Michael Diton-Edwards Pure 13 July 13, 2026
Hello dear readers 🙂 As I type this, I would like to welcome you to Monday morning, July 13, 2026. And why would this particular day be of importance? Is it an anniversary of note? Is it the day Jamie Malloy divides the plot and has multiple parcels of land for lease? Is it anything other than sadness for the news of the passing of Jurassic Park’s Sam Neil, aka Dr. Alan Grant? Well sports fans (and you that don’t know a lick about sports more than horseshoes at a family reunion and Bubby Jr. throwing cornhole bags like he is a professional bowler – thanks for reading, still), today is unique because it is the only day of the calendar year that there is not a MAJOR sporting event taking place in the good ol’ US of A. Yep, just today out of all of 365. That is less of a ratio than hairs to my head, responses from Jenifer Aniston to my pleas, and kicks landed by Conor McGregor in his triumphant comeback fight on Saturday night (ummmm…no….yeah….no).
Now, some of you may wish to offer up the Home Run Derby taking place in Philadelphia tonight as being a major event, but I would be happy to remind you that the soft toss spectacle IS NOT a competitive game…it is just what it is, a commercialized and glorified offering of the MLB to get some eyeballs watching a sport that is about to careen off of the shoulder of the interstate, crash through the barricade, and hurl horribly into a cavernous abyss ending in mangled and twisted steel and discarded Big Mac wrappers & Mountain Dew plastic bottles. The only TRUE Home Run Derby took place in 1959 and was televised in 1960… The classic television show Home Run Derby originally aired in syndication for 26 episodes from January 9 to July 2, 1960. Filmed in late 1959 at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, the black-and-white series featured baseball legends like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. (credit to AI overview for that exact information…as much as I disdain AI and wish it wouldn’t exist until I am well gone off of this earth, it is useful at times…just ask my wife about her new ‘relationship’ with Gomer and how he helps her at work…I don’t like it, but, ask her, I guess…) With apologies to Tom Emanski videos, This Week in Baseball w/Mel Allen, and Garret Morris as Chico Escuela, the best baseball video/off-field offering was Home Run Derby.
Look, I am not here to bash the modern-day Home Run Derby. Not at all. Heck, last year’s display was amazing, capped off by a Kyle Schwarber tie breaker that settled things quicker than Barry White popping into the playlist on shuffle during your honeymoon night. It is fun to watch…but it is NOT a game. It is not a challenge between two clubs with something at stake. Yes, the participants want to win, and of course the poor schmo that got ‘randomly’ (please…how come it’s never a homeless guy from Flint or a single mom with 7 kids that wins a house…it’s always some accountant from Vale acting like he couldn’t buy 82 houses without even checking his account…please…) selected gets to have a chance at a score, but let’s face it – the participants will not go hungry if they don’t win. It is a challenge for them, sure, but they have as much at stake as I do buying a $1 scratch off at my local Shell station.
Yet, today means something. It truly does. I really really want to try and shine my dimly lit D cell batteries-powered plastic flash light (not flesh light, that is different) on an important point…as much as Sports DOMINATES our lives and the landscape of reality, there is a day — if only one — there is a day that has nothing by way of scheduled, competitive competition on a major level. And while that makes me a little sad there is nothing for the degenerate gambler to place a bet on, it does make me take pause and realize that as much as we put Sports on a pedestal and allow our lives to revolve around it, there is more. A lot more.
There are people that don’t care a lick about any Sports. Pro or otherwise. There really are. They don’t get caught up in the hoopla or the fandom or the madness like most of our society does…in a way, I respect them and wish I could have that lack of passion. I wish I didn’t have to hurt so badly when the Lions and Red Wings poop the bed year after year (though there was a glorious run by the Wings, thank you for that)…I wish I didn’t hurt so badly watching Chelsea play like a bunch of uncaring hacks…I wish I didn’t hurt so badly watching the Yankees unable to play defense and execute simple baseball tactics (still love you Jazz, but, damn son, you killing me….)…I wish I didn’t have to watch Michigan get humbled by Ohio State and have to face the beat downs and the crap from those fans…
But…
What Sports takes from our souls, it giveths. Michigan won the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. The Lions are poised to win SB 61 (watch). The Red Wings cannot be as bad forever as they have been, and at least I got to experience the highest of the highs. Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup while I have been a fan. Michigan beat the dog poo out of the Buckeyes for 4 straight years and won a Natty. And, the last team I coached after so many years, we won a double header in baseball.
What Sports does is allows us to have a seat at the table while we witness the best of the best competing. It gives us hope…Sports allows us to believe that we are actually part of something bigger than ourselves and by our fandom and support and voice and throated encouragement, we are vital to the outcome.
So, thank you Sports. Enjoy your one day off. Rest up. But come back ready, because it is another year until you get another. Thank you for all you give us 🙂
Peace 🙂 mditon.edwards@gmail.com is my email…I invite discussion and debate, but ALWAYS value your support and dialogue 🙂 Please continue to support my platform at South Florida Tribune, https://southfloridatribune.com/category/scott/michael-edwards/, and thank you in advance for sharing with others 🙂
