U.S.A.! U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!!!
Thoughts for the day
I know a lot of people are down on them this year, whether that be because of the lack of crowds due to COVID or politics, but I love the Winter Games.
I saw a funny meme the other day comparing the risk factor between the summer and winter events, and that may be a big part of it for me. How can you not get excited about people zipping around on bobsleds, luges and skeletons, launching down ramps and ski slopes? The extreme stuff like superpipe and big air have only added to the mix. Some of those skiers even have guns!
But then, it wasn’t the danger factor that kept me up past my bedtime last night to watch Nathan Chen crush it in figure skating, was it? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll jump on any opportunity to cheer for the U.S.A. — I have a deep-rooted sense of patriotism — but the Winter Games just have a pizazz that the Summer Games lack.
It’s impossible for me not to get caught up in some of the stories of how these athletes made it to Beijing. Chen’s redemption after a difficult showing in Pyeonchang. Chloe Kim cementing her domination on the halfpipe. Snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis finally getting the gold in her fifth try at 36-years-old. And there are surely more incredible storylines to play out.
The best our nation has to offer in their chosen fields, dedicated to being the best they can be to represent our country. How can I not get caught up in that?
The Six
No. 1
The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. Inflation Accelerates to 7.5%, a 40-Year High, blaming a combination of demand and pandemic-related supply constraints. The Labor Department said the consumer-price index last month hit its highest level since February 1982.
No. 2
Just what is this “Freedom Convoy” trucker protest in Canada? WSJ has a good explainer: Freedom Convoy: What to Know About the Trucker Protests in Canada. Why should we care? There are rumbles something similar is planned for the U.S. for Super Bowl Sunday.
No. 3
We now know who on the ROC team allegedly tested positive in a drug test, and it’s truly heartbreaking — 15-year-old sensation Kamila Valieva. ESPN with What we know about Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva's alleged positive drug test
No. 4
This Phillies prospect collapsed on the field in Rochester last summer. It’s been a long road to recovery. Re-signed by the club while in a coma so he’d have medical coverage, he now has his sight set on returning to the diamond. It’s a good story all around. Read it in The Athletic.
No. 5
Bob Saget’s cause of death has been revealed: Head trauma. There was no sign of foul play. People reports it is believed he hit his head, thought nothing of it and went to sleep. Tragic, and always a good reminder to get it checked out. Never assume.
No. 6
Apparently, this was the week to be on Wheel of Fortune. (6abc)
Quote of the Day
"Not only do we have the D.C. jail, which is the D.C. gulag, but now we have Nancy Pelosi's gazpacho police spying on members of Congress." — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)
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Christopher Six is a passionate advocate of community journalism with more than 30 years in the media, corporate communications and marketing. An award-winning designer, columnist, illustrator, photographer and newsroom leader, he is a respected voice in journalism ethics. A veteran reporter, he has created and taught news writing seminars for community colleges and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Editor’s Note
Pick Six is published most Mondays-Fridays. Sharing of stories does not equal endorsement, however, personal thoughts and commentary on those stories are 100 percent my own.