Knicks Morning News (2023.09.12)

It was pretty clear to me right from the get-go that we were likely talking about a torn achilles. The lack of a severe twist, the lack of intense pain….then the ability to hobble followed by the carting off and then the walking boot. None of that looked like an ankle injury. Once again, a Jets season is likely dashed before it even begins.

I sometimes wonder whether Joe Namath really made a deal with the devil to get that 1969 Super Bowl win.

Or is it possible that this is the break that Zach Wilson needed to take the next step to greatness?

Nah. Same ol’ Jets.

I think Rodgers will play again. It’s a tough injury but so long as he comes back 90% or better, he still has game and probably doesn’t want to end his career on such a down note.

Children, and the adults they become, are profoundly impacted by the family circumstances and socioeconomic environment in which they are raised. This is especially true when there are underlying mental health issues. The negative impacts of chronic neglect, abuse, or other forms of profound trauma were painfully evident in many of my students over the years. And sadly, there are glaring inequities in helping kids navigate their mental health issues. kids raised in one set of circumstances get needed support and physical/mental health care for both acute and chronic issues. Kids raised in another get, well, something less than that.

This doesn’t excuse domestic violence or any other criminal behavior. Anyone who engages in it should be held accountable. But it does always make me want to take a deeper look. For example, I learned the following about Kevin Porter Jr. from his wikipedia page:

“The father of Kevin Porter Jr., Bryan Kevin Porter Sr., pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, served a prison sentence, and later died in a shooting when Porter Jr. was four years old.”

There is often a backstory involving abuse, neglect, or trauma in domestic violence cases, and often an accompanying diagnosis of untreated mental illness, whether congenital (e.g bipolar disorder) or acquired (PTSD).

“Great to see you’re thriving in retirement, Z-Man, and don’t forget to keep me posted about your daughter’s season. We have women volleyball here at FCPorto and maybe i can put in a good word to a scout of theirs. 😉”

lok thanks cyber! She plays in NCAA Division 3, and compared to the top D-1 teams like Nebraska, Texas, Stanford, etc., it’s a much slower, more below the net affair. But she is probably one of the best conditioned athletes in D-3 Volleyball. In the 2019 Crossfit Games, she ranked 70th in US and 132nd worldwide in the 16-17yo bracket. And she has to be because even at this level she’s very undersized, routinely giving up several inches to her opponents across the net. Although she’s super quick and jumps out of the gym, at her height there’s not much of a future in indoor volleyball after this season ends beyond rec leagues and coaching. I think she could be a decent beach player, where even though height is still a plus, there is more of a premium on skill, athleticism, and tenacity. But alas, the kids in California and Florida grow up playing beach volleyball, whereas like her, most in my area never touch a volleyball until they are 12.

But I’ll keep your offer in mind, especially if we have to flee the US if Strawberry Blonde Benito avoids prison and gets elected. Portugal is high on our list of sanctuary nations, and cybersoze is our designated point person!

Hey cyber, looks like the Portugese can’t hold their liquor…