As a sportswriter, I met new coach Cowens at Media Day 1996, as he sprawled across a couple folding chairs. A bit full of myself for having gotten the gig from a local magazine, I opened with, “I hated your guts when you played, because I was a Knicks fan then.” Cowens just shrugged, because he’d no doubt heard that a couple million times.
It was still one of my favorite and most accurate pieces in a long career, because the article stated if the almost totally re-configured team took on his defensive fire-intensity, it would be a vastly different season at The Hive. There was nobody cha-chaing through the lane that year, Hornets went from 41-41 (1/2 game from playoffs) to 54-28. Exit Mourning and Larry Johnson, welcome Glen Rice and Anthony Mason.
In my retail microeconomy selling suits in Mens department, I have a little speech in Spanish, to the effect that I’ve taken two courses in Spanish at CPCC, but that was 15 years ago, and I’m more about words, less sentences. Mis clientes (my customers) usually nod their heads, so I’m getting through, and the effort is obviously appreciated. I’m complimented on my pronunciation, its an affirming Goodness all around.
While talking with Coach Canales, shopping with his son Ben, I noted that a nephew of mine is a close neighbor of his, and that I’d recently written an article https://cdtalententerprises.com/2026/07/13/youll-never-go-broke-betting-on-people-gm-morgan-panthers-petersen-hornets-bring-to-charlotte/ about the new people, Attitude, and best practices that Hornets and Panthers had brought to Charlotte. I was positive that nobody should bet against the GMs (Hornets Peterson, Dan Morgan of Carolina Panthers) choices in drafts-free agency, because both teams had broken out of long losing strings- Hornets best in 25 years, Panthers (8-9) still taking the NFL South Division, pushing Rams to final 30 seconds in first round- last year. Asking Canales about handing off the play-calling to Offensive Coordinator Brad Idzik for the upcoming season, Canales said he’d worked with Idzik for seven years with three teams, and he definitely trusted they’d be on the same page.
Then I overstepped a bit, and instead of asking about those members of the press who felt his playcalling had been maybe overly-cautious at times, I sort of suggested I had a similar opinion. He shook my hand, said good talking with you, and continued his shopping.
VERY legit response for sure. Nothing crazy, and hoping my nephew doesn’t bust me too harshly on it. Cowens shrugged, customers nod, Canales walked away. Nothing so easy to accept with trump.
EVERYBODY has probably seen how trump tried to photo-bomb the awards ceremony Sunday, after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the finale of a great World Cup event. Millions of visitors were again wowed! by America, loving on us as friendly people and a country big and wonderful and welcoming. He’d gotten his hands on the golden trophy during initial presentation, then, with Spain grouped for a team picture, he positioned himself at far right, and brushed off a FIFA official who tried to move him out of the photo.
The worlds reaction, as noted immediately by one color commentator: “They can edit anything like that out,” which is exactly what happened at international level- bloop! Gone. No grandstanding SOB to be included on Spain’s moment. trump was loudly booed at the futbol game, and also at Madison Square Garden when he recently inserted himself into Game 3 hoopla of the Knicks championship run, blowing up a chunk of what was going to be a HUGE victory celebration because of the security presence necessary. Photos of him sleeping in a luxury box during game sure went over poorly too.
My recent and historical faux pas don’t measure up to any of his antics. That five weeks of joyous athletic achievements weren’t compromised by them, and hey, if that’s the lead story instead of masked goons killing *another* American civilian or full-scale bombing in Iran has resumed, I guess the temporary distraction was okay. That We the People can hold two Truths in our hearts, that we love a good championship event AND are still very, very, VERY aware we hate what’s wrong with a particular ‘picture’ of on-going negativity, well, November is right around the proverbial corner. LOTS of people, including this BoomerwithAttitude will be showing trump exactly how they feel.
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