Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast Sun Oct 6th edition. We’re just over a week since hurricane Helene came through Boone. We’re going to reflect on disaster preparation, talk about not having power or cell phone signal and then work in some Colts and WNBA playoffs.
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What did I notice about having (sort of) no power this week?
loved the head lamps and lanterns
battery powered radio was really helpful
did a lot of things around the house: set up a new tv room, cutting up a tree and getting it by the road led to a more extensive yard, roof clean up
go to bed a lot earlier
inconvenient but also a liberation from a certain kind of obligation. When I was home without power, there was a whole bunch of stuff I couldn’t do: email, all the remaining business with dad’s passing, teaching prep, basketball prep
I still had that motor to do stuff…
There is a disaster relief station set up in the auxilliary gym at Watauga HS in Boone, NC. It’s open from 8am – 6pm.
In supply: incredible amount of water, diapers, c batteries, tooth brushes, tooth paste
Short on this stuff when I was there: laundry detergent, pillows and blankets, ALMOST NO LIGHTS,
Was a steady supply of this stuff that people were taking: canned goods, protein drinks, milk almond milk etc that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, fruit, various OTC meds, cleaning supplies trash bags with gloves etc, baby food, bars, pet food
Thanks for listening to this edition of the Torg Stories Podcast!
Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast. Today we’re going to talk about a quick trip home to Winamac to bury dad’s ashes, my drive back to Boone in the midst of hurricane Helene, discuss the Colts and wrap of the Indiana Fever Season.
Topics for this episode:
A short trip to our hometown of Winamac for a private graveside service
Driving back to Boone through Hurricane Helene
Click here for our dad Martin Torgerson’s obituary.
The way places come back to you. Been over ten years since we’ve been in Northern Indiana, but we knew the way well and the trip up 421 brought back the memories.
You wanted Bruno’s Pizza…
You wanted Bolin’s doughnuts. Breakfast of a big soda and a doughnut.
Me as relayer of the info between you and Mom.
Sights we drove by: Hillcrest House, Columbia Elementary, the Happy Burger is no more, the big hill, Thornhope Rest Area, Pick up ball at Winamac outdoor courts, the house on highway 14
Notes on the drive from Indiana to Boone amidst Hurricane Helene.
We drove from Boone, NC on a Thursday all the way to Winamac and then back to Logansport.
Got back up and drove to cemetery.
Dropped you off at the airport around 12:30. How was the flight?
I chose a route to swing around the areas most impacted by Hurricane Helene. Anne, how much thought did you put into the coming of Helene?
Got off I65 to swing east early. Crossed the Ohio River in Madison.
Rain, wind, fallen trees starting in Madison.
Huge rainbow in Kentucky. Def thought of dad.
Plan was to go through Bristol. The big trouble surfaced on 421. Moving trucks, leader (mom, at least 15 holy cows!)
Boone is my favorite place in the country because of the water and the mountains.
We get to the Trade volunteer fire department. 16 miles to Boone.
I try an alternate route suggested by the phone. Long back up.
The first of two tries on 67.
Decide to sleep by the fire station. (flashing lights, rumbling engines, jolly workers, flag pole banging (flash backs to Maui)
Let’s go the long way back to Abington: Damascus to 58 (more backing up)
Okay, let’s try going to Watauga Lake again. We’ll go on to Mountain City and maybe get a hotel there. (after midnight now)
Decide to try 321 to Boone. (topped what I saw on 421 as far as destruction)
We crossed the state line. Got within 10 miles of home.
Then 20 miles to Newland. (intense destruction)
5 more miles and then two stories of trees, poles, and power lines. (I’m 14 miles from home)
It felt like the apocalypse.
If you think “preppers” are silly…Meg wondered what was wrong with me…
Now I try all the way back to Johnson City, where I know I can get on 26, to 81 to 77 and then in on 421. That’s 300 miles. Would you have done that? Why I did it. Knowing what I know now, what should I have done? (mt. airy hotel)
Going on around my house.
To stay home or leave town… Charlotte.
No school.
Chain saw skills.
Lots of people checking in. Lots of devasting videos.
Am I forgetting anything, hurricane wise?
Colts versus Steelers notes:
My set up on the 4 box: Bears vs Rams, Bengals Panthers, Indy Pitt, and Denver Jets.
You played the 3-0 Steelers. What were your expectations going into the game?
Enjoyed logging in with YouTube TV at the house rental.
Colts start with a touchdown on a couple nice Richardson completions and Taylor runs. 7-0.
Fields is fast and shifty.
Flacco comes into the game. 7-0 Colts on Richardson injury fumble. First pass complete to Taylor! Anne, Flacco comes in and completes a pass. Richardson says, Coach Anne, I’m ready.
Flacco TD pass. 39 years of age. 7th team,
Colts 4th down stop in 2nd quarter.
Do you go back to Ricardson if he’s ready to go?
Fields runs for his second touchdown 24-17 with 11:23 to go.
Richardson leads league in ints. You want flacco?
Steeler Kicker Boswell, the most accurate in NFL history from 50 plus, hits one to close the half. 17-3. Totally confident?
Mike Tomlin a pro for halftime interview. We’re not that concerned.
Fields runs it in in with 2:53 to go in 3rd. 17-10.
Nice drive back by Flacco. (gets rid of it, a big difference from Richardson) TD pass by Flacco to Ogletree. Mom, “that should do it.” Who is this woman?
Tornado warnings late interrupted the football.
1:37, a mishandled snap 2nd and 22
The Fever
What worked great?
Clark delivered. I thought she would be good 12 pts, 5 assists, rookie of the year, BUT she was much better than that. I think she’s already the PG you want to start your team with. She ended up 19 pts, 5.7 rebs, 8.4 assists, 90% line, 34% from 3.
Chemistry between Clark and Boston.
Emergence of Lexie Hull could make a big difference.
An all star season from Kelsey Mitchell
What needs work?
Scoring / execution / better scheme vs. Clark being denied. For example, Clark really limited touches with less than 3 mins to go in the final CT game.
Options: Mitchell re-sign or go bigger and top defender? Good with NaLissa or Fagbenle or Dantas? Maybe Fagbenle is healthy she’s it? Smith gone.
Think bench production limited?
If they pretty much stay as is, how can they compete with the teams who are left?
Liberty vs Aces Keys:
Can the Liberty slow Asia Wilson? I feel like Jones and Stewart have a chance. I think Wilson really keep Jones in check. Less than 10 pts a game, 7 or less rebounds.
The play of Gray and Plum huge.
Three point shooting really important. Less three point shooting on the floor for Aces.
I tend to think Liberty and that Sabrina and Stewart are able to hang in there with the 1 player Wilson. A great series from a “secondary” player could make a big difference.
Really tough, champion kind of attitudes for both groups.
Plum and Spike getting into it. Plum hits a 3 out of a timeout. 12 pts in 3rd straight…as of 3:40 in 3rd
Sun vs. Lynx:
best player by far is Collier. Somebody probably wants to argue Alyssa Thomas.
Players I think of: Ionescu playing very well and coming off a big game, Stewart tons of championship experience and does what’s needed, Wilson best player in the league by a fair amount, Gray delivers in big games, Plum great effort, Jones Liberty MVP, nice pieces for Liberty
Big respect for CT defense. When they lose it’s because they can’t score enough. Mabry had some huge games vs. Fever. Bonner played really well. They may not do that again.
We talk WNBA All Stars vs USA Olympic Team, look back and ahead on the WNBA season, and then look ahead to the upcoming Paris Olympics on this week’s Torg Stories Podcast episode.
What were some of the top reasons the game was entertaining?
Very Competitive: The players tried hard and cared about winning. I think there’s nothing like competitive people having a chip on their shoulder entering a competition.
Well played: The high level of play starting with Arike Ogunbowale scoring 34 points in the second half. What are the greatest shotmaking performances I’ve ever seen. This one has got to be up there.
Expensive Production Values: For starting line ups, how many times has someone like Lebron or Kevin Durant been on a stage that rises up out of the floor? You could see that someone like Caitlin was a little tickled at the fuss. What else?
Length of game: still really enjoying 8 mins less of basketball than we get with the NBA and at least for a little longer, far fewer television reviews.
Torg’s choice for First Team:
G Sabrina Ionescu. NY Liberty. 6th in scoring. 42% fg, 34% from 3. 6.2 to 2.6 assist to turnover. Team best record in the league.
G Kelsey Plum. LV Aces. Leads the league in 3 pointers made. 9th in scoring.
F Alyssa Thomas CONN. 2nd in assists. 5th in rebounding.
F Breanna Stewart. NY Liberty. 6th in blocks. 8th in scoring.
F. A’ja Wilson. Aces. (MVP) first in scoring and blocks.
Second Team:
G Caitlin Clark. IND. 12th in scoring. 1st in assists. Best connector in the league? (32% from 3).
G Arike Ogunbowale. Team worst record in the league at 6-19. 35% FG percentage. Leads the league in steals. 3rd in scoring. Went to Notre Dame. 5th pick in 2019. Leads the league with 20 shots a game.
F Jonquel Jones. NY Liberty. (maybe should be ahead of Thomas and Stewart)
F Nneka Ogwumike. SEA. 4th place. 17-8.
F DeWanna Bonner. CONN.
Notable Left Off:
G. Kahleah Copper PHX. 2nd in scoring. 45% from field and 33 from 3. More turnovers than assists.
G Jewell Loyd SEA. Leads league in FTs made. 5th in scoring.
F Napheesa Collier. MIN. 4th in scoring.
F Angel Reese. CHI. Leads the league in rebounding.
Anne, you get excited for the olympics? Here are my notes:
Starts this week, July 26th. Been 9 years since bid was announced. 19 days of competition.
What sports will be played? Click here for list. Anne, anything you are especially looking forward to?
Caitlin Clark gets started in the WNBA, Torg Tries sports gambling on FanDuel and we get ready for some NBA Playoff Game 7s including Pacers vs Knicks.
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Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever Get Started
Level of aggression in second game vs Liberty compared to first. Pace looked good but not ready to be good at it yet.
What does Clark’s game remind me of? How should this team be set up? Building a team that gets on board that this is Clark’s team in the way the Mavs are Luka’s team, etc.
14 Temi Fagbenle getting my attention in a good way: catching passes, finishing, defending.
Let’s look at stats so far this year for the Fever. Click here for Basketball Reference.
Can #17 Erica Wheeler and Clark play together? She started all of last year’s games.
Other WNBA Related Questions and Observations:
How do you like the gray Liberty floor at Barclay’s? What do you like in a basketball court?
Mostly Gray Floor of NY Liberty
The WNBA coaches seem to challenge so much less.
I like sooo much that the WNBA games, season, and playoffs series are shorter than the NBA.
I Tried Sports Gambling on FanDuel
Getting Started…
Understanding Parlays and Managing them on the app
Sticking to the promotions including free bets and matching deposits. The promotions serve as a way to moderate how much of this I engage in.
Placing bets that don’t change my enjoyment of rooting for a team or player.
Game 7 at Madison Square Garden Pacers at Knicks
Hope #1 is that the combination of the Pacers young players getting used to the stage along with another Knick injury (Josh Hart) will put the Pacers over the top.
My biggest concern for the Pacers is that starting with Haliburton the Pacers young players just aren’t ready to win a game 7 in Madison Square Garden.
Dallas Mavericks lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 3 games to 2.
It seems really clear to me that the Mavericks best two players are a lot better than the Thunder’s best two players. Also, with how well PJ Washington is playing for the Mavericks, they have a lot better players.
Celtics
The Celtics are expected to win and that changes how everyone, including those on the team, experiences the games.
There can be a tendency to think you’re supposed to be up by 15 at the end of the first quarter. Lots of people connected to the team say, we’re not winning by enough. This pressure or malaise might get to them, or they might make it through to a worthy opponent and rise to the occasion. Maybe that’s at MSG or maybe that’s in the finals against the Mavs or Nuggets.
Game 7 Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets
Does the altitude matter?
My concern for the Nuggets would be the intensity that the Timberwolves were able to generate defensively in the opening two games and why wouldn’t they be able to do that again?
I am picking the Nuggets because I think Jokic is the best player and his basketball IQ is such that he knows how to play in this game.
Thanks for checking in with us at Torg Stories. We appreciate you!
