Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
I have felt constrained to write far too many commentaries on the family feud the children of Martin Luther King Jr. have been waging for years in the media and courts over his legacy. By way of background, here are excerpts from three of them: From “Children of Martin Luther King Jr. Fighting Over His… Read more.
I usually reserve updates for my books, but in light of the unusual amount of feedback/concern my original commentary generated, I’ve decided to make an exception. Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear thinking, confusion of counsel until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring… Read more.
Media stunt Collins is a 12-year journeyman who has played for six NBA teams, and is currently looking for his seventh. Therefore, his courageous stand is undermined by the fact that he waited to take it on his way out of the league. Still, I’m cynical enough to believe that, given the way he’s being… Read more.
Tensions that were simmering between anti-government protesters and riot police for the past three months finally erupted into revolutionary conflict in Ukraine last week. Street clashes leave at least 26 people, including 10 police officers, dead and hundreds injured. The violence begins when protesters attack police lines and set fires outside parliament after it stalls… Read more.
It would be remiss of me to begin commenting on the Closing Ceremony without first acknowledging that Canada triumphed today in the last event of these Games, Men’s Hockey. By defeating Sweden (3-0), it repeated its Vancouver feat of winning gold in Women’s and Men’s Hockey, affirming my claim that, when it comes to Hockey,… Read more.
Men’s Hockey It seems those pesky Finns arrived in Sochi hell-bent on being giant slayers: after humiliating the mighty Russians by eliminating them from medal contention on Day 12 (3-1), they humiliated the even mightier Americans by denying them even a consolation bronze medal today (5-0). Surely, if any team can boast of having the best… Read more.
Alpine Skiing I’ve heard about “saving the best for last,” but this is ridiculous. Recall that Team USA’s skiers managed to win only one silver and two bronze medals in the first seven Alpine events of these Games. But then they won gold in two consecutive events: Ted Ligety repeated his gold-medal performance from the… Read more.
Women’s Figure Skating As consolation prizes go, this is one for the history books. Recall that Russians were in mourning yesterday after Finland eliminated their celebrated Men’s Hockey team from medal contention. In fact, watching Russians burst into tears gave credence to journalist Vladimir Posner’s prediction that, if Russia fails to win gold in Men’s… Read more.
Men’s Hockey ‘If Russia wins gold in Hockey, nothing else matters. If Russia loses, nothing else matters.’ (NBC, February 15, 2014) This was how acclaimed Russian journalist and talk-show host Vladimir Posner reacted to this loss, making the extraordinary admission that, no matter how many other gold medals Russians win, unless Team Russia avenges [the… Read more.
Figure Skating Pairs Ice Dance The fix was in. In fact, this suspicion hovered over all events in Pairs Figure Skating even before competition began. According to L’Équipe, which quoted an unnamed Russian coach, the United States intended to help Russia win the overall team event and the pairs competition. In return, Russia would make… Read more.
