Skip to main content

About basketball

 BEAR: Did you watch the Blazers game last night?

HOOKER: I don't follow the Blazers.

BEAR: I thought you were a basketball fan. You used to be.

HOOKER: I won't be an NBA fan again until they raise the basket. The game's turned into dunking and showing off. Today I follow women's basketball. It's still a team sport.

BEAR: How about Caitlin Clark?

HOOKER: She's spectacular. 

BEAR: All those three pointers, some almost at half court.

HOOKER: I'm talking about her passing. There are many good three point shooters but I've never seen anyone pass with her accuracy and consistency. She's the very definition of what a team sport looks like.

BEAR: Granddaughter number two worships Clark.

HOOKER: She plays?

BEAR: First string on her high school team. I try not to miss a home game.

HOOKER: I envy you.

BEAR: Why don't you come to a game with me?

HOOKER: I'd love to.

BEAR: I think there are a couple games next week. I have to check my calendar.

HOOKER: Next week works. My social calendar is free from here to eternity.

BEAR: Now there's a good movie.

HOOKER: "That must be Pruitt."

BEAR: Remind me.

HOOKER: Maggio dies and Pruitt plays taps.

BEAR: Right.

HOOKER: "That must be Pruitt." Still brings tears to my eyes.

BEAR: Pretty sentimental for an old curmudgeon like yourself.

HOOKER: Don't tell anyone.

(End)




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Boredom in old age

 BEAR: I visited my brother yesterday. HOOKER: He any better? BEAR: About the same. I always feel so guilty after seeing him. HOOKER: Why's that? BEAR: All he talks about is how boring it is there and what a relief from boredom it is to have me visit. He makes me feel like I should be visiting every day. The thing is, I can understand why he's bored. Activities amount to exercising, bingo, cards, and Bible study. He sometimes plays pinochle once a week. That's about it. HOOKER: Sounds boring to me, too. BEAR: Do you ever get bored? HOOKER: Rarely. You? BEAR: Sorry to say I do. Our Tuesday coffees often are the highlight of the week. The rest of the time, I'm climbing the walls. HOOKER: Now that surprises me. Doesn't your son live in Portland? BEAR:  He does. But I'm lucky if I hear from him once a month. HOOKER: Man, that's too bad. BEAR: I hear from my granddaughter more often, even when she's back east. HOOKER: I hear something like this and I don'...

A message from Woody Guthrie (with guest)

 BEAR: This is my granddaughter, Heather. HOOKER: Nice to meet you. HEATHER: I've heard so much about you. HOOKER:You didn't have to tell me that. HEATHER: All good! BEAR: She performed her Woody Guthrie show at the universitry last night. You missed one hell of a performance.  HOOKER: I had a conflict. BEAR: Timbers tickets! Our esteemed and retired professor of American Studies prefers sports to art. HOOKER: I'm not a rich man. I bought season tickets I can't afford. I like to use them. HEATHER: I may be doing the university again this summer. BEAR: Really? HEATHER: They said they wanted to bring me back. BEAR: That's great. HOOKER: The word is awesome, Bear. Have you done the show other places? HEATHER: Right now the show is my job. BEAR: I didn't know that. HEATHER: I've had very generous grant support. I've performed throughout the Northwest, at universities and colleges, performing arts centers, senior centers, labor picnics, union halls. I even pe...

The Dumbing Down of America

 BEAR: I just finished an incredible book: the Age of American Unreason. HOOKER: By Susan Jacoby. I know it. It's a follow up to Hofstadter's Anti Intellectualism in American Life.  BEAR: She mentions this. HOOKER: The thing is, Bear, that it's always been the age of unreason here. Look at what Mencken was writing in the twenties. I recently came across a quotation that sounds like he's describing today. I bet I can find it. (He starts searching on his smart phone.) BEAR: Today people present "alternative science" as if it's a real thing. They believe Thomas Jefferson led prayer sessions. If you have an education, you're "elitist." People are proud of their ignorance! It's unreal. HOOKER: Here it is. (Reading) "On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. The Evening Sun, Baltimore (26 July 1920)," BEAR: I'm not s...