandising and commercials and business pursuits. Seriously, do a Google search on the empire that O’Neal built. 

Both Barkley and O’Neal are also known for their generosity and using their platforms to address larger issues. Here, I spotlight a story of Barkley’s support to the Leeds City School District. Charity begins at home, they say. Barkley continued his efforts to support the educators and support staff of his hometown school district, providing $1,000 to each employee for their efforts in difficult times. AL.com reports that there are 226 individuals employed within the system. 

You can click on the link below to see the full detail of Barkley’s history in his hometown. 

Barkley Delivers

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The goal here at FYW is to highlight the good that we see in our respective spaces. You can drop us a line and let us know of the good in your community. And remember, just because the masks are coming off as we approach the summer months, there are still people around us that could use a call, text or invitation to just watch the world go by for a moment. You never can tell what’s going on behind the smile. 

Be well. Hold tight. And Find Your Wins. 

From The Edge: Drew Robinson Returns To The Diamond

Every day, I take to the airwaves on the grand FOX Sports Radio stage for four hours of laughs, information, insights and distractions from the real world. That doesn’t minimize the impacts of the highs and lows for the athletes, coaches and staff by any stretch. But for us, on-air or viewer/listener, we’re looking for levity, entertainment, debates and, as Billy Joel sang, “To forget about life for a while.”

And like our teams, we’re constantly scouring news across the sports landscape and our world at large to Find Our Wins.

With a nod to the efforts being made to seek help, understanding and empathy during this Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to highlight a baseball comeback story. 

Last year, Drew Robinson attempted suicide. 

The 29-year-old Robinson had been playing minor league baseball since 2010 (4th-round selection of the Rangers) with a couple of call-ups by the Rangers and the Cardinals. He’d battled suicidal thoughts and depression for years and had sought support. Those efforts didn’t quell those thoughts or provide relief. In April of 2020, the pandemic began to wreak havoc, decimating numerous lives and complete industries, including minor league baseball. Robinson wrote a note explaining everything to his family and attempted to take his life. He lost his right eye in the process. 

But he survived. And he called 911 before making a second attempt. 

Robinson Talked To 8 News Now

The long road back has begun, trying to heal both physically and mentally, and Robinson’s telling his story to try and support those harboring similar thoughts and impulses. 

And he’s gotten back on the diamond. Robinson signed with the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. On Tuesday, May 11th, Robinson returned home to Las Vegas with the River Cats and launched his first home run of the season. That makes for quite a homecoming, and another step in his recovery. 

Check out Robinson’s First HR

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The long road back begins with the first step, and for Robinson, a trot around the bases helped to bring his story to a larger audience. As I’ve written for a long while here, and have certainly said it with great regularity from my seat on FOX Sports Radio, check in on your people. Let them vent. Let them know that they have a safe space. 

Be well, all.