5 things on my mind, boiling inferno edition: Simone Biles finds her joy and gold
It’s “milk was a bad decision” hot outside.
5 things on my mind, boiling St. Louis inferno edition, aka something quick for the midday lunch crew.
1) Good for you, Simone Biles. You had nothing to redeem but your joy for gymnastics, but those medals will feel just fine. Talk about witnessing a legend as she builds her resume. I’m not someone who rushes to watch the Olympics, but she’s a reason for anyone to tune in.
If you sympathized with Rick Ankiel for his “yips,” you can find a soft spot for Biles’ bout with the “twisties.” A mental block that prohibits someone from connecting the movement of their body and placement without visual cues ruined her performance in 2021. This year has been nothing short of amazing. It’s the joy that counts. Without it, what are we doing here?
2) Tommy Pham’s value comes in the endless chip he has on his shoulder. What can break others down empowers Pham. He placed it there, and uses it to keep his mind and desire planted amid a tumultuous profession. He’s a blunt stick of dynamite for lefties and postgame soundbites. Only thing that got in his way was the injury bug early on, and opportunity. A second stint in STL could be just what each side of the deal needs.
3) The Blues are still 6-7 weeks from the preseason, but I like the Ryan Suter acquisition the more I think about it. To me, he’s like a meaner version of Jay Bouwmeester. Steady defender with an edge who plays his position wisely. Suter is also an iron man of sorts. That could help a defense that over time became soft and ineffective. Will it push the Blues into playoff waters? That’s still undecided.
4) Blue Chips is further proof that Ron Shelton is one of the best sports film directors, and that Nick Nolte is generally underrated and forgotten about due to an infamous mug shot. He plays a wicked Bobby Knight type who breaks the golden rules of college recruiting, at least back then. The movie says so many things about the idea of greed and money soiling a great game.
5) I don’t work out at a gym currently, because I get a good workout five days a week at the house of plumbing. But the itch to get back in there comes in all forms. The discipline and regimen of doing it, even against a work schedule and personal time.
Somehow, I’ve gotten into better shape than I was before I started at Crescent, but the itch abides. It’s not happening until the heat breaks, because walking to the truck right now breaks a sweat.
One more thing. Slow. The. Fuck. Down. Out. There. Seriously, no one wants to see you that bad, even your dog. The slow drivers plague jams and raise frustration levels, but the roadrunners cause the most harm.
-DLB