Early in my journalism career, I was told not to read the comments. I usually take that advice. But while covering a major bass fishing tournament on Old Hickory Lake over the weekend, curiosity got the better of me.
It was the event’s first big tournament since our outdoor coverage officially launched in August, and I wanted to see what people were saying. A surprising number of commenters seemed convinced that bass tournaments amount to mass fish killings. That’s not how they work.
The competitions are catch-and-release. Anglers keep their fish alive in aerated tanks on their boats, bring them to the scales for a brief weigh-in, and then release them back into the lake. Keeping the fish alive matters: competitors face significant penalties for bringing a dead fish to the scales.
Of course, things can go wrong sometimes. The process is designed, though, to return as many fish to the water as possible. And there’s nothing wrong with legal hunting and fishing for food, either. But tournament anglers aren’t hauling out smallmouth bass just for the fun of killing them.
So, perhaps take a breath, grab a drink from the fridge and settle in. There’s plenty else to catch up on.
After months of dating speculation, some conspicuous trips to Italy and a phone lock screen that seemed to hint at the answer, country singer Megan Moroney and U.S. soccer star Christian Pulisic are reportedly together.
Moroney was speaking with actress Eiza González at the TIME100 Gala in New York last Thursday when González apparently joked that they were “the new generation of WAGs.” González is dating tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, while Moroney seems to have joined Team Pulisic.
People magazine later confirmed that Moroney and the AC Milan player are dating. Congratulations to them. I think we can put the mystery to rest now.
I’ve never made much secret of my dislike for the Tennessee Titans. I used to work there, and, in my view, the team’s struggles on Sundays reflected the people running the organization as much as the players on the field.
I was happy to see Derrick Henry leave Nashville, and Kevin Byard, too. Now Jeffery Simmons is in Chicago, where he has a real shot at a championship. He made quite an impression in his first outing.
I’m a Miami Dolphins fan, so I’ve made peace with the possibility that I may never see them win a Super Bowl. But I’m also a Bears fan by marriage. I hope Chicago keeps this up.
I won’t pretend to know much about basketball fundamentals. My own career ended in fifth grade, after I got tired of being boxed out by girls seven inches taller than me in the school gym.
Still, even I know a free throw probably shouldn’t look like someone lobbing a grenade over a wall. Kendall Puryear, a 6-foot-3 forward on the University of South Florida women’s team, has one of the strangest free-throw motions I’ve seen. Watch it, and you may have the same reaction I did: What was that?
Puryear transferred from Purdue this offseason. She went to the line twice during Monday’s 80-54 win over Furman and missed both shots. Given that form, it’s not exactly a shock.
There is a possible explanation. In high school, Puryear was a standout shot-putter and ranked No. 1 in Missouri. That does make some sense of things, actually. But I’m no basketball expert, so we’ll need someone like Dan Dakich to weigh in.
One reader wrote to say he was glad the dog photos had returned and that he missed the videos, too. He said Tuesday editions used to be his favorite, and his yellow Lab, Duke, approved as well—after taking a break from patrolling the yard and chasing away squirrels, rabbits, deer and sandhill cranes.
Another reader wondered why I write about the WNBA for an audience that, he feels, isn’t interested in it or the NBA, and suggested covering the World Series instead. He said he likes my writing but would rather see more travel, dog stories and positive subjects.
That’s kind of you to say. Don’t worry: the travel and dog stories aren’t going anywhere, especially on Tuesdays. A colleague recently promised not to write about the WNBA for seven months, with one exception. I’ll make the same promise, though I can’t guarantee Cameron Brink won’t come up now and then.
A reader—possibly Duke—also asked about taking dogs on vacation and reminded me that the pool needs to be the right temperature.
I always enjoy hearing from Duke. My dog, Rocky, has a busy stretch of travel coming up. We’re heading to the woods for a short getaway, then to Florida for Thanksgiving with family, followed by Indiana for Christmas. Indiana may not be everyone’s idea of a vacation, but Rocky is just happy to come along.
Another reader recommended the film Heart of the Beast, describing it as a tribute to military working dogs and praising the cinematography. I saw it a couple of weeks ago and thought it was excellent. I’ll admit I cried.
As someone who has a German Shepherd, I’m biased, but they’re remarkable dogs: intelligent, trainable and fiercely loyal. They also shed constantly and can be needy, which is worth knowing before you bring one home.
One reader said his family takes their dogs everywhere, from Spartan races and beach trips to a planned two-day drive to Montana. He added that life is better with a dog riding shotgun, and suggested I always end my columns with a picture of Rocky.
If you insist.
