Juggling A Thursday Rundown

Are you settling into 2024 yet? I hope you are and that this year will be a fruitful one for you. Let’s get started with the five topics that encompass my latest Thursday Rundown…

Zags Game With Dad – The hottest ticket in Spokane is no doubt Gonzaga basketball. People do some pretty wild things to secure a seat inside McCarthey Center. Luckily for me, I got inside this past weekend simply because someone asked me to go. My dad scored seats from a lady he used to work with and was beyond kind to take me with him. Prior to the game we went out for dinner and drinks and then moseyed over to “The MAC” for Gonzaga vs. San Diego. What a thrill it was to watch a game in that setting with the Zags notching a decisive victory. Thanks, dad!

My dad and I at the Gonzaga game inside the McCarthy Center on Jan. 6, 2024.

Juggling Act – You never know what you are going to get when you stumble onto a street act, but this juggler outside River Park Square in downtown Spokane was pretty good. I gave Sloan and Beau each a dollar (cheapskate, I know) as they watched the entertainer do his thing while he interacted with them. Just a small thing to make a fun trip downtown even more memorable.

Beau and Sloan watch a juggler perform outside of River Park Square in downtown Spokane.

Papa Murphy’s Deal – I love this! When scrolling Instagram I came across the below offering from Papa Murphy’s. Of course I used my info (October + Blue) to discover what pizza I would qualify for and it is a good thing I like cheese because my combo is mozzarella cheese and feta cheese. It might not surprise you that I sought out more information and found that the $10.99 price is for a large pizza and all pies begin with red sauce, mozzarella cheese base, and cheddar/mozzarella top mix. Obviously if I make good on my combo it will end up being a quadruple extra cheese pizza 😂. What is your combo?

This is kind of fun! What is your combo? You can get a large for $10.99.

Pete Carroll – Yesterday it was announced that Pete Carroll would not return as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. I am a Pete fan and really admired the infectious enthusiasm he brought to the organization. You won’t find a cooler 72-year-old (including you, Mr. Saban) and I remain amazed at the through-the-roof energy level he seemingly sustained at all times. Pete Carroll deserves the sincere gratitude from all Seahawks fans and he definitely has it from this blogger.

Thank you, Pete Carroll, for all you did for the Seattle Seahawks (photo courtesy of Fox News).

Those Who Wish Me Dead – Recently, Sidney and I watched “Those Who Wish Me Dead” starring Angelina Jolie. The film contains multiple plots but the gist is that assassins are trying to end the life of a boy on the run who has incriminating information with worldwide ramifications (but it is never revealed what that info is). The bad guys start a massive forest fire that creates a diversion away from the search and rescue operation. Jolie plays a smokejumper who is battling past demons while trying to protect the boy. Although my mom recommended the movie to us, I didn’t think it was that great. I felt it lacked focus and even with a superstar like Jolie the acting was a little corny. One funny thing happened when the movie ended: Sidney told me it was made by “Yellowstone” creators. It made so much sense! The vibe, effects, make up, and more all had me thinking about the Kevin Costner series in the back of my head. If you are a “Yellowstone” fanatic you might appreciate “Those Who Wish Me Dead.”

I wasn’t a big fan of “Those Who Wish Me Dead.”

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That will conclude things for tonight, I hope everyone is staying healthy and optimistic. Have a fantastic weekend and I will be back on Monday. Don’t Blink.

Bring On Hoopfest 2012!

*Originally published on June 29, 2012.

Finally! My favorite weekend every summer, Hoopfest, has arrived. In less than twelve hours I will be on the streets of downtown Spokane as I serve as a court monitor for my fifth consecutive year. Ask yourself, have you ever played in or watched a community 3-on-3 basketball tournament? Secondly, ask yourself, have you ever played in Hoopfest? If you answered “yes” and then “no,” I sadly have to inform you that you have never truly played in or watched a community 3-on-3 basketball tournament before. Spokane Hoopfest is a basketball event on steroids. Nothing compares…nothing even comes close. This year more than 7,000 teams will participate in the event and I can’t wait.

Tomorrow I will monitor twenty games with the first one starting at 8am and the last one ending at around 7pm. It is a long, but very fun, day. I arrived in Spokane about two hours ago. My parents are hosting my brother, his girlfriend, and his three Hoopfest teammates who make up the “SlumpBusters.” Along with them, I also have several relatives who are also staying with us as they will participate in the tournament as well. Not only is my parents’ residence filled with lots of people right now, it is also filled with tons of excitement. And while we might be overindulging a little too much on the beer and pizza at the moment, you can rest assured that all of us will be ready to go by tomorrow morning.

Although Hoopfest is by leaps and bounds the best 3-on-3 basketball tournament on the planet, they still decided to step it up this year. The game ball is the coolest version yet, the court monitor shirts are dri-fit, and the complimentary shoes each court monitor receives for volunteering are sick. Adding to the prospect that this will be the best Hoopfest yet, the weather forecast is absolutely perfect. Tomorrow calls for a high temperature of 82 degrees while Sunday is predicted to reach 78 degrees. This is ideal weather for the players, comfortable weather for court monitors, and great weather for girls to dress in whatever “cute” outfit they feel like. Bring it on.

My 2012 Hoopfest court monitor dri-fit shirt

If you are in Spokane this weekend and will be downtown, PLEASE stop by my court and say hi. I am monitoring an adult male court on Washington and Spokane Falls Boulevard. My court name is KXLY4 HD #1. Come bring me an energy drink (sugar free please) or stop by just to heckle me. If you are too busy watching other games to make it by my court, text me later and I will invite you over to my parents’ house for our big Saturday night Hoopfest BBQ. Remember to use the hashtag of #SpokaneHoopfest for all of your Tweets and Instagram photos.

Hoopfest 2012: The official game ball and my court monitor Nike shoes.

Let the fun begin! Good luck to everyone participating in some capacity in Hoopfest 2012! Hello again to all of my Spokane buds and welcome to all of my Montana friends who have traveled west for this weekend. Have a wonderful couple days in the Lilac City, it does not get much better than this. Don’t Blink.