I have a lot to catch up on:
+ The impeachment process has been damning so far. No matter how conservative news/talk radio spins it, the Ukraine infraction should be the end of the Trump administration. If President Trump wants to prove his innocence, he can't just tweet his alibi. I would love to see him --or more likely, his inner circle-- testify before Congress. I mean, I can wish... right?
+ It's Thanksgiving weekend, and I am thankful for having some financial stability (for now), being able to explore the world, a friendly and accommodating roommate, my friends, and my remaining family. I give a hearty "no thanks" to political gridlock, right-wing echo chambers, and gaslighting.
(636)
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
An Unintended Hiatus
A lot has happened since my previous dispatch, so much that I've gone nearly a month without writing (a possible record). Rather than go chronologically, I'll sum everything up in order of importance:
On November 5th, I finally moved back to Chicago. I now live in a third-floor walk-up on the northwest side. I hate that it took as long as it did, but it came down to both money and finding the right living situation. At the same time, I am now considerably closer to my social circle and improv shenanigans. My sister will be staying at the parents' house in Downers for the time being, but she intends to get a mortgage and start clearing out by mid-2021.
As some of you know, I'm part of a charitable organization that does short-form improv for sick children in hospitals. We have monthly rehearsals, and at our August session we had an impromptu discussion about gender identity and representation. After rehearsal, a longtime member of the group asked the person (they use they/their pronouns) a follow-up question, partially to clarify. The gender non-conforming person lost their cool, and our new director was forced to intervene.
One thing lead to another, but the guy that asked the question ended up leaving the organization under pressure. Just before he quit, however the GNC person then sent a long-winded email where they called the guy transphobic, implied a boycott of performing of shows, and threatened legal action. It wasn't the organization's intent to let the GNC person go, but that email forced their hand. Emotions are frayed all over, but I hope everyone can get past this ugly incident.
About six weeks ago, I unintentionally mansplained on the status update of a friend's Facebook post. Soon after, a second woman (another Chicago-based comedian) commented to double down. I apologized to both via DM, but the damage was done. I spent that weekend in a shame spiral, augmented by anxiety. Suffice to say, I fucked up pretty hard.
For now, I suppose I'm hiding in plain sight. My 2019 has been driven by how I connect with people, and how that can be an outward struggle for myself. Being in the Chicago comedy community (improv, stand-up, and otherwise) has become more like a navigation between egos and narcissism. I am perpetually walking on eggshells, especially on social media.
Next Week: my 15th annual Thanks/No Thanks list.
(635)
On November 5th, I finally moved back to Chicago. I now live in a third-floor walk-up on the northwest side. I hate that it took as long as it did, but it came down to both money and finding the right living situation. At the same time, I am now considerably closer to my social circle and improv shenanigans. My sister will be staying at the parents' house in Downers for the time being, but she intends to get a mortgage and start clearing out by mid-2021.
As some of you know, I'm part of a charitable organization that does short-form improv for sick children in hospitals. We have monthly rehearsals, and at our August session we had an impromptu discussion about gender identity and representation. After rehearsal, a longtime member of the group asked the person (they use they/their pronouns) a follow-up question, partially to clarify. The gender non-conforming person lost their cool, and our new director was forced to intervene.
One thing lead to another, but the guy that asked the question ended up leaving the organization under pressure. Just before he quit, however the GNC person then sent a long-winded email where they called the guy transphobic, implied a boycott of performing of shows, and threatened legal action. It wasn't the organization's intent to let the GNC person go, but that email forced their hand. Emotions are frayed all over, but I hope everyone can get past this ugly incident.
About six weeks ago, I unintentionally mansplained on the status update of a friend's Facebook post. Soon after, a second woman (another Chicago-based comedian) commented to double down. I apologized to both via DM, but the damage was done. I spent that weekend in a shame spiral, augmented by anxiety. Suffice to say, I fucked up pretty hard.
For now, I suppose I'm hiding in plain sight. My 2019 has been driven by how I connect with people, and how that can be an outward struggle for myself. Being in the Chicago comedy community (improv, stand-up, and otherwise) has become more like a navigation between egos and narcissism. I am perpetually walking on eggshells, especially on social media.
Next Week: my 15th annual Thanks/No Thanks list.
(635)
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Take Me Out of the Ballgame
WARNING: yet another sports post
As a regular attendee of minor league baseball games, I am observing with curiosity and trepidation how MLB and MiLB devise a plan for mass contraction. The proposal of folding 42 teams is drastic, but sadly necessary. Baseball is a sport at a crossroads, and shaving a little off the bottom is just one problem it needs to address.
Let's begin with the obvious: Minor League Baseball is massive to the point of unwieldy. All 30 Major League Baseball teams have at least six minor league affiliates. Teams in the four highest levels (Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Single-A) are practically mandatory are development reasons, but some teams forgo or choose between the lower levels (Low/Short Season A, Rookie League). There's about 200 teams in all, spread all across the United States and Vancouver, BC, with each league mostly confined to a particular region. The higher you go in a team's farm system, the incremental likelihood that you'll make it to the Majors.
One pattern I've noticed is that the higher the MiLB affiliate, the larger the city. Just about major American city you can think of that doesn't have a major league team (Las Vegas, Nashville, Buffalo, etc.) has a Double- or Triple-A team. Going into 2020, New Orleans and Portland, OR will be largest without any affiliated baseball at all --there are teams in nearby cities-- but that might change soon. That also means the low minors are typically in small towns and more rural areas; I doubt people are going out of their way to see the brightest young prospects in, say, Johnson City, TN or Bluefield, VA.
Even though the low minors offer some cost-effective summer entertainment with minimal travel, they work on a flawed business model. The stadiums they play in are often small, decrepit, or both and there's just enough money from local government to make small renovations. For instance, the Beloit Snappers (the Oakland A's Single-A team) play in rusty, outmoded Pohlman Field. The park is in the middle of a subdivision, which prohibits any expansion. Attempts to build a new stadium in downtown Beloit have failed repeatedly. Despite the team's proximity to Madison, WI the ballpark is the second-smallest in the league (allegedly 3,500 capacity) and frequently in the bottom five for attendance. Even when the Snappers fielded a competitive team, late season tickets and concession items were often offered for 50% off. I openly wondered how this whole thing turns a profit.
I have made the 90-minute drive to Pohlman Field on three occasions. On my first trip, I was astonished by how the basic the stadium felt compared to others in the Midwest League. Pohlman looks and feels like a run-down YMCA. Over 80% of the seats are aluminum bleachers, and players and coaches are obligated to cross the concourse to go to the barn-like clubhouse. The upgrades that other minor league ballparks have received, including clubhouses under the stands, in have been glossed over in Beloit largely for financial reasons. Unfortunately, there is reason to speculate that the Snappers and their similarly woebegone rival the Burlington Bees (Angels' Single-A) will be among the 42 contracted.
A saturation of pro baseball is an emerging problem. MLB attendance is both decreasing and getting older. Tickets are too expensive for the average fan --blame all those ridiculous contracts-- and a lot of people prefer minor league games because they're way more cost-effective (myself included). However, the price doesn't increase much as you climb through the system. For instance, box seats for the Single-A Kane County Cougars cost two dollars less than similar seats at a Triple-A Indianapolis Indians game. Both can be purchased for under $20. Considering an average Indians player is a lot closer to Major League ready than that Cougars player, the economics are bit wonky. It doesn't help that the average MiLB player makes a paltry income; only a select few top prospects get plump contract bonuses.
What becomes of independent and non-affiliated professional baseball? That aspect is oddly feast or famine. Like their minor league brethren, pro teams without an MiLB designation are faring better in larger metropolitan areas than in more rural, isolated areas. Indie ball is also more serendipitous, with teams folding, merging, and moving almost annually. Without that MLB parent money, the indie teams pay for their own players, and tend to lose money almost on travel alone. It's possible that some soon-to-be former MiLB teams will go the indie route, but at their own risk.
I support contraction, but with some reservations. The 42 teams that are speculated to be thinned out mostly play in towns and regions where the team is a reasonable, but flawed source of revenue. Creating a more satisfactory stadium experience, regardless of how necessary or extraneous it might be, could be too much for some teams and prove to be the X factor. It will also potentially alienate more fans from what some still consider the national pastime.
(634)
As a regular attendee of minor league baseball games, I am observing with curiosity and trepidation how MLB and MiLB devise a plan for mass contraction. The proposal of folding 42 teams is drastic, but sadly necessary. Baseball is a sport at a crossroads, and shaving a little off the bottom is just one problem it needs to address.
Let's begin with the obvious: Minor League Baseball is massive to the point of unwieldy. All 30 Major League Baseball teams have at least six minor league affiliates. Teams in the four highest levels (Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Single-A) are practically mandatory are development reasons, but some teams forgo or choose between the lower levels (Low/Short Season A, Rookie League). There's about 200 teams in all, spread all across the United States and Vancouver, BC, with each league mostly confined to a particular region. The higher you go in a team's farm system, the incremental likelihood that you'll make it to the Majors.
One pattern I've noticed is that the higher the MiLB affiliate, the larger the city. Just about major American city you can think of that doesn't have a major league team (Las Vegas, Nashville, Buffalo, etc.) has a Double- or Triple-A team. Going into 2020, New Orleans and Portland, OR will be largest without any affiliated baseball at all --there are teams in nearby cities-- but that might change soon. That also means the low minors are typically in small towns and more rural areas; I doubt people are going out of their way to see the brightest young prospects in, say, Johnson City, TN or Bluefield, VA.
Even though the low minors offer some cost-effective summer entertainment with minimal travel, they work on a flawed business model. The stadiums they play in are often small, decrepit, or both and there's just enough money from local government to make small renovations. For instance, the Beloit Snappers (the Oakland A's Single-A team) play in rusty, outmoded Pohlman Field. The park is in the middle of a subdivision, which prohibits any expansion. Attempts to build a new stadium in downtown Beloit have failed repeatedly. Despite the team's proximity to Madison, WI the ballpark is the second-smallest in the league (allegedly 3,500 capacity) and frequently in the bottom five for attendance. Even when the Snappers fielded a competitive team, late season tickets and concession items were often offered for 50% off. I openly wondered how this whole thing turns a profit.
I have made the 90-minute drive to Pohlman Field on three occasions. On my first trip, I was astonished by how the basic the stadium felt compared to others in the Midwest League. Pohlman looks and feels like a run-down YMCA. Over 80% of the seats are aluminum bleachers, and players and coaches are obligated to cross the concourse to go to the barn-like clubhouse. The upgrades that other minor league ballparks have received, including clubhouses under the stands, in have been glossed over in Beloit largely for financial reasons. Unfortunately, there is reason to speculate that the Snappers and their similarly woebegone rival the Burlington Bees (Angels' Single-A) will be among the 42 contracted.
A saturation of pro baseball is an emerging problem. MLB attendance is both decreasing and getting older. Tickets are too expensive for the average fan --blame all those ridiculous contracts-- and a lot of people prefer minor league games because they're way more cost-effective (myself included). However, the price doesn't increase much as you climb through the system. For instance, box seats for the Single-A Kane County Cougars cost two dollars less than similar seats at a Triple-A Indianapolis Indians game. Both can be purchased for under $20. Considering an average Indians player is a lot closer to Major League ready than that Cougars player, the economics are bit wonky. It doesn't help that the average MiLB player makes a paltry income; only a select few top prospects get plump contract bonuses.
What becomes of independent and non-affiliated professional baseball? That aspect is oddly feast or famine. Like their minor league brethren, pro teams without an MiLB designation are faring better in larger metropolitan areas than in more rural, isolated areas. Indie ball is also more serendipitous, with teams folding, merging, and moving almost annually. Without that MLB parent money, the indie teams pay for their own players, and tend to lose money almost on travel alone. It's possible that some soon-to-be former MiLB teams will go the indie route, but at their own risk.
I support contraction, but with some reservations. The 42 teams that are speculated to be thinned out mostly play in towns and regions where the team is a reasonable, but flawed source of revenue. Creating a more satisfactory stadium experience, regardless of how necessary or extraneous it might be, could be too much for some teams and prove to be the X factor. It will also potentially alienate more fans from what some still consider the national pastime.
(634)
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Random Notes, October 2019
This blog hasn't been political in a hot minute:
+ Yes, I support impeachment. Perhaps its an attempt to take the moral high road by House Democrats. I suppose to compared to other allegations against President Trump, the Ukraine situation ranks somewhere in the middle. Regardless, an inquiry had to happen. My endorsement comes with concern, though. It's unlikely there will be enough Republican senators to "flip" and vote Trump out, and that if impeachment fails Trump's frothing base will double down for him in 2020.
+ With that said, the 2020 race is shaping up to be the Baby Boom generation's last stand. I know I've railed on the Democrats' perceived age problem, but the top three candidates for their party's nomination --Biden, Warren, and Sanders-- are all north of 70, potentially going head to head with a 73-year-old draft dodger. Younger candidates with strong, articulated platforms (read: Kamala Harris), regardless of how progressive they are, are being left in the dust. My parents' generation won't let go of the football.
+ Adam Silver learned the hard way that marketing anything in China comes with some tight strings attached. The Daryl Morey situation is a reminder that the NBA is far more vocal and conscious of social issues than the other major sports leagues, and that their views are beyond incompatible with a country that bristles at the idea of freedom of speech. As such, NBA expansion outside of North America remains a pipe dream.
+ I was set to write another draft of my long-gestating eulogy for TV.com, but it appears that the login works again. It remains unclear what CNet intends to do with the site. I don't know if I've ever been in such a prolonged funeral procession. It is especially frustrating seeing episode guides for new shows 2015 to the present with no information on them, or person pages where their last credit is from mid-2016. Between the old TV Tome and now, a site that I've put toil and energy into for 16 1/2 isn't necessarily dead, but remains in some kind of comatose state.
(633)
+ Yes, I support impeachment. Perhaps its an attempt to take the moral high road by House Democrats. I suppose to compared to other allegations against President Trump, the Ukraine situation ranks somewhere in the middle. Regardless, an inquiry had to happen. My endorsement comes with concern, though. It's unlikely there will be enough Republican senators to "flip" and vote Trump out, and that if impeachment fails Trump's frothing base will double down for him in 2020.
+ With that said, the 2020 race is shaping up to be the Baby Boom generation's last stand. I know I've railed on the Democrats' perceived age problem, but the top three candidates for their party's nomination --Biden, Warren, and Sanders-- are all north of 70, potentially going head to head with a 73-year-old draft dodger. Younger candidates with strong, articulated platforms (read: Kamala Harris), regardless of how progressive they are, are being left in the dust. My parents' generation won't let go of the football.
+ Adam Silver learned the hard way that marketing anything in China comes with some tight strings attached. The Daryl Morey situation is a reminder that the NBA is far more vocal and conscious of social issues than the other major sports leagues, and that their views are beyond incompatible with a country that bristles at the idea of freedom of speech. As such, NBA expansion outside of North America remains a pipe dream.
+ I was set to write another draft of my long-gestating eulogy for TV.com, but it appears that the login works again. It remains unclear what CNet intends to do with the site. I don't know if I've ever been in such a prolonged funeral procession. It is especially frustrating seeing episode guides for new shows 2015 to the present with no information on them, or person pages where their last credit is from mid-2016. Between the old TV Tome and now, a site that I've put toil and energy into for 16 1/2 isn't necessarily dead, but remains in some kind of comatose state.
(633)
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Basic Cable Reading Time
About two weeks ago, I received a generic, junk mail subscription offer for ESPN the Magazine. I tend to receive this sort of thing fairly often; I still subscribe to about a half-dozen magazines, but these nondescript envelopes usually offer a deal on something I don't read (People Weekly) or I don't have time for anymore (National Geographic). I was about to put the offer in the trash when I decided to skim the new issue of ESPN Mag. I stumbled upon a letter from the editor, where she declared unanticipated that this would be the last print issue. Gobsmacked by the odd timing, I took a picture of the letter and the junk mail side by side and posted it on Instagram.
I've written about my admittedly archaic reading habits periodically (pun intended). The contraction of the print industry is hardly anything new; newspapers and magazines alike have been gradually shrinking in every way since at least the mid-2000s. The ad revenue has been siphoned off by the internet, and paywalls have only been somewhat effective in keeping the old standbys alive. Yet the demise of ESPN Mag still kind of stings.
I like Sports Illustrated, and I respect its history, yet I've never been compelled to subscribe to SI. If a recent issue is sitting in a waiting room, I will definitely skim through it. At the same time, there was a period in the mid-2000s where I adored ESPN Mag. I'll even argue that for a five-year stretch or so, the overall quality of journalism was superior fo SI. That ESPN Mag was published every other week made it feel even more special. Once time in jest, I referred to ESPN Mag as my sports bible. My college girlfriend did not find that amusing.
For a time, a good percentage of ESPN Mag's content was generated by the network personalities themselves. Everyone from Dan Patrick to Stuart Scott to Stephen A. Smith had a column or regular feature. The vibe was young and freewheeling, yet exhaustively detailed. When ad revenue began to taper off in the early 2010s --and Scott's health went into dramatic decline-- those departments were phased out, and the Mag became a champion of sabermetrics. The top-notch sports-writing was still there, but you had to sift through articles about Mike Trout's WAR and LeBron James' FTA first. It became a more "woke" magazine too; exposes of discrimination and misogyny were balanced out by the sex-positive, annual Body Issue. 26 issues a year was reduced to 24 (they would sit out the month of January) then the Mag quietly became a monthly in Fall 2018.
ESPN can still lay claim to being the worldwide leader in sports, but they've lost grip on their once massive foothold. There are rival sports channels on cable, plus streaming platforms. In the print world, Sports Illustrated was challenged but never vanquished; unless you count The Sporting News or those myriad annual fantasy sports previews, SI has now stumbled into a monopoly. The Mag is its most notable casualty so far. The game was won, but the series was lost.
(632)
I've written about my admittedly archaic reading habits periodically (pun intended). The contraction of the print industry is hardly anything new; newspapers and magazines alike have been gradually shrinking in every way since at least the mid-2000s. The ad revenue has been siphoned off by the internet, and paywalls have only been somewhat effective in keeping the old standbys alive. Yet the demise of ESPN Mag still kind of stings.
I like Sports Illustrated, and I respect its history, yet I've never been compelled to subscribe to SI. If a recent issue is sitting in a waiting room, I will definitely skim through it. At the same time, there was a period in the mid-2000s where I adored ESPN Mag. I'll even argue that for a five-year stretch or so, the overall quality of journalism was superior fo SI. That ESPN Mag was published every other week made it feel even more special. Once time in jest, I referred to ESPN Mag as my sports bible. My college girlfriend did not find that amusing.
For a time, a good percentage of ESPN Mag's content was generated by the network personalities themselves. Everyone from Dan Patrick to Stuart Scott to Stephen A. Smith had a column or regular feature. The vibe was young and freewheeling, yet exhaustively detailed. When ad revenue began to taper off in the early 2010s --and Scott's health went into dramatic decline-- those departments were phased out, and the Mag became a champion of sabermetrics. The top-notch sports-writing was still there, but you had to sift through articles about Mike Trout's WAR and LeBron James' FTA first. It became a more "woke" magazine too; exposes of discrimination and misogyny were balanced out by the sex-positive, annual Body Issue. 26 issues a year was reduced to 24 (they would sit out the month of January) then the Mag quietly became a monthly in Fall 2018.
ESPN can still lay claim to being the worldwide leader in sports, but they've lost grip on their once massive foothold. There are rival sports channels on cable, plus streaming platforms. In the print world, Sports Illustrated was challenged but never vanquished; unless you count The Sporting News or those myriad annual fantasy sports previews, SI has now stumbled into a monopoly. The Mag is its most notable casualty so far. The game was won, but the series was lost.
(632)
Thursday, September 5, 2019
32 Teams, 32 Haiku: My 2019 NFL Preview
NFC NORTH
1. Bears (11-5). A slight regression/expected; young, dangerous/D will still stifle.
2. Packers (9-7). More Rodgers drama?/Darnell Savage can't be kind/on so-so defense.
3. Vikings (7-9). Underachievers/abound; stud receivers are/stymied by Cousins.
4. Lions (6-10). "Patty Ball," year two/secondary improvements/and same old Stafford.
NFC EAST
1. Cowboys (11-5). Dak, Zeke, Gallup, and/Coop hit their stride; playoff wins/are still elusive.
2. Eagles* (10-6). A full year of Wentz/is crucial; just enough depth/on O to contend.
3. Redskins (6-10). It won't be Keenum/for long; solid D is not/enough in DC.
4. Giants (5-11). Eli mentors Jones/Big Blue now looks very green/a struggle to score.
NFC SOUTH
1. Saints (12-4). New faces: "Who Dat?"/one more great year from Brees might/be enough to reign.
2. Falcons (8-8). These birds are stable/don't fix what isn't broken/Ryan's pass game thrives.
3. Panthers (8-8). Pass-rush improvement/needed; the offense is too/dependant on Cam.
4. Buccaneers (3-13). Not boring to watch/patience for Jameis wears thin/young, raw team struggles.
NFC WEST
1. Rams (12-4). A tough sked, spread out/"go Gurley go, Gurley go"/no doubt on rush game.
2. Seahawks* (10-6). No Clowney around/this front seven is unreal/Jarran? Badly missed.
3. 49ers (7-9). Jimmy G's fine but/MacKinnon can't stay healthy/improved on paper.
4. Cardinals (4-12). Once a baseball stud/Kyler must learn that pro snaps/aren't easy fly outs.
AFC NORTH
1. Browns (10-6). Relevance? What's that?/Even if these Dawgs fall short/they'll be fun to watch.
2. Ravens* (9-7). A defense in flux/no rush to admit Lamar/Jackson is for real.
3. Steelers (8-8). A strong running game/offsets Big Ben's age; could be/a playoff sleeper.
4. Bengals (5-11). Dalton, red bullseye/no one to protect him as/rebuilding looms near.
AFC EAST
1. Patriots (13-3). TB12, ageless/the dominance continues/in cupcake division.
2. Bills (7-9). A discrepancy/a wobbly O, stifling D/low-scoring mayhem!
3. Jets (6-10). Le'veon was an/upgrade, but I'm not convinced/Darnold is legit.
4. Dolphins (4-12). After fire sale/Fins' QB controversy/only thing to watch.
AFC SOUTH
1. Texans (10-6). Best of a weak bunch/healthy receivers will make/Deshaun look supreme.
2. Colts (8-8). These Luckless fellows/loaded offense carried by/...Jacoby Brissett?
3. Jaguars (7-9). Will Foles pony up?/A healthy O-line would help/nix '18 hiccup.
4. Titans (6-10). Make or break, Marcus!/New coach, more physical play/and modest results.
AFC WEST
1. Chiefs (13-3). A bolstered defense/Pat, beat Brady and we'll talk/but you came close twice.
2. Chargers* (10-6). Philip Rivers is/underappreciated/can't say it enough.
3. Broncos (7-9). Delaware Joe is/an upgrade ...kinda; the D/will force turnovers.
4. Raiders (5-11). AB's helmet woes/distract; I doubt Oakland will/miss this dumb drama.
NFL MVP: Drew Brees, Saints
Offensive ROY: David Montgomery, Bears
Defensive ROY: Josh Allen, Jaguars
First Head Coach Fired: Jay Gruden, Redskins
Super Bowl LIV: Saints 24, Patriots 17
(631)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
