First off, thanks to all of you for your support of the first few weeks of the newsletter.
The idea behind the newsletter is to provide content alternative to the mainstream. There are no editorial constraints beyond telling culturally relevant stories and desire to serve my subscribers. I hope that directive has come through in the articles thus far.
My personal point of view on the subjects I write about is informed through reading. Lots of reading.
Each Sunday, I will send along a list of links. These are the most six most interesting articles I read this week and why.
Here is the first Sunday Six.
Ohio State Football Is Canceled. Will Trump Take the Hit?
The NY Times is rightfully accused of breathlessly reporting on any negative news about the pandemic. But it is worth reading when they do these types of stories that are well-sourced and land at a moment when sports and politics collide every day. Having visited Columbus twice in my life for OSU football games, I can’t imagine crossing the Olentangy River in Columbus on fall Saturdays into empty streets around Ohio Stadium. That will happen in 2020.
Will Cain Is Still Swinging For the Fences
The only two broadcasters I could tolerate on ESPN national radio are Sarah Spain and Will Cain. Now that Cain is gone, that leaves Spain. I’ll have to DVR ‘Fox and Friends’ on the weekend to hear Cain’s voice on topics other than sports. He’s smart, well-prepared and tells the truth as he sees it.
Re-Opening Schools Decide When They Should Close Again
Schools are opening all over the country. How they are organizing re-open efforts is a story for the remaining months of 2020. Thresholds of how to deal with positive cases differ between states and often times, individual school districts. Bravo to the schools that are attempting to re-open.
‘Ozark’ star Jason Bateman Drops Hint At Season 4 Plot
I finally caved into the recommendations from friends to binge on the Netflix show ‘Ozark’ during the height of the virus shutdown. It took over my life for a weekend, as good as advertised. Thrilled the show is coming back for a final season. Who will emerge victorious as the Byrdes battle for supremacy? One star of the show dropped a hint this past week.
Zach Plesac Digs His Own Quarantine Grave
It’s rare to see professional athletes say anything of candor. They rarely go off of script, especially baseball players. Not the case this week with Cleveland Indians pitcher Zach Plesac. The left-hander got sent home by his team after he broke quarantine rules to visit friends in Chicago. I respect Plesac for wanting to explain himself but labeling the media as ‘evil’ is never a solid PR tactic. And speaking into a cell phone camera while driving is another boo-boo.
Pennsylvania Coach Passionately Lobbies For Football
Want to thank subscriber Rich Hanson for first passing along a link to this video. There are still a few states that have not announced plans for fall high school sports. One of them is Pennsylvania. This coach from Bedford, PA gives one of the more reasoned, logical cases for why the sport should be played this fall.
Have a suggestion for the Sunday Six? Send email to jon@jonjkerr.com.