The Highs and Lows of Sports, NBA Playoffs, and Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 10

We talk the highs and lows of sports, the NBA Playoffs, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 10 on this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast.

Some of my lows in sports:

1. Loss to Wabash as the coach at North Miami in the sectional semi final when I was at North Miami.
2. A loss to Winamac when I coached at North Miami.
3. Back to back threes against top ranked Illinois Wesleyan as a player in the first half and didn’t get to play in the second half. Lots of really dark days walking to the ONU cafeteria after not playing for Olivet.
4. Dad camera man yelling at me across the court as I coached a travel league game. Lots of travel ball coaching lows.

High Moments in Sports:

1. Shot by Jason Yocum to win for North Miami at Culver Military at the buzzer.
2. 2003 boys state championship as an assistant coach at Vance High School
3. Bailey Taft three on a baseline out of bounds play with a few seconds to go to coaching at Greenwood to beat Decatur Central.
4. Come from behind win for Watauga over North Wilkes, whose only regular season loss was to us and then they lost in the state championship.
5. Another come from behind win for Watauga 50-38 over Myers Park to advance to the NC final four.

Question for discussion: Rebecca asks the owners how much money they really need? Some of the impacts of money on games:

1. The length of the NBA season, the games, and the best of 7 playoff games.
2. The NFL (for example the Colts) August 9th first preseason to the last week of January playing once a week, something like 20 weeks before the playoffs. Super Bowl Feb 8th adding another 4 weeks. (25-ish weeks)
3. NBA: Pacers October 8 preseason to April 13 last game. (26-ish weeks) with NBA Finals starting June 8 lasting through the 22nd. (8 more weeks) So two months longer.
4. Could the NBA close the gap popularity wise playing 50 games and shortening the playoffs? How much money does anyone really need?
5. Hope the W can avoid thinking they need to have all best of 7 series and 82 games.

Is there still a David to Goliath in sports?

1. For me in basketball, the conference winners who receive automatic bids in NCAA give us that a little bit.
2. Do I care how much more difficult it is for App State to compete with North Carolina in football and basketball?
3. Regional over National Conferences.
4. 8 classes in NC basketball.

I was emotionally touched a couple of times in this episode of Ted Lasso. I want to try and analyze the writing and acting. How do shows and film move us emotionally? To help, what moved me in this episode:

1. Jaimie’s gift to Roy at the Uncle’s Day Party. Realization of best friends. The thoughtfulness of the gift.
2. Rebecca’s story to the owners about Rupert sneaking in, how much the teams means to the fans.
3. Ms. Bowen tells Roy he looks unstuck.
4. Jamie wears Sam’s number for international play.
5. Nate’s dad tells him he’s brilliant.

Akufo’s argument about phones and cars mine for AI. Where are the flaws in that?

Notes for Ted lasso Season 3, Episode 10: International Break

• Richmond 10 game winning streak. Sam.
• Nate resigns. International break.
• Ted comes in after win and they announce international teams. Coach says we all contain multitudes. What multitudes?
• Dani Rojas morphs into a different player. Sam is stiffed. “I am not your bro.”
• What do you think of Nathan resigning?
• Higgins comes in. Edwin Akufu back in town. Is this Super League a thing? College football? David’s could cease to exist all together. Rupert is “The Devil” on Rebecca’s phone.
• Jade is going to Poland for a few days. Nate ends up going to his parents house.
• Can I make a list of best scenes?
• Keeley has her funding pulled at KJPR.
• How did you like Dani as a hard butt? crushes Van Damme’s chips in the bag.
• Beard calls Nate the Wonder Turd. Where are you at with Karma? Beard would say, Hey Annie Baby!!!
• Why did we get this moment with Sam and Rebecca with her saying she thinks he’s wonderful?
• Rupert waiting in Rebecca’s office for her. Akufo
• Love the Uncle’s Day Party! Phoebe invites Roy’s best friend Jamie to the party. Where is Phoebe’s dad? Emotional scene because it’s perfect and thoughtful. Phoebe gives Roy a tie dyed shirt.
• Akufu books a bunch of fake reservations. Brings a food blogger from the NY Times. Akufu can do a lot of voices. He paid off the Nigerian government to keep Sam off the team. LOL: Francis does the pull his hand shake. Slug bugs… Hurts Donut.
• What is a Chicago style hot dog?
• Nate can’t sleep and goes to his parents’ house. Nate’s mom just wants him to eat.
• Rebecca and Higgins. What happened to the kids in Willy Wonka?
• Keeley drinking in the pub. Has a little talk with Mae. The Midas shits. Shit helps things grow, Love. It’s hard though, being the boss?
• Once you make it to the top of the mountain, what’s left for you but lighting? (what does that mean?)
• Team watches international play. Dani kicks a ball into Van Damme’s nose on purpose. Rebecca: we get the matchbook, we get the toy soldier. Touching: Rebecca does her little girl puffing herself up thing. Women working in a men’s workplace. Finally imagines them as little boys.
• Keeley buys a snow globe for Barbara.
• Ms. Leann Bowen the teacher. She says Roy looks different. He looks lighter. Less stuck. Emotional moment. I don’t mind cleaning up a mess. I just hope that mess didn’t cause too much damage. Roy thinks of Keeley.
• Barbara says she likes clothes that tell the truth. Juicy.
• Top 5 or 10 scene of the whole show? Rebecca speech at the Akufo meeting.
• “Never talk business on an empty stomach.” Chicago style hot dogs as enjoyed by the likes of Scottie Pippen, MJ, and Obama: Place hot dog in steamed bun. Pile on toppings in this order: mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle, peppers, and celery salt. The tomato wedges should be nestled between hot dog and top of bun on one side. Place pickle between hot dog and bottom of bun on the other side.
• Montage of Nate looking through his childhood things.
• Akufo kicks out the Russian. Pull the door joke.
• Nate plays the violin and it’s the background. Beautiful song. He’s really playing the violin and it was his childhood violin. Nick’s insta: OK so this ep of #TedLasso is special for lots of reasons… but mostly because it’s my *incredible* wife playing the piano to Arvo Pärt’s ‘Spiegel im Spiegel’ with me on my old violin from home! The piece was Jason’s idea: literally translates as ‘mirror in mirror’
• Rebecca: how much more money do you really need. Football isn’t just a game. Jamie wears Sam’s number. Christmas morning the next. Tells a story about Rupert from when he was different. Just because we own these teams doesn’t mean they belong to us. Have I lost access to that part of myself? Akufo loses it, as he has been doing.
• Nate and his dad have a talk. He believes Nate is a genius. You’re brilliant son. Actor has tears in his eyes. I just want my son to be happy. What makes Nate happy? What should Nate do?
• Rupert leans in to kiss Rebecca.
• Roy goes to see Keeley. He has written her a tiny letter. “I was stuck. Stuck in my own shit.” I’m so sorry. I love you. Golden Star song plays.
• Rebecca comes to see Keeley. You Keeley Jones are a bloody marvel. My money, my choice. Rebecca will fund Keeley. Keeley has slept with Roy.
• Nate gets in and does the locker room. He leaves an apology note for Will.
• Barbara comes back! “Done did me no good” songs plays.
• Team is back together in the locker room.
• Top moments in sports history.
• Roy is going to tie dye shirts. Trent wears a Dolly Parton shirt and has a rainbow mug.
• David Hockney.
• Rebecca spits on Ted. Make a stand, before you fall. play football.