Some Quick Sports Thoughts + Watching The Phantom Menace In Theaters
Reflecting on the magic of watching the film that made me fall in love with Star Wars on the big screen. Plus, thoughts on Caitlin Clark, Playoff Hockey / Basketball, the Maple Leafs & much more...
Today’s newsletter is a bit of a random one. I’ll make that clear right from the get-go.
Think of it is a beautiful, meandering river flowing in a million directions. Or, maybe more apt, a box of randomly assorted chocolates. After all, as the great Forest Gump once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
In other words, I’m going to cover a lot of different topics all in one space because, for regular readers and subscribers, you will know by now that I revel in chaos.
We’re going to talk some Star Wars with my beloved The Phantom Menace back in theaters to mark the 25th anniversary of the first film in the prequel series. I also have some quick sports thoughts with the NBA and NHL Playoffs in full swing. Given that this site is mainly devoted to baseball - and consistent baseball content is coming, I promise - I do enjoy getting the chance to dip my toes into other sports whenever the opportunity presents itself.
But, before all of that, I just want to thank you all again for your continued patience and support. As I outlined in a previous article, I haven’t nearly been as consistent with content as I would have liked. And that has really bugged me. I believe in my heart of hearts that this little old website has so much potential and, given that I’ve started to make a breakthrough in the baseball media world, I really do have big plans moving forward.
However, consistency is the key to everything and I understand that the potential of this site won’t be fulfilled unless I’m posting unique, engaging, compelling and quality content worth your time every single day. I also know there are a million other options out there for you to go to, so I really do appreciate and value your support and loyalty.
I will pay that back.
I’m hoping this procedure this coming weekend will finally put an end to the health issues I’ve been experiencing, and give me the answers I need so I can move forward and be at my productive best. I’m fully anticipating being at the peak of my powers and all systems go within the next week or so, and I certainly hope that proves to be the case.
There will be plenty of content this week too. Besides having to commit to a bland and underwhelming diet of boiled chicken, plain mash, pasta and rice and no real good stuff until after my procedure, I’m feeling good and I have so much baseball content in particular I want to start pushing out. The Steele Sports Bar will soon be known as the mecca of baseball content. With some New York sports thrown in for good measure. That I’m sure of. And I’ll go to hell and back to make sure that bold prophecy comes to life.
Also, I’m thankful for small mercies. I can still drink my beloved - and essential - coffee until Friday night. I really do have sleepless nights over what would happen if I was banned from having caffeine. It wouldn’t be good, I know that for sure.
Anyway, with that said, let’s dive right into the main topic of today’s newsletter - the opportunity to revisit a golden part of my childhood…
Party Like It’s 1999
Let’s step into the figurative time machine and take a trip back to 1999, when young Andrew was just six-years-old and about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
That was the year my fandom with one of the greatest franchises in the universe began.
Being so young back then, I had no real idea what Star Wars was having not been around for the original films. Nor had I really been exposed to George Lucas’ absolute masterpiece.
However, that all changed in the summer of 1999 when The Phantom Menace - the first of the prequel films - was released to historic fanfare. I can still remember being taken to Toys “R” Us and seeing wall after wall of toys from the movie, and craving every single one.
I can still picture the puzzle my uncle bought me, the one with the famous image of young Anakin Skywalker walking away and the intimidating silhouette of Darth Vader looming behind him on a sand hut. I loved that puzzle.
And I still recall with absolute amazement the first time I saw The Phantom Menace on TV. The absolute thrill ride of the Pod Race. The jolt of terror I felt when Darth Maul first appeared on the screen. The undeniable beauty of Queen Amidala - yes, that was clear to see even at six-years-old. And I couldn’t stop watching the final battle between Darth Maul, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn. My brother and I reenacted out that exact scene thousands of times with the plastic lightsabers our parents no doubt despised. If I remember correctly, I’m also pretty sure my brother always got upset at the scene when Qui-Gon was killed by Darth Maul. It is funny what you remember.
From that point on, I was head over heels in love with Star Wars, and it is a love affair that is still as strong today as it was then. Sure, I’m not a huge fan of what Disney has done to the franchise. So much so that on May 4, a day I always strive to binge watch Star Wars, I consumed the first six films and skipped the three that Disney absolutely ruined. Now, credit where credit is due, it hasn’t been all bad with Disney-produced Star Wars content. The first two seasons of The Mandalorian were stellar, bringing back Hayden Christensen as Anakin / Darth Vader was an absolute slam dunk, and I also really enjoyed Obi Wan, Andor and the Ahsoka series too. But the sequel trilogy just isn’t for me.
I also never really understood the hate for the prequels. The Phantom Menace was to me what A New Hope is for my uncle, the man who is truly responsible for my unrelenting and passionate love of Star Wars. The prequel trilogy was what I grew up on and it is my fascination for the heartbreaking, tragic story of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader that really drives my passion for this franchise. I don’t care what anyone says, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith will always have a special place in my heart. Plus, and this is just my opinion, but the greatest ever lightsaber duel in Star Wars history took place at the end of Revenge of The Sith. That entire film was just breathtaking.
With all that said, I never actually got to see The Phantom Menace in theaters because of my age. My uncle took me to watch Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith - I cried after watching the latter because of Anakin’s turn to the dark side - but I always lamented not being able to see Episode 1 on the big screen.
Until this week.
With The Phantom Menace making a comeback in theaters to celebrate the iconic film’s 25th anniversary, I made it a mission to carve out some free time over the weekend to go and finally watch one of my favorite Star Wars films in style.
Man, I wasn’t disappointed.
There is just something about watching Star Wars on a gargantuan screen in the dark with surround sound that is so resoundingly magical. It is hard to put into words.
Within seconds of seeing “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” flash up on the screen and hearing that unmistakable, iconic music, I was transported back to my childhood.
I was six-years-old again.
Words can’t really do justice to how I felt watching the heroes and the villains of my childhood pop up on the big screen. Obi Wan, Anakin, Qui-Gon, Darth Maul, even Jar Jar Binks.
Getting lost in the movie that made me fall in love with Star Wars was such a beautiful experience. Sat there with a coke and popcorn while getting to taste the thrill of the Pod Race and the majestic final battle all over again was an afternoon incredibly well spent.
It also made me appreciate having something like Star Wars in my life even more.
Given all the worry I’ve been dealing with recently over this health scare, it was also an afternoon that I needed way more than I ever realized. And I guess that’s the power of Star Wars summed up - it can take you to magical places and wipe away whatever ugly and scary stuff is going on in the real world.
And we all need that. Even if it is only for a few hours.
People can continue to rip on The Phantom Menace and the prequels all they want. We’re all entitled to our own opinion, after all. But, for me, The Phantom Menace is always going to mean a hell of a lot to me because it was the film sparked years and years of joy with Star Wars.
Getting to watch it on the big screen for the first time 25 years later was such a thrill.
Allow me to leave you with my favorite quote from The Phantom Menace, a movie full of memorable one liners:
“At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge.” - Darth Maul
Fever Dream
Okay, time for some sports talk.
Let’s lead off with one of the biggest rising stars on the planet right now…
Caitlin Clark.
If setting various records with Iowa in the NCAA wasn’t enough, becoming a global powerhouse in the process, Clark is off to a pretty nice start in the pros.
The phenom recorded a game-high 21 points in her WNBA preseason debut last week, hitting five of 13 3-pointers. And all eyes are going to be on Clark and the Fever when the WNBA regular season gets underway next week.
Clark has without doubt ascended to the top of the mountain as it pertains to being the face of Women’s Basketball, and she’s on the cusp of becoming a true superstar in sports. Period.
Having already ignored the Men’s March Madness Tournament in favor for the Women’s - mainly because of Clark but, also, Women’s College Basketball is just flooded with elite talent - I will be tuning in to as many Fever games as I can this season. I’m beyond excited to see Clark become the face of the WNBA and continue to take the sports world by storm.
However, it is unfortunate that, in preparing for her inaugural season in the professional ranks, Clark has already had to deal with a couple of really disgusting situations.
I’m not going to give too much credence to Antonio Brown who is, quite frankly, one of the biggest nozzles to have ever walked the planet. I’m actually surprised that he’s still being given a platform on which to spew his hateful and vile crap. I’m not going to repeat some of the horrible stuff Brown has been aiming in Clark’s direction, but if you want to Google it, that’s up to you.
However, that’s only one-half of what Clark has been forced to confront over the past couple of weeks. At her introductory press conference with the Indiana Fever, Clark was subjected to an awkward and inappropriate interaction with Gregg Doyel, a sports columnist for The Indianapolis Star. I’ve transcribed the entire exchange below:
“Hi Caitlin, Gregg Doyel, Indy Star. Real quick, let me do this.” Doyel then proceeded to flash a heart sign to Clark, who made the same gesture to her family after every game.
“You like that?” Clark then asked in response.
“I like that you’re here,” Doyel responded.
“I do that at my family after every game, so,” Clark said.
“Ok, well start doing that to me and we’ll get along just fine,” Doyel responded.”
I mean, I’m cringing even typing that out. It was awful to watch, so I can’t even imagine what was going through Clark’s mind at the time.
Now, Doyel has since apologized both on social media and in his column. And, in a further development, it appears as though Doyel is currently serving a two-week suspension. He also won’t be permitted to cover Clark and the Fever this season, either. Although he will be able to write columns about the team by watching on TV from his home. But he won’t be allowed to cover either Clark or the team in person whatsoever.
Both reports were first broken by Bob Kravitz, the longtime Indy Star columnist who now covers all Indy sports right here on Substack. It is well worth a subscription. Kravitz really is one of the best and I really enjoy his well-thought out and detailed opinions and takes on all things Indianapolis sports.
Anyway, I’m glad that Doyel has been punished and won’t be allowed to create any more awkward or unpleasant situations for Clark. It is exactly that kind of bullcrap, creepy behavior we’re trying to stamp out from sports and from society at large. What Doyel said to Clark was beyond gross, and there is no place for that anywhere.
Without trying to character assassinate, Doyel does appear to have quite the questionable history and, if you read his apology column, there just doesn’t seem to be any accountability there at all. And that’s a real problem. As a result, the editors and powers that be at The Indy Star made the right call to bench Doyel. Because, if I’m being honest, boundaries and common decency don’t seem to exist in Doyel’s world, so allowing him to keep having access to Clark would have just been dangerous and an accident waiting to happen.
It frustrates me and makes me sad that in 2024 we’re still witnessing just outright sexism against women in sports. It just has to stop. Men should be way, way, way better than this. What Doyel did and said bordered on harassment, and he’s lucky he only escaped with a two-week suspension and an in-person ban from covering Clark and the Fever.
General Sports Talk
Okay, I’m going to fire through some really quick sports musings I’ve had over the last couple of days…
🔘 I’m not going to focus too much on baseball because I will do that on more of a daily basis going forward, but how can you not be impressed with Shohei Ohtani? The superstar has come exactly as advertised, hitting .365/.435/.696/.1.131 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs. He ranks second in MLB in fWAR (2.7) - second behind Dodgers teammate Mookie Betts (3.0) - and he has four homers in his last five games (prior to Wednesday night). It really is something seeing Ohtani ball out on a juggernaut of a contender.
🔘 I don’t care how they do it, but the Yankees have to do whatever it takes to keep Juan Soto in the Bronx long-term. The three-time All-Star has added a completely different dimension to that team, and he’s been without a doubt their best player offensively. If the Yanks are serious about winning another World Series anytime soon, then Soto has to be a part of the long-term future.
🔘 I’m planning a bigger piece on this, but what a summer it could be in New York City. As you will all know by now, I’m a huge New York sports fans and two of my teams - the Rangers and the Knicks - are both in the midst of incredible postseason runs. I’m not getting too carried away yet because I’m convinced both the Stanley Cup and the Larry O’Brien Trophy will stay in the West, but there is no doubt that Madison Square Garden is going to be the ultimate sports destination over the next couple of months.
🔘 I’ve always liked the San Jose Sharks - I think it is those beautiful teal uniforms - so I was really happy to see that they won the NHL Draft Lottery and will hold the No. 1 overall pick. Forward Macklin Celebrini, who recorded 64 points (32 G, 32 A) in 38 games for Boston University this year, is expected to be the consensus No. 1 pick and he’ll become the face of an organization that needs a surge of excitement. Celebrini also grew up in the Bay Area so the fact that he will now (almost certainly) get the chance to pull on the Sharks jersey is beyond cool.
🔘 If there isn’t a complete change of philosophy in Toronto this offseason, I’d be shocked. The Maple Leafs are licking their wounds after yet another First Round exit, and that core, as talented as they are, just haven’t performed anywhere close to expectations in the postseason. I mean, the Leafs, boasting Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly, averaged just 1.93 goals per 60 at five-on-five and 1.52 goals per 60 on the power play during the postseason. How does a roster that talented continue to crap the bed in the Playoffs year after year? You can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. Some big changes will have to be made in Toronto if that core is going to actually do anything meaningful.
🔘 The whole sorry situation with the Arizona Coyotes truly sucked, but it has become crystal clear that Owner Alex Meruelo should never be allowed near another professional franchise again. He couldn’t run a bath, let alone a team. Instead, when the NHL does expand again, the Coyotes should return to Arizona with a new ownership group that can actually build a sustainable and vibrant hockey market in the desert. On the flip side, I think hockey is going to flourish in Utah and that team, with the young core of talented studs from Arizona, a lot of draft capital and a ton of cap space, should be competitive right from the jump. I’m now intrigued to see what the Utah team will be called. Among the potential nicknames, released in a survey by the organization, I really like the Utah Outlaws or the Utah Canyons. There is so much potential there when it comes to producing some really cool-looking uniforms.
🔘 I think October is the best month in the entire sporting calendar, but this time of year isn’t far behind. I mean, regular season baseball is in full swing, we’ve just had the NFL Draft and the NHL and NBA Playoffs provide compelling viewing every single night. I’m finding myself using multiple screens on a near-nightly basis at the moment, and that’s always a good sign that sports is at its very peak.
🔘 I’m trying not to get too excited about the Jets. I’m still in pain from last year, and I won’t make the same mistake again. That might change when the schedule is released next week, and seeing footage of a healthy Aaron Rodgers is certainly testing my resolve, but I’m not sure I’m ready to get hurt again. Not yet anyway. That will probably change come August.
🔘 Finally, I have no words on the Tom Brady Roast on Netflix. I mean, I guess that is peak entertainment in 2024. I haven’t watched it because I just don’t have that much interest in it. I also can’t figure out why Kim Kardashian was such a big part of it. But, hey, I guess these are just the times we now live in.
Okay, that was fun! Again, thank you so much for your continued support and patience as I get to the end (hopefully) of these health worries. I hope to be at the peak of my powers very, very soon and I will be pushing out content every single day.
I have so much Baseball stuff to catch up on, and I can’t wait to share with you all some of the stuff I have planned.
Until later.