What a World!

Juan Soto, the highly-coveted free agent outfielder from last season’s New York Yankees, has just signed a 760 million dollar contract to play baseball for the New York Mets until the year 2040.

Just in case, he also received 75 million just for signing the contract.

Are we paying our educators, the individuals responsible for shaping the future of our country in the micro and the planet in the macro?

Of course not.

We would rather build huge sports cathedrals and fill them with people eager to fork over 25 dollars a beer to pay for it all.

I’m an admitted sports nut, but the money has started to sour me as it creeps its way into younger and younger “clients.”

High school kids making more money than was ever possible even five years ago. And that’s without ever taking a single snap in college.

Once payola and all the under-the-table stuff was exposed, it has now devolved into a bidding war for the best athletes.

I am super excited about the upcoming College Football Playoff and, of course, I am setting myself up once more as my Fighting Irish host in-state Indiana University, one of the surprise teams of the 2024 football season.

There are still bugs to work out, but just the fact that there are twelve different teams with a chance to win the national championship and not the usual four or five teams that make the Final Four in the old format is pretty badass for us fans.

I haven’t even checked on what’s happening on Capitol Hill; quite honestly, I don’t care anymore.

Not that I ever did, really.

I don’t feel the Christmas spirit all around me, but I carry it year-round. In fact, every single year since 1985 I have asked on the day AFTER Christmas, “Can we just keep all the indoor lights and decorations up all year long?”

So far I am 0-39.

But since I can’t do as much helping anymore, maybe this is the year…

I have a nursing home gig on Wednesday, and it’s always fun getting the residents to join in and sing along with me.

We’ve got heavy snow clouds approaching and hanging, waiting for the temperature to drop and start snowing.

At least I hope so.

Not that I will be out in it, mind you.

Absolutely not.

I am the ultimate weather weenie who prefers to stay in my office where it is 73 degrees year-round.

But it is pretty cool to look at.

If my leg can start healing up and I can resume playing back in the clubs and bars, I will be picking up a small amp to go along with my 3-channel PA.

Whoever you are and wherever you are, I wish you enough to eat, a safe warm roof over your head, and the love of your family.

Try this.

Smile at the next 15 people you come in contact with.

After five or so, you might just find you aren’t needing to put effort into smiling, it is a natural reflex.

Stay well.