I have the first RTJ blog of the new year, and so I feel I must pontificate on the year past and make my predictions for the future. Warning: I rarely choose a winner in any match.
Take Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. I was pulling for American Pharoah. Serena Williams won. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that Serena is a strong, beautiful woman who has changed the course of tennis–and has legs to die for, but tennis phenoms come and go. We haven’t had a Triple Crown winner in 37 years. Of course, I chose his stablemate Dortmund to win the Derby, but Pharoah has won me over. I recently toured the Irish Stud Farm where breeding stallions are kept behind double fences lest they attack tourists coming into their territory. I understand Pharoah will accept a carrot or nose rub from anyone. Awww. While there, the guide also said the reason the horse raced beyond the Triple Crown was because his breeding rights had been sold while the current owner could continue to collect purses on his racing. Regardless, Pharoah remained uninjured and has gone on to a life as a stud in green pastures. The honor of Sportsperson of the Year would have meant nothing to him. Besides, Serena gave the better interview, complex and revealing. Continue reading “Past and Future” »