Month: August 2023

I’ve had a great week. Maybe my best week in a year or so. I’m literally getting stronger every day with my new holistic approach to living. I actually spent Wednesday in Tulsa at a mini swim party with my two grandchildren Robert (3) and Aubbie (2). It was a blast.

I think people around me are starting to believe me when I say I have every intention of beating or controlling cancer despite the horrific PSA count of 1212 back in March. I’m now swimming, plus messing around on the basketball court in addition to my terrain biking, weight work, and walking. I actually plan on riding my son’s terrain bike in Colorado in nine days when we visit Denver for a week.

I also plan on being on the slopes this ski season with Robert who got on skiis last season. I was a pretty decent skier… blacks and some lesser double diamond blacks. Nothing pretty as far as form, but pretty much fearless. You know, the grinder I truly am. I call my grandson Bad Little Dude when his parents aren’t looking. But while I was down …Bad Little Dude got a little cocky. My second run down the slopes… BLD will see nothing in front of him but Mike’s ass…if you know what I mean.

So….. it’s time for me to pivot somewhat and start writing more basketball, football, hockey, political, and healthy living content.

Before I do my Thunder All-Time Top Ten List…I felt as if I should put my Top Ten Seattle Super Sonic list on here so as I can compair the two and make my summation on which list is the strongest.

It’s clearly the Thunder, who still haven’t won anything, but I wanted to do it in this manner because it’s my blog. So there.

1 Gary Payton

2 Ray Allen

3 Shawn Kemp

4 Jack Sikma

5 Detlef Schremph

6 Spencer Haywood

7 Tom Chambers

8 Dennis Johnson

9 Downtown Freddie Brown

10 Dale Ellis

To me, Gary Payton was easily No. 1 on this list. I didn’t put Kevin Durant on the list primarly because in his two seasons in Seattle he was a rail thin rookie and second year player and was no where near the player he became in 2011.

As far as Ray Allen, I know, Ray Allen was a great Buck, a great Celtic, and even a great Heat at the end, but I put Ray on my list just to illustrate how much I respect the manner in which Gary Payton played basketball.

It’s ironic isn’t it though, in relation to Kevin Durant. In all likelihood, Kevin will end up in the top fifteen players of all-time and then become part owner of the new franchise in Seattle when Adam Silver finally does the right thing.

I’d also guess Kevin buys a home on Mercer Island just like Bill Russell did because I’d guess if you really got inside of Kevin’s head it was Bill Russell who he most respected as a man and a basketball player. Just a guess on my part.

This was cool. Congrats, Tony Parker. Love the new Timmy hair look. Timmy has become the black Bill Walton…just sayin’.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

MJ

For the first time in a while….. I just slept in and loafed today after taking my wife to the airport for her trip to Panama City. It was nice just sleeping as the thunderstorms rolled over the mini-Deer Creek ranch.

This is when I really miss Pauli. I need a dog. It’s been a year. I think maybe in two months….. I could possibly consider a dog. It’s a tough decision, you know, given the Stage 4 thing and all, but I’m feeling better about my outcome with every passing day.

My Mom and I are headed to Tulsa tomorrow to hang out with my two grandkids at a swimming get together at Elanie’s parents house. Robert is three. Aubrey is two. This will be the first time I’ve seen them swim together.

Robert is a pistol. Constant motion and chatter…just like his namesake, my father. Aubrey is the boss though. She has no problem whatsoever putting Robert in his place when he gets out of line.

He calls her, “Aubbie.” It’s adorable. But you put that kid on a soccer field in Washington Park in the midst of all the lit woke children of Denver…. and he becomes an assassin. He’s already on skates and skiis as well. He’s already been warned twice for checking in the little co-ed soccer league at Wash Park which is even more passive submissive extreme than the North Edmond Mother’s Rec Soccer League. He’ll be a marked pariah in no time.

Evidently, yesterday, after swimming all morning and doing other in constant motion things…Elaine tried to put both of the kids to sleep. Aubbie instantly fell asleep, but Robert popped right back up and said,”Mommy, I didn’t get my two hours of park time this morning. I need my park time.”

So…what are you are going to do? Elaine’s mom took Robert to the park and tried to wear him out. Jerome would love Robert. Just sayin’.

So for the first time in a while…I woke up sore this morning. I basically came out too strong and too fast on the terrain bike and wore myself down before even getting to the weight training part of my workout.

Earl admonished me for coming out too strong on the bike and preached to me about the art of proper breathing and pacing. Megan was nowhere to be seen.

With about thirty minutes left in my workout, Jerome comes over to me and says,”MJ, what’s the problem today? I’m not seeing that dog in you today.”

I shook my head and said, “I came out too fast on the bike. I’m dying. Plus, there’s no music playing in here today.”

He looked at me and said,”You’re right. I’ll go take care of that, and you need to get your ass in gear.”

A half minute later, he was back behind me saying, “Let’s go. Jerome needs to see that dog, MJ.”

So with Stevie Wonder blaring on the speakers…I finished strong.

So there, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

Have a nice Wednesday and always try to be kind to others in these tumultuous times.

MJ

I’m going to do the Big 12 realignment piece later this week. Today, I wanted to write about Russell Westbrook.

Even though, at times, I’ve wanted to strangle Russell, in the end he has to be my favorite Thunder player ever with Nick at 2 and Kevin at 3.

Russell is clearly the Allen Iverson of this generation as a player, but as a person I love Russell.

Unless he’s fooled me… he’s a wonderful guy with his priorities in line. His devotion to his family and his inner circle are very similar to the way I’ve tried to approach my own journey through life.

I love the manner in which he was loyal to his teammates and to Sam Presti despite some of the things I’ve written on this blog.

I love the manner in which he has cared for his parents and his younger brother Ray.

I love the manner in which he values his own family. Russell and Kevin are exactly the same age as my son…..and I know what it feels like to be proud of your son in these crazy times in America.

I also love the fact he was kind to my guy Austin Reaves and took an undrafted player like Austin and helped AR become a well paid member of the NBA family. I’ve watched Austin closely since he transferred to OU from Wichita State and I’m truly touched how kind Russell was considering AR took his place in the Laker rotation.

As I morph myself in retirement…I’d actually like to be a volunteer on the Thunder Reading Bus or in one of Russell’s Reading Rooms. That would be a comfortable wheelhouse for me and I wouldn’t wear a Warriors’ jersey.

When you think it through…..Russell Westbrook has to be the greatest Thunder player of all-time despite the lack of a ring.

Question of the Week/

Was Harry S Truman justified in using the atomic bomb to bring World War II to an end?

I’ve read David McCullough’s excellent biography on Truman and now seen the movie Oppenheimer. The debate has never really been won by either side of the question.

If Truman hadn’t used the bomb….thousands of American young men would have been killed or wounded as the war dragged on in the Pacific. Add to the fact, there was Stalin and Russian troops in Berlin with American troops as well after the Germans surrendered.

Add to these facts…Truman had just ascended to the presidency by way of FDR’s death early in his fourth term. Truman was not at this point in any way considered a political heavyweight of any sort.

Here was this somewhat little known man from Independence, Missouri who never attended college making the toughest decision in contemporary American history.

Most people do not instantly remember Truman had by his side three of FDR’s most trusted advisor’s…. General Dwight Eisenhower, General George Marshall, and General Lucious Clay. If you want to know who were FDR’s most trusted advisors during WWII…google George Marshall and Lucious Clay. If you really want to learn about American policy at this time read the excellent biography written by Jean Edward-Smith in regards to General Lucious Clay.

All three of these men advised Truman to end the war. All three were much more prominent figures than Harry Truman.

Can you imagine the anguish of American parents if they later found out their sons had died in vain for no reason?

Can you imagine the difficulty Truman would have had explaining to Americans why he didn’t use the bomb after Japan’s unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941?

It’s easy here in the present to answer this question as no. None of us were sitting in Harry S Truman’s chair. None of us can possibly relate to the anguish he must have felt internally the rest of his life.

It’s an almost impossible question to answer.

But given all the considerations Truman faced…I would answer the question…yes.

I think my question next week will be.. Should Joe Biden Run for a Second Term?

Peace.

I’m kicking back today and enjoying the break in the mini-heat wave out here at the Deer Creek mini-ranch. I love it out here at the mini-ranch….it makes me feel like Reagan, Bush 43, or even LBJ. The Kennedys, Clinton, and President Obama never had a ranch. Just an observation.

A hard week, but a great week, as I took my physical rehab to a whole next level. Instead of walking at North Park yesterday, I went back to ‘my’ Health Wellness center and did my most grueling workout to date.

Thirty minutes on the terrain bike, then an hour on the weights with Jerome somewhat supervising. He’ll be my alpha on Mike’s Team over at the Wellness Center with Megan and Earl in support.

Jerome is uber competitive like Charity… which I like. Jerome early on noticed my intials are the same as Michael Jordan and is calling me MJ during the workouts….which I like as well.

“Damn…MJ, you got some dog in you like Michael.” I love that. Just sayin’.

So…I think moving forward I’ll do four days a week at the NW OKC Wellness Center and two days a week at North Park until the Beautiful People in North Edmond get the running trails back open at Mitch Park since they’ve been down pretty much all spring and summer. Sigh.

Sunday will be my kick back day and my Smerconish Sunday question of the week deal which I’ll deal with tonight in relation to the movie “Oppenheimer’ and Harry S. Truman’s decision to use the bomb.

My Sundays are usually a light breakfast, coffee, the Sunday news shows, some reading, an early dinner with either my Mom or my wife’s parents and just kicking back in general. Maybe a movie or something on Netflix. I believe if I’m correct the series Winning Time: The Story of Jerry Buss’s LA Lakers begins Year 2 tonight. I would suggest Sam Presti view this if he’s not already.

I finished the Herman Melville double novelette of Billy Budd and Benito Cereno. Given the very real possibility Donald Trump could somehow get elected again…I’m now reading Churchill’s ‘The Gathering Storm.’

Since Covid started…I’ve begun watching the Saturday Night Movie of the Week on Oklahoma’s PBS affilliate. Last night was a movie titled Love and Mercy which dealt with the life of Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys starring John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks. Whew…what a very dark film.

I knew Brian Wilson had some problems, but I had no idea he was Hunter Biden. So I’m closing this session with a Brian Wilson song so as that’s the guy I remember.

Just a fabulous workout today at the MAPS Heathy Living Center in northwest Oklahoma City. Probably the best-toughest upper body weight workout I’ve done in twenty-five years. Ninety minutes total. Did thirty grueling minutes on the terrain bike to get started. Then did ten minutes on the leg press machine. Then did a few minutes of meditative breathing to reset and refocus.

I did the chest, delts, lats, back, biceps, and triceps with a dogged determination.

A black PT named Jerome who looks like he played in the NFL came over to me and said,”I’ve been watching you. I love your work ethic. If you need any guidance let me know.”

I said, ” Absolutely…I’d love to have you aboard on my team.”

He asked, “Your team?”

I answered, “Yeah, my team. I’ve already got Megan and Earl on my Beat Cancer team.”

He said, “You don’t look like you have cancer to me. I know Megan. Who’s Earl?”

‘He’s my seventy two year-old breathing and meditative guru. Charity told me how essential proper breathing is in all this.”

He smiled and asked,” Who’s Charity?”

I answered, ” My first coach over at Integris who sent me over here to take my training to the next level.”

He smiled and said,” Yeah, I’d love to be on your team, Mike. I’d consider it an honor.”

So…I’ve now filled my team with Earl, Jerome, and Megan. Just like with Integris…I have different coaches with three different voices…so to speak.

This is a whole different crowd at the Wellness Center. Most of the people are in pretty good shape, while over at Integris at the Cancer Institute it’s tough. It touches your heart. There was no music over there. Over here the music is blaring… which I love.

Melinda at the front desk told me the original goal at the facility was to sign up 3,000 members. They’re now at 7,000 members and still growing.

I can see why. This place is lit and I really don’t even know what lit really means to the millenials and Gen X’ers. But it just feels lit if that makes any sense.

I don’t see the angry white Trump crowd. I see well read, educated, successful people all around me who are very serious about their physical well being. It’s like not even being in Oklahoma. It’s like being amidst the coastal elites…almost. I feel like I could even wear a President Obama T-shirt or Klay Thompson jersey here and not get a death threat.

I love this place. I’ve included three songs on here which blared during my workout today which I can’t get out of my mind.

I think I’ll blog about Big 12 expansion tomorrow.

“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.” -John Wooden-

Peace.

It’s Friday…hope you’ve had a great week surviving this Oklahoma little mini-heat wave. This is nothing really unless you’re a frilly soft millenial or Gen X’er from the Daily Thunder message board. I love those people. Every society in history has needed a softer side to balance the scales. In Greece, it was the Athenians balancing the hawkish Spartans. Justin and Brandon are probably eating soy, drinking herbal tea, and doing last week’s NY Times crossword as a I write this. Just sayin.

Anyway…I’m going to work out hard on the terrain bike and then work hard on the upper body today.

I have to get going and get over to the MAPS 4 physical wellness center and get to work with Earl and Megan. I’ll maybe explain Earl and Megan tomorrow.

Keep your faith…always.

‘Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.’ -St. Augustine-

Later

What a great day to be a Sooner softball fan. I wrote about this very real possibility on My Farewell to Jordy Bahl piece not that long ago. It makes perfect sense. Kelly is from Houston. She was probably recruited by Patti Gasso when she was in high school. And both Kelly and O State collapsed down the stretch this past season.

I don’t think you needed to be smart enough to solve the Da Vinci Code to see this one coming to fruition.

I was working out with Audra at Integris the day Kelly entered the portal and simply said, ” Kelly Maxwell will end up in Norman. She’s tired of losing at the goal acheiving portion of the season. She can’t do anything more at O State.It’s the Gundy Syndrome.”

I’m sure the O State fans will be both hateful towards Kelly and OU, but as someone who Bleeds Crimson…I could honestly care less. O State fans hate OU no matter what. Despite the fact David Boren and OU hung with O State when in fact they should have joined the SEC back in 2011 when Texas A&M, Missouri, Nebraska, and Colorado left the conference. Both university presidents at A&M and Missouri literally begged OU to follow them to the SEC twelve years ago.

If O State fans are upset about Kelly’s decision….cry me a river. Seriously.

Oklahoma’s #1 moral guardian Jenni Carlson wrote in a piece today in which she wrote OU softball has become The Evil Empire of womens’ softball. I wonder if Nick Saban and Kirby Smart would equate running superb programs as being the genisis of becoming the Darth Vadar’s of college football.

Like many of Jenni Carlson’s moral guardian pieces…this one left me rolling my eyes. If Jenni doesn’t already live in North Edmond she should make the move quickly so as her youngster can play in the North Edmond Soccer Mums Touchy Feely League where you aren’t allowed to kick the ball too hard into a wide open net.

Whatever.

When Lincoln Riley left…I never said all that much escept I played the final scene from Body Heat on here.

When Caleb Williams followed Lincoln to LA….. I praised Caleb for being an outstanding young man.

When Jordy Bahl recently left Norman to go back home…. I cried because a good source told me she was in love with a guy back home. And being that I’m the kind of guy who voted twice for Barack Obama and loves classic chick flick endings…what Jordy did genuinely teared me up.

Granted…I wish Kelly was a five star who played power forward and was coming here to help Porter Moser find his groove in the Big 12. Big time college sports are Darwinian. It is what it is.

Kelly Maxwell… I love the fact you’re coming to Norman to help the Sooners chase a fourpeat.

BOOMER!

WTF is ESPN doing with their NBA coverage? I mean…I can see getting rid of Mark Jackson….he’s been dead weight around their necks forever…but to terminate Jeff van Gundy is absurd.

ESPN already ruined GameDay with the inclusion of that moron Pat McAfee…now this.

This now only leaves Mike Breen left standing on what I considered the best NBA broadcast team. I mean, clearly Chuck, Ernie, Kenny, and Shaq have always evisterated ESPN on postgame coverage shows, but Breen and JVG were a breath of breath of fresh air on ESPN.

I was a fan of Scott van Pelt as well…so for me right now in all honesty…TNT, Fox, and maybe even CBS are all ahead of ESPN as far as on on air coverage.

I wish there was some way TNT could incorporate Coach van Gundy into their panel. Maybe they will.

The word is Doris Burke and Doc Rivers will now surround Mike Breen on the ESPN ‘A’ Team. This does little for me. Very little, and from what I’ve read from Mike Breen on all of this….it doesn’t do much for him either.

I had a great day at the OKC North Wellness Center today. I did twenty-five minutes on the terrain bike and did the toughest upper body weight workout I’ve done in thirty years. That’s the thing about being vegan….there’s so little inflamation the recovery time for body recovery is amazing.

I’ll be hitting the North Park Mall tomorrow for my first 1.25 mile walk. I hope to be hitting the 3.25 mile walk track at Mitch Park over there in the heart of The Beautiful People by September 1. They’ve been redoing the asphalt…so I’m hoping the work is completed by then.

Here’s the deal over there at North Park…it’s like an interstate highway. Slow people should stay to the right and not congest the left lane. Stay to the damn right and let the faster walkers pass on the left. I had a liitle problem with a couple on this last time. I’m prepared to start nudging people with the frame of the OBN-Vive1033 and passing on the right if that’s what I have to do.

Love and peace are around us 24/7 if we only take the time to appreciate the beauty of every day.

I’m tired right now and need to refresh before I begin to address this indictment. Unless your brain was removed and has been soaking in a bucket of diesel……I cannot fathom how any human being could view these indictments against the criminal Donald Trump and six of his co-conspirators as a surprise of any sort.

Donald Trump is a punk and a criminal. Period. He will go down in history as the most disgraceful figure in American history to ever serve the office of the United States’ presidency.

If you MAGA people are still on board with this bullshit….I have no idea what to say to you people at this juncture. Except please move outside the borders of the United States.

I hope the previous paragraph wasn’t too vague or ambiguous.

Donald Trump reaks pure human sewage to such an extent that he makes Richard Nixon ‘almost’ appear Lincolnesque.

Although… I disgree with Liz Cheney on many things…. we are one as far as what we think of the criminal, punk, grifter….Donald Trump.

Liz Cheney got routed in her Republican primary. Her political career is over I would think.

Liz Cheney and I disagree on many things, but in my book for this stance which she took which she knew would make her toxic in the delusional world of the MAGA Trump human rabble crowd…. she has my admiration and respect.

Thank you, Liz Cheney and Adam Kensinger because I don’t think maybe minus Nancy Pelosi, Hakeem Jeffries, and Jaime Raskin… the Dems would have had the balls or the hubris to get these crimes to this juncture in our judicial process.

God bless America and democracy. It’s still standing