Stephen Nelson

“Will [Klein] Power”

Sobering truth. “What’s wrong with a little tyranny? just a means for [their] ends.”

It is preposterous how many people—even accounting for obvious bot accounts—who are scrambling to yell “TREAD ON ME! PLEASE PICK ME TO TREAD ON! I SERIOUSLY ENJOY THE TREADING!” online.

Wael Tarabishi, the last person I wrote about for the Star-Telegram, died on Friday.

Wael’s health declined rapidly after his father and primary caretaker, Maher, was detained by ICE last fall.

The Tarabishi family believes that if Maher had not been arrested, Wael would still be alive. I do too.

(I’m aware that said “tug-of-war” does not at all compare to what’s happening first-hand to people in communities all over. That’s the real shit. I’m just venting emotionally to try and maintain some sanity.)

I feel blood-boiling and fist-clenching rage seeing *gestures at the current state of things*. Then I see my kids—just simply existing—and I am struck by fear and sadness. It’s an emotional tug-of-war, and it can be paralyzing.

And ever. Amen.

Picture from 2024-25 season. Bears QB Caleb Williams lying flat on his back in pain and/or reflection. For me, it represents both currently. Bear Down *sad girl TikTok dancing thru tears dot gif*

Thinking about that game 😭
Thinking about this season 🥲

Damn. Tough ending. But what a ride. Even my boys—4 & 2 with absolutely zero idea what’s going on or why dad is doing loud noises—got into it. So that’s a neat development for the household moving forward.

Anyway: 🐻⬇️

Classic picture of Dave Parker in his “if you hear any noise it’s just me and the boys boppin” but instead of “the boys, “ it reads “DAAAAA BEARS”

🐻 TF ⬇️!!

self-annointed arbiters of “snowflakes” responded to actual snowballs—thrown by teenagers—with pepper spray. The alpha’est alpha’ers to ever alpha.

Ahh, stand-up(s) = broadcast phrase for standing up, talking in front of a camera. Not stand-up comedy.

It’ll never make sense to me that the Clippers play in Inglewood now, next to The Forum 😑

The content would be so much more entertaining tbh

Young me (right) sitting on the Lakers court at a fan event back in the day with two of my cousins. Classic 90’s fit on, and McDonalds Halloween buckets in front of us.

Now, that little kid is all grown up. Doing a live hit courtside for a special Spectrum Lakers broadcast.

From sitting on The Forum court to doing stand-ups at Staples (/Crypto). We dreaming? 🤙🥲

Okamoto ➡️ Toronto. Flashback to the 2023 WBC alongside Jose Mota. There was a special energy in the Tokyo Dome—Kazuma Okamoto’s home with the Yomiuri Giants. He had the Big Egg rocking in 5-RBI night to push Samurai Japan to the semis. Excited to watch his MLB career kick off with the #BlueJays.

Love the Munetaka Murakami / White Sox deal. 2023 WBC quarters v Italy: Japan’s lead had shrunk to two. Murakami steps in, scuffling (2-15, 8K) & carrying the hype/pressure on shoulders. He finally used the big part of the field—key RBI 2B. We saw an exhale. This led to huge hits in the semis/finals

Really loved getting to call/cover the Czech team in the 2023 WBC. Can not wait to read Michael’s book. Just ordered a couple. Congrats, my friend!

Oh man, this is great, and (as y'all already know), I agree with every word. I miss GoZ. We need GoZ. The NBA needs GoZ. The world needs GoZ.
Maybe someday @craigmalamut.bsky.social and @mutsack.bsky.social will give us a sequel. I'll happily start the Kickstarter, if that's what it takes!

That’s an interesting counter. I’d say Trout is unique because he held the “best player on earth” title for a while and LAA never properly/smartly invested resources. Whereas NYM seemingly has everything now. And Alonso leaving for BAL is different than joining big-market BOS or another proven power

Maybe I’m too sentimental… It’s sad that a player like Alonso will wear another uniform other than the Mets. That’s the way it’s been going in sports for a while now, I know. But this is a situation—like Freddie in ATL or [insert Red Sox]—where it didn’t *have* to go that way. And shouldn’t have.

It *is* Piano Man with the harmonica riff! I’d like to try to get him to do a performance on camera at some point. All I know is, he crushed it and the clubhouse loved it … happy holidays your way! 🙏

a handsome (sun) Devil at ASU before he became the first-ever first overall draft pick in MLB

Rick Monday and Joe DiMaggio with the Oakland A’s. You wouldn’t believe half of MO’s stories.

Mo and American flag in Chicago

Blue Monday

Happy 80th birthday to the legend, Rick Monday! 🇺🇸 He’s seen & done everything in baseball. Called more games than anybody the last X years, too—every spring training game through the postseason, every season! And he has no intentions of slowing down. So here’s to 80 mo for Mo! 🙏

The fact that he initiated it made that homer more personally special, for sure! Haha 👊🥹

Doing an event with Miguel Rojas today in Claremont. On the heels of him hitting one of the biggest home runs in Dodgers history-a game-tying home run in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series. Views from the booth… #ITFDB #BoothViews

Salute to Benny 💪

Sidenote: it is pretty neat that this happened now. Because Gavin Lux & Molly’s wedding is coming up, and Rortvedt will be an usher! (Ben would’ve been a groomsman but…wedding parties and even numbers 😂 IYKYK). Special Wisconsin reunion in Cincinnati.

I haven’t seen that! I’ll have to find and send to Mo. on YouTube?

Can confirm that recent TikTok tea influenced my reporting. Can also confirm Wrobo’s teammates have had a great time with said tea 🍵🐸 😂

*Eric voice*

Thanks for having my backs.