Shout-out to the first presidential debate for reinforcing why I hate analyzing, discussing or even thinking about politics.
With less than a month left before the general election, I realize that as an editor, people crave my thoughts on politics. Where do I stand? Who will I endorse?
I answer these questions with another: How ‘bout those Braves?
For the first time since 2001, Atlanta’s baseball franchise won a playoff series. Here’s (knock) to (on) hoping (wood) that the National League Division Series does not prove to be the Braves’ downfall. Again.
Perhaps lost in the shuffle of all the hullabaloo is the beginning of the 2020-21 North Carolina high school sports season. Roughly five weeks from today, volleyball and cross-country athletes will finally bring another sense of normalcy back to the unusual school year we have been dealt, albeit with more of a bite in the air than what we are accustomed to when those sports typically begin (speaking of which, who’s ready for some February football?)
Point blank, the overlap of sports and politics cannot be ignored. Until the last few years, sports provided an escape from the people that get paid the big bucks to be a talking head on C-Span, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc. Even as a child, I knew my aspirations to grow up and be a broadcaster would be better enjoyed as recapping a game, rather than breaking down a passing comment made by the leader of our country by yelling at three “political experts” for 45 minutes.
To tie all this together, no, this newspaper will not openly endorse one candidate nor party over the other. So let that thought evaporate.
Like millions of Americans, I willingly suffered through the 90-minute debate. In its entirety. Internet memes and major news outlets alike have already broken down the good, the bad and the ugly of what transpired, but let this imagery piece together where I personally stand (again, not an endorsement of The Graham Star as a whole, so do not even try to play that card):
Go to YouTube. Seriously. Search for “1997 NLCS.”
In its entirety, the top result will be Game 5 of the Braves/Marlins series. Even some 23 years later, you can tie in the first 2020 presidential debate with the game.
How, you ask? Well, home-plate umpire Eric Gregg played the role of Chris Wallace, Livan Hernandez appeared as Joe Biden and, in a supporting role, the Atlanta Braves were Donald Trump.
Fifteen strikeouts. That last one was a complete farce. I was 8, and I am still not over it.
Kevin Hensley is the publisher/editor of The Graham Star. He can be reached by phone, 479-3383; email, editor@grahamstar.com, or on Twitter @KevinHensleyCNI.