September 2, 2020

After my morning workout I decided to go for a walk towards the whiffle ball field to see if anyone was playing pickle ball out in the parking lot.  I felt I needed to sweat a little longer as I had ingested a few more rum and cokes the night before than I should have.  There were four people playing and four waiting so I could kiss that opportunity goodbye.  But about one hundred yards away from the makeshift court were a group of athletes that looked like they were taking part in a boot camp like exercise. I strolled past and took a seat on a picnic table in the shade and watched them for a while.  One person led the others through a series of isometric and aerobic exercises.  The workout looked authentic and not at all easy.  During one of their brief breath catching breaks I asked how often they come out to do this.  The guy leading the group said they try to make it out every day around nine and they have done so since the restrictions were placed on capacity at the workout facility.  He invited me to join them if I desired and I told them I just might do that.

 

I began my walk across the bridges over to the dining center and once again I come across Joakim Noah, but this time I have on a University of Miami basketball shirt and shorts.  As I get closer he says, “Hey, I thought you went to Florida?”  I laughed and told him how I collect shirts and shorts from Division One basketball schools across the country whenever I work a game there and I actually graduated from San Francisco State University.  I think that was more information than he needed because he simple nodded and said he liked my Gator shirt better.  I didn’t have the heart to tell him San Francisco State is the Gators as well.

 

I had been contacted by a radio station in Tucson to record a twenty minute interview later that afternoon.  We had another whiffle ball scheduled at 6:00pm so I was glad the two didn’t conflict as I was off yet again and filling my day with activities was always a priority.  Promptly at 5:15pm, I received the call from Steve Rivera and Jay Gonzales from KTZR AM 1450.  The interview dealt mainly with life in the bubble and wasn’t much different than the print interview with the Daily Star or the other chats I have been fortunate enough to have with various media outlets since I have arrived here on July 12.  I blew it on one answer and I am kicking myself for not responding the way I really wanted.

 

Steve asked me what is the most unexpected or unique thing that has happened since I have been here, something that I didn’t expect to occur.  Well, my radio answer was wrong.  Although it was an honest answer it was not something I didn’t expect to occur.  I said witnessing the various rocket launches from Cape Kennedy were unexpected and enjoyed.  Don’t get me wrong, being able to watch the launches from a distance was a great thrill, but what I should have commented on was the work stoppage we had witnessed a week ago.

 

That was completely unexpected.  The rocket launches were planned, walking off the court wasn’t. The players made a risky decision to do what they did.  And looking back a week later I think they did the right thing.  Whether you agreed with what they did or not they sparked a global conversation.  In the process it may have driven fans away from the NBA but on the other hand it drew people together to have conversations and develop plans to ease systemic racism.  I still find it fascinating so many other sports teams and leagues followed the lead of the NBA.

You can listen to the interview by copying and pasting AllsportsTucson.com.  On the right of the webpage is the Eye on the Ball Show."  Search to find the interview aired on September 2, 2020.

 

We had a pitchers duel out on COVID Field. The air was thick, a storm threatened, and the wind was blowing in from left field resulting in few hits and even fewer runs.  We rushed through our seven inning contest and left for a quick dinner so we could watch game seven of the Houston OKC series.  The winner got to face the Lakers in two days and the loser got to leave the bubble.

Looks like James Harden and Russell Westbrook get to face LeBron James and Anthony Davis in two days.  We are down to eight teams from twenty two