We have a strong urge to categorize. It’s what humans have been doing for as long as we’ve existed. We categorize everything. Food. Music. Movies. Television. Schools. And of course, people. Especially athletes.

We judge people based on the most superficial aspects of life. Appearance. Height. Weight. Skin color. Voice. We do most of this subconsciously. It makes life easier to deal with. Each person or object that appears in our vision goes into a recognizable place. Our brains want to place the new thing in the familiar space. As sports fans, we watch athletes and see the limits of…

Trae Young is a point guard for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.

Trae Young is not a superhero, though I can see why you think he is.

Trae Young is a blur of human momentum.

Trae Young is not visible under normal conditions.

Trae Young is barely 6 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds.

Trae Young is not going to physically stand out in a crowd of other humans, though he might give you a knowing wink.

Trae Young is in constant motion, as he has been since the day he was born.

Trae Young is not going…

There are now eight teams remaining in the NBA Playoffs. This year’s NBA scoring leaders: Steph Curry (32.0), Bradley Beal (31.3), and Damian Lillard (28.8) are all on well-deserved vacation, though they’d prefer to be playing in the Conference Semis. All three are incredible scorers, with Curry and Lillard showcasing mind-boggling range. They score out of necessity. Their teams depend on their virtuosity to win. The playoffs demand more out of offenses than mind-boggling range…teams must have balance, efficiency and multiple contributors.

Clippers Come Back to Beat Mavs — -Behind Better Defense and Balanced Attack

After going down 0–2 to Dallas, the Los Angeles Clippers were being rightfully questioned. Losing both games at…

Damian Lillard is not concerned when defenders are near him. He treats them like a monk might treat a mosquito. With mild curiosity perhaps, but without any fear or doubt. Giving away any of his focus would detract from the goal: Shoot the basketball through the hoop. Regardless of how far away the hoop is. Regardless of the score. Regardless of the clock. Regardless of the situation: playoffs, regular season, practice. When I was teaching in Oakland, a teacher who knew Damian from the town, and saw him occasionally during the offseason said he sometimes shot around in flip-flops. That…

Philadelphia 76ers (1) v Washington Wizards (8): Sixers up 2–0

Exactly what the Sixers needed — no drama until the next round. Ben Simmons needs a strong showing throughout these playoffs to silence the never-ending doubters — who rightfully wonder how a modern NBA playoff contender will function when their point guard can’t shoot. Simmons’ defense will help give the Sixers a chance against the SuperNets…if his transition skills and rebounding aren’t neutralized by his shooting, and if Harris, Green and Seth Curry can consistently make the Nets work on defense, tiring them out.

Brooklyn Nets (2) v Boston Celtics (7): Nets up 2–0

James Harden playing against the opposing team’s bench players in the 2nd quarter and late 3rd…

I MUST ADMIT… I worked at CVS Pharmacy in Arlington, Massachusetts during my junior and senior years of high school. I hope it was only that long. I may have worked there the summer after my freshman year of college.

I worked two-to-three days a week, after school, adding more hours in the summer. The endlessly repeating sentimental pop songs. The odd yellow glare of the fluorescent lights. None of it was especially remarkable, and I’m sure it added to my teenage ennui. The employee discount was a small highlight. Thinking back, I’m sure some of my co-workers employed the…

Zoom (noun): an internet application many humans have been using for the last year to hear (and often) see each other on the internet, through arranged meetings.

Community (noun): formerly an actual place or physical area, now also an abstract idea of humans being connected via the Internet or phone

Though older notions of community have been squeezed over the last year, new definitions emerge. The two words, “Zoom” and “Community” do not have to form an oxymoron.

Searching for community is complicated. For those that spend their lives in one place, community is often so familiar it becomes a…

In the broad scope of things on Planet Earth in the spring of 2021, one season of a professional sports league is entirely insignificant. The mythmakers and sports historians would have you believe otherwise. The media machine would never allow that headline to go viral. “NBA Season Entirely Insignificant!”

What went viral in the past 16 or 18 months around the globe was indeed a virus that stopped the media machine, as well as the mythmakers (unless you are a hardcore conspiracy theorist). …