The 10-10 Golden State Valkyries play the 14-6 (2nd best in the league) Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center tonight. V's are favored by 3.5 points. Over/under is 158.5
OAKLAND, Calif. -- In just their second year in the Pioneer League, the Ballers are going back to the playoffs. Oakland didn't lead until the eighth in its comeback, 6-5 victory against the Rocky Mountain Vibes on Thursday.
The cherry on top? With the Ogden Raptors beating the Missoula Paddleheads Thursday, the Ballers are not only playoff-bound – they are the PBL First-Half Champions.
The Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays finished off the first half of the season today with the rubber match of their series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Jeffrey Springs took the mound today for the A’s against José Berríos for the Jays.
The All-Star Break couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re going to need a week of baseball detox after Sunday’s extra-inning loss to the Dodgers. Days spent slathered in balms, various soothing lotions, our essential oil diffusers running on high while we pound Big Gulp after Big Gulp of spa water with meditative ocean sounds blasting in our ears.
Freddie Freeman drove in the Dodgers first run and singled home the go-ahead run in a three-run 11th inning, giving Los Angeles a 5-2 win over the Giants that was much more difficult than it should have been on Sunday in San Francisco.
i watched a lot of tennis last few days, 4 sets of semi's and 2 sets of finals for both men and women.
Iga Swiatek is first Polish person to win .. beats American easily 6-0 6-0. i guess it sucks to go down like that for the first time in 100+ yrs. still, the American woman, Amanda Anisimova, played amazingly well in the semis to make it to her first grand slam final.
Jannik Sinner is first Italian winner. it appears that the era of the big 3 is over, and there is new crop of 22+ yr olds that are seemingly going to dominate tennis for the foreseeable future. Sinner/Alcaraz have won 7 of the last 7 grand slams between them. Sinner wa clearly better on Sun, but only by a handful of crucial points.
Roughly half of the five-star rated universities (best bang for buck) on Money Mag’s list are CA schools, including the University of California, Berkeley.
Trump informs 24 different US trading partners of new tariffs from 20-50%, including 30% to EU, 25% Korea, and 25% Japan. Some are higher, some are lower, some are the same.
not unlike what we are experiencing in this country at this very moment. clearly it was deliberate. however i am little surprised how undisguised the political messaging was.
---
I stand before you this morning with a heavy heart. I’ve spent my life in this Chamber. I came here as a child. And as I look around me now, I realize that I have almost no memories that pre-date my arrival and few moments of affection that cleave so tightly. Through these many years, I believe I have served my constituents honorably and upheld our code of conduct.
This chamber is a cauldron of opinions. For example, we all had our patience and tempers tested in pursuit of our ideals. Disagree, as we might, I am hopeful that those of you who know me will vouch for my credibility in the days to come. I stand this morning with a difficult message. I believe we are in crisis. The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss.
Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever screams at us the loudest.
This Chamber’s hold on the truth was finally lost on the Ghorman Plaza. What took place yesterday, what happened yesterday on Ghorman was unprovoked genocide. Yes! Genocide! And that truth has been exiled from this Chamber! And the monster screaming the loudest? The monster we helped to create? The monster who will come for us all soon enough…is Emperor Palpatine!
A couple weeks ago I noted some neighborhoods close to Metro are prone to robberies. Here’s an example where use of Metro video apparently led to the downfall of a couple teens.
PRO
Teddy Bridgewater suspended for impermissable benefits
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45740176/teddy-bridgewater-suspended-miami-northwestern-coaching-job
Sheriff: Jonn Elway probably didn't kill his ex-agent
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45736921/sheriff-death-john-elway-former-agent-tragic-accident
49ers Jauan Jennings is a holdout
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45738954/sources-49ers-jauan-jennings-wants-new-deal-trade
The 10-10 Golden State Valkyries play the 14-6 (2nd best in the league) Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center tonight. V's are favored by 3.5 points. Over/under is 158.5
I'll be there!
MLB Draft
Dodgers:
Round 1: Zachary Root, Arkansas, P
Round Competitive Balance Pick, Charles Davalan, Arkansas, OF
Round 2: Cam Leiter, Florida State, P
Round 3: Landyn Vidourek, Cincinnati, OF
Giants:
Round 1: Gavin Kilen, Tennessee, SS
Round 3: Trevor Cohen, Rutgers, OF
A's:
Round 1: Jamie Arnold, Florida State, P
Round 2: Devin Taylor, Indiana, OF
Ballers Clinch Playoffs, Seal First-Half Title with Thrilling 6-5 Victory
https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/202507112ke9ex
OAKLAND, Calif. -- In just their second year in the Pioneer League, the Ballers are going back to the playoffs. Oakland didn't lead until the eighth in its comeback, 6-5 victory against the Rocky Mountain Vibes on Thursday.
The cherry on top? With the Ogden Raptors beating the Missoula Paddleheads Thursday, the Ballers are not only playoff-bound – they are the PBL First-Half Champions.
Athletics take down the Blue Jays 6-3
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2025/7/13/24467113/athletics-defeat-the-blue-jays-6-3
The Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays finished off the first half of the season today with the rubber match of their series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Jeffrey Springs took the mound today for the A’s against José Berríos for the Jays.
False hope (Giants lose 5-2 to the Dodgers)
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2025/7/13/24467184/san-francisco-giants-dodgers-mlb-recap-robbie-ray-yamamoto-mlb-scores
The All-Star Break couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re going to need a week of baseball detox after Sunday’s extra-inning loss to the Dodgers. Days spent slathered in balms, various soothing lotions, our essential oil diffusers running on high while we pound Big Gulp after Big Gulp of spa water with meditative ocean sounds blasting in our ears.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto brilliant for 7, Dodgers win in 11th to take series over Giants
https://www.truebluela.com/2025/7/13/24466858/dodgers-rally-yoshinobu-yamamoto-tanner-scott-blown-saves-giants
Freddie Freeman drove in the Dodgers first run and singled home the go-ahead run in a three-run 11th inning, giving Los Angeles a 5-2 win over the Giants that was much more difficult than it should have been on Sunday in San Francisco.
Wimbledon finals
i watched a lot of tennis last few days, 4 sets of semi's and 2 sets of finals for both men and women.
Iga Swiatek is first Polish person to win .. beats American easily 6-0 6-0. i guess it sucks to go down like that for the first time in 100+ yrs. still, the American woman, Amanda Anisimova, played amazingly well in the semis to make it to her first grand slam final.
Jannik Sinner is first Italian winner. it appears that the era of the big 3 is over, and there is new crop of 22+ yr olds that are seemingly going to dominate tennis for the foreseeable future. Sinner/Alcaraz have won 7 of the last 7 grand slams between them. Sinner wa clearly better on Sun, but only by a handful of crucial points.
MONEY TALKS
https://money.com/best-colleges/
Roughly half of the five-star rated universities (best bang for buck) on Money Mag’s list are CA schools, including the University of California, Berkeley.
CAL
Saben to Cal!!!
https://x.com/on3sports/status/1944773948350075360
POLITICS
Trump wants to fire Jerome Powell so that he can lower interest rates, inflation be damned.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/13/trump-can-fire-powell-if-theres-cause-hassett.html
Trump informs 24 different US trading partners of new tariffs from 20-50%, including 30% to EU, 25% Korea, and 25% Japan. Some are higher, some are lower, some are the same.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/07/trump-tariffs-trade-letters-japan.html
DBD AV CLUB
Andor S2E9: Mon Mothma’s Senate Speech .. 19/19
the first time i am putting 19/19 on AV club
not unlike what we are experiencing in this country at this very moment. clearly it was deliberate. however i am little surprised how undisguised the political messaging was.
---
I stand before you this morning with a heavy heart. I’ve spent my life in this Chamber. I came here as a child. And as I look around me now, I realize that I have almost no memories that pre-date my arrival and few moments of affection that cleave so tightly. Through these many years, I believe I have served my constituents honorably and upheld our code of conduct.
This chamber is a cauldron of opinions. For example, we all had our patience and tempers tested in pursuit of our ideals. Disagree, as we might, I am hopeful that those of you who know me will vouch for my credibility in the days to come. I stand this morning with a difficult message. I believe we are in crisis. The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss.
Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever screams at us the loudest.
This Chamber’s hold on the truth was finally lost on the Ghorman Plaza. What took place yesterday, what happened yesterday on Ghorman was unprovoked genocide. Yes! Genocide! And that truth has been exiled from this Chamber! And the monster screaming the loudest? The monster we helped to create? The monster who will come for us all soon enough…is Emperor Palpatine!
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
A couple weeks ago I noted some neighborhoods close to Metro are prone to robberies. Here’s an example where use of Metro video apparently led to the downfall of a couple teens.
https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/07/teens-rob-same-montgomery-co-beer-and-wine-store-3-days-in-a-row-police-say/
Did those teens pick that location based on your post?
Nah, they were in suburban Maryland and I’m in suburban Virginia. 😉