Discworld QOTD, from Night Watch

FIFA's reported attempts to prevent the pre-1979 Iranian flag from being displayed at the World Cup are leading to legal threats. This fits into a long history of conflict over sports, politics, and flags. More at Bucholtz Sports Media (free post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/threat...

Kyle Busch, who suddenly passed away at 41 Thursday, struck me as someone who made an impact not just in NASCAR, but beyond it. More on that at Bucholtz Sports Media (premium post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/kyle-b...

Got in some good games this morning with Tulip Bubble and Hansa Teutonica (Britain map).

Tremendous "Independence Lost" presentation from @kathleenduval.bsky.social tonight at The Historic New Orleans Collection. I learned so much about Spanish involvement in the American Revolution and what that meant for the Gulf Coast. Love seeing great history-focused events like this.

Kyle Busch, NASCAR great and 2-time Cup Series champion, dies at 41 after illness www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

The forced closure of the BC Sports Hall of Fame around the World Cup is the latest easily-avoidable PR own goal for FIFA, but shows the perils of hosting their events. More at Bucholtz Sports Media (free post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/vancou...

Rice has shone for the Tempo since she was drafted out of UCLA. I wrote about her this week for @latimes.com www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/...

This week's news that "Quarterback" will return to Netflix this summer for the second consecutive year is an interesting change from how the show used to struggle to find willing participants. More thoughts on what's changed at Bucholtz Sports Media (premium post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/quarte...

Why are they hostile, Howard? WHY ARE THEY HOSTILE!?!?? IS IT SOMETHING YOU DID!?

Sports Illustrated and Medium Rare are again teaming up for major events, this time with "SI Beyond The Pitch" across four cities during the FIFA World Cup this summer. More on SI's "biggest move yet in live events" at Bucholtz Sports Media (free post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/sports...

First time I've beaten Fate of the Fellowship on Heroic. Man, what stories this game produces. This time saw Faramir and Eowyn infiltrating Minas Morgul, then rushing across the map to save the Shire, while Gimli and Legolas led Elven armies in Mirkwood. Amazing.

We got a new-to-us armchair recently, and I believe it is allowing General Hugs (really the sweetest cat) to enter his villain era, at least in looks. Who needs a Blofeld when the cat can sit in the armchair by himself? Very Professor Meowiarty of him.

Despite a new cancer diagnosis, Dick Vitale keeps throwing his heart and soul into fundraising for pediatric cancer research. His gala raised a record $21 million this year, and showed off his own perseverance. More in a new (free) Bucholtz Sports Media post: andrewbucholtz.com/posts/dick-v...

Ah yes, Miss Hoover. The best example of a teacher they could use.

REMINDER!!! The deadline for Night Market submissions for SD HistCon is May 25. This is a great opportunity to get a small run of your bespoke historical design in front of attendees at one of the best cons in our hobby.

John Sterling's incredible run of almost three decades with the Yankees came after a long path, including rock and talk shows, calling NFL, CFB and NBA games, and even Scott Rasmussen's Enterprise Radio Network. More at Bucholtz Sports Media (free post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/john-s...

Today is also the 18th anniversary of Steiner Math airing on TNA Impact. (video from TNA on X)

There have been a few recent scripted series covering women's sports ('GLOW,' 'A League of Their Own,' etc), but not a ton. Can 'Ted Lasso' be successful with its fourth-season shift to women's soccer? My thoughts at Bucholtz Sports Media (premium post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/can-te...

John Garrett made a massive mark on the hockey broadcasting world over decades. His sudden passing (in the middle of a playoff series he was working) is sad to see, but the tributes show how much he meant. More in a new (free) Bucholtz Sports Media post: andrewbucholtz.com/posts/legend...

GNU Terry Pratchett, whose words will echo long after we, and our children, and our children’s children have moved on thank you, as always, for making me a better person (quote from Reaper Man)

Camping at Fort Pickens this weekend. Amazing weather for being outdoors.

The NHL and NBA have taken some different tacks with recent media rights deals, but both saw notable ratings growth this regular season. And that challenges some assumptions about different outlets. More in a new free post at Bucholtz Sports Media: andrewbucholtz.com/posts/nba-nh...

genuinely some of the very best bang for your buck you can get, food-wise you can make a shocking number of meals out of one (1) rotisserie chicken and some supplemental materials and the chicken is often the cheapest part of those meals including the bread ridiculous that SNAP doesn’t allow them

What did these people think "Protestant" meant? Just an amazing ignorance of history.

Pope Leo has lost the Protestants, I repeat Pope Leo has lost the Protestants, this is unpreced— <wait my producer is just whispering something in my ear> Apparently this is precedented

Guns AND roses? In THIS economy?

I love The Unique and Supreme Lodge of the Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night. Especially their complaints about oppressive landlords and vegetable shops.

The message throughout NCAA conference realignment has been that only football matters. But the men's Final Four schools this year present some interesting alternatives. Here's a (premium Bucholtz Sports Media post) look at what MBB means to each school: andrewbucholtz.com/posts/thinki...

I love this commentary on chess so much, especially for how perfectly it shows Sam Vimes' character.

This thread is about Marvel, but boy, is that the story of so many industries and corporations over the last few decades (if not longer).

The impressive numbers for the Women's Final Four and title game suggest interest in NCAA women's basketball beyond particular programs and stars, a good sign for the sport. More in a new (free) Bucholtz Sports Media post: andrewbucholtz.com/posts/womens...

Overtime's built a pretty interesting and remarkably long-lived brand with "Draft House." I dive into the factors that have made it successful at Bucholtz Sports Media (free post): andrewbucholtz.com/posts/overti...

I think about "Again I'm right in my analysis" several times a week

The geography mess of that 1985 qualifier, beyond playing in the most miserable weather possible, is peak CONCACAF shenanigans. Loved John Molinaro's oral history on that game and the 1986 World Cup a few years back. www.tfcrepublic.ca/canada-1986-...

If Newfoundland is "a freezing Canadian island," surely the island of Great Britain can be described similarly?

One of the smartest things my old college newspaper did was not publishing an April Fool's edition at all. (Instead, that issue got taken over by the existing campus satire publication, so any problems caused by it wound up at their door.)

I think the reason AI propagandists are so flustered by the fact that no real writer wants to use their idiotic tools is that they themselves don't enjoy writing. They see it as a boring arduous chore to be avoided, while real writers actually enjoy writing and actually care about the quality of it.

I'm listening to a civic news podcast and listening to a bunch of the back catalog, & its just a delight that the Delta Police accidentally violated the Treaty of Ghent last year Very funny to see the War of 1812 being in a relevant news story 110+ years later vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/01/28/d...

My personal all-time favourite commentator. TSN's longtime Curling Play-by-Play commentator calling it a quits. Make the final, 53 years of pure gold.

Men live and die, and the turtle moves.

Tim Curry's list of roles is amazingly broad, but it remains incredible that Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 produced this level of meme. (And that it had the budget to hire Curry, J.K. Simmons, and George Takei.)

moby-dick, his eyes enormous: from hell's heart you STAB at moby? for hate's sake you spit your last BREATH at moby? oh! oh! the great shroud of the sea for ahab! the great shroud of the sea rolling on as it rolled five thousand years ago!!!!

Also, the independent student newspaper of Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB. (They grabbed one of the best possible student paper names.) www.since1872.ca/about/

Well, obviously, the moon is the sovereign territory of The Duchy of Grand Fenwick and their wine-fueled rockets...

There are still millions of writers, including myself, who refuse to use AI for absolutely anything. I personally feel very Inigo Montoya about it. (But there should be more money in the revenge business...)

Oh so now copyright matters.

Soul Music is one of my favourite books, and I love Glod Glodsson very much. "If you went out there now and asked who the most famous horn player is, would they remember some felonious monk, or would they shout for Glod Glodsson?"

This is a great game; I've had a blast playing and running it. Recommended!