Kap Wakes Up. USMNT Paddleboards thru St. V & G. Der Kaiser. Axel Rose and AC DC. Three Months for a Felony.

Labor Day. A Charitable Contribution.  Getting to the Hex.  The Legend under Intense Scrutiny.  Iconic band and a Great Deal of Noise.  Are You for Real…Three Months?

• The first Monday in September is a holiday usually correlated with football, barbeques, and kids and their parents gearing up for the school year.  It is probably a good idea, especially with the general tumult of today’s societal issues and concerns, to remember Labor Day and why it was established.  If you don’t know what Labor Day is then take a minute of your time and learn about the labor unions established long ago.  Seriously, Labor Day is a National holiday….show some respect.
• Speaking of respect, in my last post I was obviously puzzled by Colin Kaepernick’s lack of respect for the Flag and our National Anthem.  I assume he read my blog (not) and has now discussed his position with way more clarity than nine days ago.  More importantly Kap has made the decision to make a $1m contribution to “organizations that can make a difference”.  Well done young man, as this is a positive step in helping navigate and educate the broad section of Americans, including police officers, who don’t understand the social economics of our society, which in my opinion leads to bias and distrust within our communities.  Don’t get me wrong, I stand firm that his actions have been disrespectful but at least he now has money in the game.  Note:  Kap will make a guaranteed $11.9m this year.  To the Santa Clara police department:  thank you for backing off your threat of not working 49’ers games.  Your boycott of this assignment would have sent the wrong message.  Stay above the fray and don’t lower yourself to one man’s disrespect.
• Did you watch the USMNT on Friday afternoon?  I recorded it and was able to watch it Friday night without knowing the result….amazing in this day and time.  Important World Cup qualifier?  Not really, but they took care of business and the only way the USMNT doesn’t advance to the Hex is if they lose to Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday and Guatemala beats St. Vincent & the Grenadines by 12 goals. So the USMNT is basically through to the Hex. This is especially good news as Friday’s rout of St. Vincent & the Grenadines was accomplished without Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Jon Brooks, three key U.S. players.  Bradley will be back in the center midfield on Tuesday night against Trinidad & Tobago, a game that features Kenwyne Jones, Atlanta United’s newly signed player who has been loaned out to Central FC.  Should be fun to watch U.S. defender Jeff Cameron deal with Jones, who at 6’3″, 190 lbs. is a handful to mark.
• Is everyone sick of FIFA and the World Cup bidding process?  Of all sports icons, we now have Franz Beckenbauer in the middle of the fray.  Known worldwide as Der Kaiser, he has been singled out by Swiss prosecutors as the key figure involving money laundering and bribery leading up to the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany.  The only way for this to stop is for the sponsors to convene and seriously threaten to end their relationship with FIFA.  There are many sponsors and probably other entities lined up to get on the sponsorship bandwagon but at a minimum the boycott of FIFA would send a strong message.  Maybe FIFA President Gianni Infantino should bring Loretta Lynch on board as his next hire?
• I attended what I thought would be an awesome rock concert Thursday night at Atlanta’s Philips Arena.  Let’s just leave it that AC DC is not the same without their key band members.  Unfortunate that Axel Rose has subbed in for legendary lead singer Brian Johnson.  Speaking of Philips Arena, kudos to Steve Koonin and his staff.  The arena is still top notch and with a $200m renovation underway the arena and the entertainment district around the venue will be spectacular.
• I will not waste my time or keystrokes with my disdain for the judge in the Brock Turner rape case.  Loretta Lynch, mentioned earlier, please step in and rectify this situation.  Brock Turner, do something right for once and volunteer to educate high school and college age kids on the impact of abusing alcohol and how it impairs judgment.  Enough said.
• Happy Labor Day weekend and for some positive vibes take a look at Barcelona’s under-12 team consoling their Japanese opponents after beating them 1-0.  Watch the Florida State football player sitting with a young student at lunch…a student with autism who usually eats lunch alone.  And for fun, watch Western Kentucky’s football team race out of the tunnel before yesterday’s game…really?

Adios and enjoy Sunday Funday!