Priorities out of whack

 I realize that I will upset many with this post. I am a man and have never been pregnant 🤰 nor will get pregnant in the future.

While abortion is a hot-button issue and riles passions of many in this country, given the out of control violence in our cities where people can’t go out at night for fear of being attacked, as well as the rising cost of gasoline and other goods based on inflation, is the “overturning “ of Roe v. Wade really the most important issue facing the country right now? Have we lost all perspective as a society? 

I know the answer. It’s to arouse the Democratic base into action and keep abortion in the news for the midterm elections as well as pass laws that protect abortion providers.

Too bad.

New blood needed in Seattle

 Before the team flies down to San Francisco for a series with the Oakland Athletics or A’s, it’s time for the Mariners to terminate Jerry DiPoto as president of baseball operations and Scott Servais as manager of the Mariners. They have nearly seven years to produce a playoff team and they are nowhere near that mark.

Scott’s record is 467-471. That is average.

Only one of Dipotos teams has reached the playoffs. The 2014 Angels who were swept by the Royals.

Nothing personal, but time to move on and save the season like Philadelphia did by sacking Girardi early enough.

Major miscalculation by MLB and NHL

 In my opinion the commissioner and the executives in MLB and the NHL made a major miscalculation about ten years ago. They decided to go all in with the leftist progressive mindset of the NBA and NFL. However what they didn’t understand is that their core audience isn’t like that of the NBA and NFL. The average baseball or hockey fan is an older white or Caucasian male between 40-60, the average NBA fan is either a teenager or young adult. Older guys don’t want to be lectured by younger people about social Justice and other ills.

Insularity versus Reality

 This is a continuation of Monday’s post.

While the Jewish  world and environment that I grew up in Seattle was more diverse and had different people and different backgrounds, today’s larger a Jewish communities have a more insular approach and it seems that this is by design. I think it’s too bad and unfortunate. 

When Rabbi Moskowitz used to teach us Mishlei (or any other subject for that matter), he would quote the Pasuk or verse and quote a principle and use an illustration of that principle. The contrast between his methodology or Limud Hatorah and the “insular” one was on display for me on Monday.

A certain institution decided to have a all morning “Mishnathon”, which is fine. They turned it into a fundraiser, which I’m not so sure is fine. By contrast, listening   To all of the eulogies or hespedim for Rabbi Moskowitz on Monday reinforced what  I knew about him and our way of learning and critical thinking. He presented questions and analyzed them from many different angles and asked or demanded that his students Understand them. He would ask us for questions or see if we needed to understand the problem or issue more clearly. 

I more fully appreciate this approach Now unlike my youth when I didn’t totally understand what he and the other teachers were trying to accomplish.

May his memory be for a blessing and May we live up to his expectations and legacy.

Passing of Rabbi Moskowitz and the contrast between Rational Judaism and Yeshiva Judaism

 Unfortunately over the weekend my teacher Rabbi Morton Moskowitz passed away from a long illness. he hadn’t been well for a while. I watched the Levaya (funeral service) on Zoom / video conference. It was quite interesting to see what was mentioned in the funeral services by his wife, his chaver and friend Rabbi Israel Chait, my high principal and Rebbe, Rabbi Bernard Fox as well as that of some of his students. They spoke about his happy demeanor and thirst for knowledge and questions.  This is the area  and mindset I grew up in. This Yeshiva / neo Charedi Judaism that is gaining popularity with each year is somewhat concerning to me because they don’t seem to have a filter or sense of balance. They go all out and sometimes overboard with their garb and attitude.  

NHL and boys club

 From a recent email

I have seen your video on the Blackhawks scandal a number of times and some good points were made about the culture of the Old boys club allowing a scandal to happen and how this is a black eye for the Blackhawks and NHL.

What I object to is scapegoating the Blackhawks as the entire fault to absolve the other 29 teams for their sins of the old boys network. Yes it’s a massive scandal but there are other teams who have some serious issues, maybe not as serious as the Beach Aldrich but serious nonetheless such as Anaheim and their GM.

As a former Chicagoan it hurt as this team was the best and most consistent winner since the Jordan era Bulls. This puts it in a much sadder and bleaker light.

Another thing, how come you and many people who cover the NHL always seem to let Gary Bettman go unscathed as if he is some sort of Demi god? He’s been the commissioner for nearly 30 years and he and his office bear some sort of responsibility for this scandal. Maybe he should be forced out after this year. A younger voice and face would be a good idea. He will be 70 in June.

One last point about hockey culture , which also applies to baseball, which is why they are way way behind the NBA and NFL in terms of popularity. Hockey and Baseball are too much about the team and not the individual. Yes it’s important to be team minded. Hockey and baseball go overboard with this mindset. They don’t market players in the nhl the way they do in the nba and nfl.  Hockey sells teams like the Canadiens, the (cough cough Leafs) Oilers etc. The NBA and NFL sell stars like Giannis, LeBron, Stephen Curry . Kids buy those jerseys. They don’t buy mcdavid jerseys. 

Thank you.

Josh

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Joshua M Normand

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Joshua M Normand

Boys club part 2

 If MLB and the NHL were smart, they would remove their commissioners Immediately. Manfred and Bettman are vile corrupt and egocentric and unable to relate to the public. Unfortunately, no one in the sports media is willing to suggest that these two corrupt men who act like emperors should be removed from their positions.