Yesterday’s season finale of the National Basketball Association (NBA) was mired in controversy. Three teams–the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat–were vying for the last playoff spot in the NBA East conference. To secure a chance at post-season play, Miami needed a win AND losses by either Indiana or Chicago. Miami did its part, … Read more
Life isn’t fair. But sometimes it is less fair than it ever should be. Such was the case in the first major championship of the LPGA season. Twenty-two year old Lexi Thompson exited the twelfth green during the final round believing she had a two stroke lead with six holes to play. As she … Read more
When trying to solve a problem or understand an event, counter-intuitive thinking requires two things. First, make sure you are asking the right question. Second, don’t overlook the obvious. For a change, I’ll use an example from the world of sports. Consider Super Bowl LI. During the three weeks of non-stop pre- and post-game … Read more
On March 8, 2000, Boston Bruin defenseman Marty McSorley was charged with assault with a weapon when he attacked Vancouver Canucks forward Donald Brashear with his stick during the February 21 game in Vancouver. The strike and subsequent fall to the ice resulted in a Grade 3 concussion. Brashear did not fully recover from his … Read more
Imagine a different ending to the 1960 film version of Howard Fast’s novel Spartacus. Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) does not die by crucifixion at the hands of Roman general Marcus Crassus (Laurence Olivier) and is able to watch his son by Varinia (Jean Simmons) grow into adulthood. In a touching scene, the young boy tells Spartacus … Read more