Been a while since I had the nerve to hold myself to a ridiculous plan to report on a sports event, to spend X-number of hours on the road — or in the air, or both. This was back before I got old and my nerves frayed. I have written about several of my hare-brained […]

[Read more →]

It is not uncommon for Americans to travel to Paris and return home believing they now know La France. The reality is often missed. What we consider a refined, cosmopolitan place … well, that is Paris all right. France is the biggest nation in Western Europe and also its emptiest. It has miles and miles […]

[Read more →]

At this moment, only one story commands the attention of European sports fans. And that would be the misguided attempt by a dozen of the continent’s best-known clubs to break away from the European Champions League and form their own elite competition — which they plan to call the Super League. Twelve clubs have announced […]

[Read more →]

I have never worn a ring. I rarely look at them on the fingers of other people. Occasionally I am asked, “what did you think of that ring?” someone is wearing out in public, and people are sometimes annoyed I was looking at something other than the ring, and have nothing to contribute to the […]

[Read more →]

I didn’t really think UCLA’s Bruins would be “ruined” versus Gonzaga in the NCAA semifinals — despite what I wrote before the game. (See previous entry.) What that was … was invoking the opposite of what I really wanted, as a long-time UCLA fan. Not the blowout I predicted, but something a lot closer. This […]

[Read more →]

Did anyone else stay up late to watch UCLA come through with another upset in the NCAA Tournament? Remember? Four days ago? (It ended at 6:16 a.m where I live and yes, I would like to be congratulated for that.) It was nervous time, but it also was clutch time as the Bruins came through […]

[Read more →]