Tag: ted-lasso

Knicks Pacers, Indiana Fever, Mission Impossible, and Ted Lasso Season Three, Episode 11

We talk Knicks-Pacers series, give report on the Indiana Fever, Mission Impossible Final Reckoning, and talk second chances from Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 11 on this edition of the Torg Stories Podcast.

You can click on the audio player above to listen to the episode, or you can watch it on YouTube at the link below:

The Pacers have a 2-0 lead at the time of the recording. Anne, what has been the keys?

  1. Balanced attack, more scorers than the Knicks that can lead to Nesmith going 8-9 from 3 and Siakam scoring 39 in game 2.
  2. Haliburton has some Harden in him in that he’s a hub that can spray the ball around everywhere and put pressure on the defense with his pace and vision.
  3. Timely shooting: Brunson and Kat were great but big misses late while Haliburton and Nesmith hit huge shots.

Report on the Fever:

  1. Off to a 2-2 start. Hammered the Sky and Clark and Reese got into it. Lost by 1 and had a chance to win it on the final play vs. Atlanta. Came back and beat the Dream in Atlanta. Lost by 2 after blowing a 12 point lead in the second half to the Liberty. Clark had the ball with a chance to tie or win at the buzzer.
  2. Noticeably harder for Clark to get a good three point look. She’s Curry from a standpoint of how defenses are playing her. No three vs. Atlanta in win. She missed 12 threes in a row before hitting one and getting fouled in the 3rd quarter vs. Liberty. Then hit one at the buzzer to end the third.
  3. Clark draws so much attention. People are open. Elite vision and ability to deliver, especially in setting pace. Kelsey Mitchell really benefitting. Still getting a lot done finishing and in mid range.
  4. Fever are more active on defense. Vision and hands on balls.
  5. Outscored Liberty 30-13 in third quarter.
  6. Looks like a group that roots for each other.
  7. The rotation of Howard, Boston, and Bonner among the post looks really good. Cunningham coming through the two and three spots good as well.
  8. The offense ends of games. Need actions, 1v1 can be tough vs players like Jones.

Three of the new Fever players and what they bring:

  1. Sophie Cunningham: mix it up defensive mentality, shooting, enthusiasm talking leader
  2. Natasha Howard – upgraded inside scoring punch, wanting her own shot for a Fever player more than I’m used to. I’m hopeful.
  3. Dewanna Bonner – length on defensive, championship experience, I’m assuming a good relationship with the coach

We both went to see Mission Impossible Final Reckoning:

  1. Let’s talk about what the theaters were like. I went to the AMC in Johnson City, TN.
  2. $20 for a ticket. Tom Cruise hangs off two planes. Really can I ask for more than that?
  3. We hear from Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise before the movie starts.
  4. Too much talking. Too much tech talking.
  5. Best part from Cruise escaping the underwater sub to the end.
  6. Dislikes: exposition for us as viewers. The action along with more natural dialogue should show us. 25 minutes of previews plus 2hrs and 50 mins of movie is a long time to be in the theater.
  7. Likes: music, Tom in shape, familiar characters, guy in charge of Navy sub, listening station couple and their dogs, the underwater scene, the lady who sticks the pen in Benji’s chest, Cruise and the planes

Ted Lasso: There’s only 1 more episode! Season 3, Episode 11 Discussion Questions:

  1. Why does Nate’s girlfriend Jade act like she does, for example disappearing. Let’s assess what Nate did. Let’s talk about if we bring him back.
  2. What’s Ted’s deal with Ted and his mom? Ted doesn’t seem to want his mom around. Then let’s walk through our mom showing up. She tells him his son misses him. Ted is scared to get close to him because he knows he’s going to leave.
  3. What’s wrong with Jamie? Where are my wings, Roy? Return game. Roy and Keeley follow Jamie to his childhood home. Now that he doesn’t hate his dad, he is lacking for motivation.
  4. What’s with the Wizard of Oz? We get Ted playing a Wizard of Oz pinball machine. We get “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in a Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movie. Is it, You’ve Got Mail?
  5. There is a town called Tooting. Some weird town names you can think of? French Lick, Chili which is right by Denver, Mexico, and Peru. Santa Claus. You like Seven Devils, North Carolina. We went to Duck. There’s a Bat Cave. Meat Camp is in the same Watauga County I live in.

Memorable Quotes from this Episode of Ted Lasso. We’ll see if Anne can tell us who said it about what:

  1. Shouting is Roy’s love language. -Trent Crimm when Roy calls Jaimie into the boot room
  2. Your mom and dad F you up. They don’t mean to, but they do. They fill you up with the faults they had and they add some extra just for you. -Mae to Ted in the pub about his mom coming for a visit.
  3. I’ve literally never thought about work after work. It’s weird how good of a waiter you are. -Jade to Nate about how he is always trying to be good at what he is doing.
  4. Hurt people hurt people. -Ted to Jamie talking about his dad and Freddy Krueger
  5. I hope that either all of us or none of us are judged by our weakest moments, but rather by the strength we show whether and if we are given a second chance.-Ted to Beard about judging Nate for ripping up the sign.
  6. Your son misses you. -Ted’s mom to him
  7. All we can do is keep playing. -Ted’s mom again, about being a parent
  8. No truth bomb this year. – Rebecca to Ted

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

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.

Unanswerable Questions, Where the Time Goes, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 5

It’s unanswerable questions, pie charts of our time spent, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 5 on this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast..

If you put your energy into the things you love, the universe puts its energy back into you. -Zava

Anne, I’m coming off watching UConn hammer South Carolina. You’re coming off a big Fortnite win!

In the show Ted Lasso, the great footballer Zava says this: if you put your energy into the things you love, the universe puts its energy back into you. Anne, after I heard that, I wanted to reflect on where I put my energy.

With the help of Microsoft Co-Pilot, I created a pie chart that shows how I spend my time (is this the same as energy?) each 24 hour day.

What were my observations in trying to put together that chart?

  1. Dividing up time might be missing what Zava was after. Putting your energy into something isn’t the same as it’s how you spend your time. I can cut the grass but even on the mower, my energy might be somewhere else.
  2. I was struck by the seasonal and day to day differences in my life. I think especially coaching but also just teaching provide more variety than are in some lives, maybe I’m just thinking of your life, Anne.

Season 3, Episode 5 titled “Signs.”

  • We open with Richmond going 7 weeks without a victory. Coaches office. Roy points to the problem that makes sense most to me. Watching Zava. Rebecca comes in. Still on the edge.
  • Rebecca in a coffee shop. Has her server take that match book. Nice job by the show keeping the narrative thread. Rebecca runs into that guy she dumped. Ring a ding, ding: wedding calling! Saw Hamilton and then, LOL, that guy tells another of his boring stories. I forgot what, Shite in Nining Armor is. The fiance said it by mistake.
  • Jack, Keeley, and Barbara meet in Keeley’s office about more clients. Makes me think a bit of Jerry McGuire conversation. Jerry wanted less clients. Shandy keeps it going. Jack gives Keeley the words to fire Shandy. I find compliment sandwiches insulting. But do I do it? Or if you make it well, does it work? The worst people often think they are the best. Jack’s dad calls it, talent dysmorphia.
  • Coaches office. Trent has an idea. Funny from Ted about the documentarians who won’t intervene. Henry bullying incident at school. Beard and Roy are ready to go.
  • Higgins comes to see Rebecca. He thinks a coaching change might be in order. Rebecca changes the subject and asks Higgins if he believes in psychics. Higgins: the universe is full of things we can’t explain. (fingernails)

I asked Anne for 3-5 unanswerable questions. Here is what I came up with:

  1. Are there intelligent beings not from earth?
  2. Is space infinite? How does that work?

I only came up with two so I asked Microsoft Co-Pilot for a 3rd funny one. Here it is:

If a tomato is a fruit, does that make ketchup a smoothie?

  • Nate calls his mom to practice before calling Anastasia?
  • Shandy gets the firm fired by a client. Keeley fires Shandy. Funny that I felt some Jerry McGuire earlier, because Shandy out of Keeley’s office exactly the scene when Jerry gets fired.
  • Rebecca goes to see the doctor about fertility. No emergency contact. Everyone talks to her about the team. She asks if she can have children. She wants a baby.
  • Team in the weight room. Get some rest. No video games unless it’s Animal Crossing. Zava: You will not win because of me. You will win because you work together.
  • Ted in his apartment. His ex Michelle calls. Ted finds out Henry did the bullying.
  • One of Keeley’s employees, Dan, attempts a joke of quitting. It’s a good sign! Jack goes to Richmond game with Keeley.
  • Zava doesn’t show.
  • Shandy leaves a lamb on a table that keeps pooping.
  • Nate takes Anastasia to dinner. Manager comes out and is so excited to see them both. Jane snickers at something Nate says.
  • Ted says about Zava, “Maybe he’s dead.” Made me laugh.
  • Date not going well. Nate gives a nice speech on what makes it special. Anastasia leaves him.
  • Richmond loses 4-0. Zava retiring. Looks like Doc gives bad news. Keeley says her break up still hurts. Keeley kisses Jack. She kisses her back. Another ill advised relationship.
  • Jade joins Nate. Is it wrong to think maybe she can get him going the right way?
  • Henry calls. If you’re angry, count to ten. If that doesn’t work, do it again. Hip hop song The Message.
  • Ted deals with panic attack successfully.
  • Ted rips the sign. Belief doesn’t just happen because you hang a sign up on the wall. Ted lists envy, fear, shame. You know what I want to mess around with? The belief that I matter. The belief that we all deserve to be loved. The belief of hope. Nice montage! Believe that things can get better, that I can get better. Can’t nobody rip that apart.
  • Jamie tells Roy he’ll see him in the morning. Last shot of the episode is of the ripped BELIEVE sign.

Anne’s off to London!

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

What do you mean Romanticize Your Life? When Someone Hurts You, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 4 on the Torg Stories Podcast

In this episode we’re pointed to the TikTok trend Romanticize Your Life, we talk working out, how to handle someone hurting you, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 4.

Click above to listen to this episode of the podcast.

Before we get to the podcast notes, I think through coaches calling late-game timeouts to advance the ball to half court. That situation certainly had my attention this week with all of the basketball I have watched this week. Coach Calipari of Arkansas took a lot of heat for not calling one with six seconds left in their loss to Texas Tech. The philosophy he explained after the game is pretty much what I believe: if our team can push the ball against a defense that isn’t set, I usually like that situation better than giving the other team a chance to get organized and maybe do something different defensively. In my history of coaching, I have also heard Bob Knight and Phil Jackson explain that same strategy of not calling timeout, pushing pace, and seeing if you can get a good shot against a defense that is trying to organize.

I’d add the caveat that I try to get close to the official and the second I see that we’re not playing with pace or that we’re looking uncertain, then I call the timeout. The players know this is my strategy, and we’ve practiced it. Two other variables (1) What are the strength of your players? (2) How much do you like your late game out of bounds plays?

Calling late game timeouts did much more harm than good in the women’s games this week because a high percentage of the teams who called timeout to advance the ball and set up a play ended up turning the ball over. I also saw teams with the lead get late game rebounds with less than 20 seconds left in the game call timeout when they probably could have ran at least 5 and maybe 10 seconds off the clock. Instead, they called timeout to advance the ball and then turned it over trying to get in.

Torg Life Snapshot:

  1. Tournaments delivering on introducing me to new people and buzzer beaters.
  2. Late game timeouts have been driving me crazy. Maybe if the teams executed their sideline out of bounds plays, I would change my mind about the strategy.
  3. LeBron had an interesting week. Went on Pat McAfee and said stuff about Stephen A Smith and Brian Windhorst. Tipped in the game winner vs. the Pacers. Then made an incredibly bad turnover against the Bulls where the Bulls scored 9 points in 12.6 seconds to come from 5 down to win. (By the way-great sideline out of bounds execution from the Bulls).

Summary and Discussion Questions for Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 4 titled “Big Week”

  • Roy bangs on Jamie’s door to train at 4AM. Roy says they do it early so they can get three workouts in. This is something Kobe famously did.

Anne, when were you locked in working out?

  1. I was steady going to the park throughout high school but didn’t really know what I was doing. I used to have you and mom rebound two balls for me.
  2. Freshman year college I added weight lifting and swimming after practice. I often went up to the track at Olivet and ran a mile after practice.
  3. Junior and senior year I got into getting up at 5AM to workout with Gary Tidwell before practice.
  4. Marathon training: 10 800s on the track were memorable. I ended up liking running in the dark after school on Fridays instead of Saturday mornings.
  5. Now most of my lifts are with my kids. I work in treadmill runs and runs at the Valle Crucis park.

Back to Ted Lasso:

  • Nate has a model of a pitch in his room. He knocks down Ted. He seems to feel bad about that. He seems more conflicted about his path?
  • Ted has a picture by his bed that was signed by Nate. Sassy is getting dressed. Sassy Smurf and Marlboro Man. Ted explores possibility of being a couple with Sassy. How do you like them together? How big of a mess is Ted? Divorce as mess maker. People do need time, I think. I guess some don’t take it. I like the “I’m a mess too, but I’m further down the timeline.”
  • They talk Uber ratings. Fun! Sassy is a good character.
  • Keeley’s CFO Barbara asks for tickets. Keeley didn’t realize her boss was Jack Danvers. The VC that funds her PR firm.
  • Beard and Roy talk to Higgins about what Nate’s plan will be. How often am I surprised? Nate is in their head. Getting the best player to buy in. JJ and Lebron.
  • KISS: Keep it Simple Smarty Pants. An answer will show up. Diamond Dog meeting. Beard says Ted is a mess. You are acting like he didn’t hurt you.
  • Beard says, “Pain is Like Carbon Monoxide. Expressing it can open the vent.”

Potential Times I’ve Been Hurt and How I Handled It

  1. Basketball parents who hated me in my first coaching job. Does that count as being hurt?
  2. Divorce
  3. Grad professors.
  4. Professionally at SJU and Greenwood. (admins, colleagues, parents)
  5. How often have I talked it out with the person I believed hurt me?
  6. Hurt often goes both ways. People hurt each other.
  • Zava to the team: Ignore the talking faces even when they are in our favor. Dream big and you may never wake up.
  • Nate goes to talk to Jade. She comically just kind of looks at him and doesn’t talk. Brags about his new job. She thinks his name is Jason Jelly. Derek is the manager and is excited to see Nathan. Go Hammers! Jade is Polish and named Edyta Budnik.
  • Coaches office. Beard has Ted watch a video of Nate ripping up the believe sign. Nate is pathetic in lots of ways.
  • Rupert and Nate talk. Nate says he hasn’t seen Ted since he left. Rupert: You look him in the eye, you shake his hand, and then you beat him.
  • Michelle, ex wife, texts him. Ted goes back to look at the Dr. Jacob texts. Rebecca stops in. She really wants to win. You can want to win too much, is how I approach these situations. He asks Rebecca is he is a mess? “Oklahoma” is the word when you have to tell the truth. Think that might have come from Ted and his ex wife. Wisdon from Ted to Rebecca: You already won, you know?
  • Keeley is nervous about meeting Jack. Rebecca runs into Rupert and his new wife Bex. Ted will see Nate.
  • Keeley asks for a tampon from the next stall. Reminds me of Seinfeld and Elaine asking if the person could spare a square.
  • Nate faces the corner in the elevator with Ted. Almost apologizes. Elevator opens and Rupert has his cape on.
  • Keeley meets Jack and Jack says, I believe you have something of mine. What do you make of Jack so far?
  • 2-nil at halftime. Rebecca is losing it. I believe in you Ted. And it’s intense.
  • Roy and Beard show the video at halftime.

Anne, are you capable of becoming extra motivated? What motivates me?

  1. Mostly self driven
  2. Having lost, trying to find the approach that can lead to winning
  3. Celebratory behavior by the opponent
  4. Other people thinking they are better than me or a coach thinking a player was better than me.
  5. I do think I responded to getting yelled at.
  • Even though playing the video backfired, it was worth it for me the way they looked at Nate.
  • We see Rupert making out with someone not his wife. Oh, it’s that assistant.
  • Roy and Beard know they messed up and own it immediately. Ted: tried something new, didn’t work, big whoop.
  • I notice I have started saying big whoop.
  • Bones and Honey again! From Beard After Hours. Rupert is bringing Nate into his sleazy cheating world. The cheaters hope everyone will cheat too.
  • Shandy changed the bio line for bantr. Anne, does Keeley need to get rid of Shandy?
  • I was emotionally moved: Roy bangs on the door and Jamie is ready with his headlamp. Let’s go!
  • Ted doesn’t finish his drink. Maybe he is going to be less of a mess. Ted makes use of the carbon dioxide metaphor and opens a vent by telling Michelle that he is angry about Dr. Jacob. We gotta raise this little boy together. We’re stuck with each other. We’re going to share grandkids. I love our family no matter what it looks like.
  • Bob Dylan song to end it. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”

Gen Z TikTok Romanticize Your Life Segment (produced by Izzy Torg)

  1. If we were coming up with a way to say “Romanticize Your Life” in our own words, what would it be? Do a little something nice for yourself. Is it a little treat for yourself? One of the videos we looked at said, Keep the Horrors at Bay.
  2. My ideas for myself: a short nap, berries on my morning yogurt, reading during the day, doing this pod, walking the dog at Valle Crucis listening to a podcast letting Indy lay down in the river,
  3. One of the videos said dramatically extinguish the candles.
  4. Do we think this is stupid? I don’t. People are posting ways they like to treat themselves. No complaints.
  5. Extra question: if you’re going to treat yourself (try to keep the horrors at bay, do you buy yourself anything?) Maybe a milkshake.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the podcast!

Iconic Sports Venues, Wrightsville Beach, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 3

Dear Readers and Listeners,

We had snow on Thursday. Late March snow! This weekend we Torgs went to Wilmington, North Carolina to watch Kate Sears play in the Carolinas Classic All Start game that features North Carolina versus South Carolina. We stayed at a Holiday Inn on Wrightsville Beach that we recommend. I went from scraping the car of ice to getting a little sunburn that afternoon at the beach. Wilmington made a good impression on us. My daughter Charlotte drove down from college to spend the night with us and go to the game. Then she came all the way back to Boone for a night. Charlotte, my daughter Izzy, and I got a workout in at App State before she headed back to college.

My men’s NCAA Bracket took big hits with St. John’s, who I picked to win it all, and North Carolina, who I picked to go to the Final Four, both losing. In the women’s bracket I picked UConn to beat South Carolina in the final. Next weekend, we’ve got the Watauga Women’s Basketball team banquet!

Thank you so much for checking out the podcast and the content on the site!

Best,

Torg

Podcast Notes:

Introduction to be read to open the podcast:

  • Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast! This week we’re doing iconic sports venues, I’m going to talk about our trip to Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, and we’re doing Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 3 in which the Zava starts playing with Richmond. Anne, I added a new feature to podcast. I wrote everyone a letter. Do you think anyone will visit the Torg.com to check it out?

Anne and Bill Life Snapshots:

Anne, give us a snapshot of life for you in LA:

Bill Snapshot:

  1. Went to Wilmington, NC: what the beach is like, the hotel, the game, Charlotte came
  2. Really bad Kentucky Fried Chicken stop on the way home.
  3. NCAA tournament time: Men’s bracket: SJU and NC lose.
  4. Women’s bracket: UConn over South Carolina was my pick.
  5. Banquet is next week. Our sports banquets.

In the show Ted Lasso, the football team is Richmond. They are the Greyhounds, and their home pitch is the Dog Track. I thought that was a pretty good name. It made me want to ask you, what comes to mind when you think of iconic sports venues, either the name and/or the venue itself.

  1. Madison Square Garden
  2. Augusta National
  3. Fenway Park
  4. Hinkle Fieldhouse
  5. Wimbleton (Southwest London)
  6. Wrigley Field
  7. Cameron Indoor
  8. Lambeau Field
  9. Boston Garden
  10. Yankee Stadium
  11. Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 3 titled “4-5-1”

Lots of storylines loaded up in this episode:

  1. Zava comes to the team. Lots of time passes and there’s a winning streak. Richmond–with Lasso, Rebecca and Zava–seem to be on a collision course with Nate the Great and Rupert. Zava doesn’t seem like Rodman anymore. Now I’m thinking James Hardin, Kawhi, Kyrie, Jimmy Butler. Who are the greats who probably live within the team with very different rules?
  2. Jamie struggles with all of the attention Zava is getting. Roy offers to train him. Anne, anything worth getting up for at 4am? When have you been that motivated, sports or other?
  3. We continue with the Collin story of being secretly gay and the last shot of the episode is Trent Crimm, the writer, seeing Collin kiss his boyfriend. What’s Trent to do here? Where is this headed?
  4. Rebecca sees her mom’s psychic who has a vision of a green matchbook and Rebecca having a family. At the end, Sam hands her a green matchbook. What do you make of that?
  5. Ted finds out that his ex-wife is now dating their marriage counselor.
  • Collin in bed. “Your body is temple.” “I know who Zava is.” boyfriend is off to Dubai. “I am a strong and capable man.” Runs into the trash cans. Restarted the intro.
  • Coaches, who do they sit? Who gets moved out of the front? Jamie or Dani? One of the tricky parts of coaching. Starters. What spot? They do all time favorite Julie Andrews characters. Love lists. Not our wheelhouse Anne.
  • Jaimie comes in. Special treatment with big locker and comfy chair. Full house to watch practice. Zava not showing.
  • Shandy still involved. Higgins has a name ready in case he ever DJ’d: damage control. Higgins:
  • Zava meeting Ted: I am an empty vessel, filled with gold. I am your rock. Mold me. Nose to nose with Higgins.
  • Zava wears a white tee shirt with a sun on it. Fancy looking only members only jacket. Zava worked as a kit man at 11. Breath with me. Everyone joins. Zava can exhale for a very long time. “We are now one.” There is no me. There is no you. There is only “the we.” and “the us.”
  • Zava goes in the coaches’ office. Trent is there is his orange tee shirt. He moves the players around on the white board, bunches everyone on defense and himself on offense.
  • Rebecca goes to visit the psychic Tish. Awkward white Russian joke and then Tish made two.
  • Tish, the psychic, says to embrace the flaws and imperfections and in doing so create something stronger. They place their hands on the bowl. Psychic sees a green matchbook. She sees a vision of Rebecca upside down and she’s drenched. What do you think Rebecca’s reasoning for seeing a psychic would be? “You will have a family. You’re going to be a mother.” Hits Rebecca hard and she calls her cruel.
  • Ted asks Roy for the Wordle word. He gives him the wrong one.
  • Jamie comes in to talk to Ted about Zava. Beard calls him ironic. Jamie corrects him and says he’s being hypocritical. Do you want to take on Zava? (Durant, Hardin, Kyrie, Kawhi,
  • Pregame speech: Collin out for Zava. He keeps rolling with, “I am a strong and capable man.” All the while Zava meditating. Reminds me of the character that prays in Hoosiers. “I am ready.” We say that in our visualization.
  • Ted calls. Gets a Trump impression from Dr. Jacob. Pretty good impression. Ted finds out Jacob is around the house. (I did check Charlotte’s team’s score as I went in to talk to team vs. Lake Norman).
  • Ted faces panic attack. Zava scores off the opening pass back.
  • 32.23 field.
  • Richmond climbs in the standings, from something like 17 to 9th. Brings new wave zen approach to the team. Ted checks out what Jacob is doing.
  • Rebecca is checking out matchbooks in her house. What is going on?
  • Jamie hasn’t scored.
  • In professional sports, is it only winning or is there a line? Actually, there really isn’t a problem with this winning and the team seems on board.
  • 36:04. good image.
  • Looks like West Ham with Nate the Great and Rupert are on a collision course with Coach Lasso, Zava, and Rebecca.
  • Zava has muscles.
  • Sam opens his restaurant. It brings a lot of the main characters together. Sassy comes. Ted kind of wallowing in it. Jane arrives. Jamie wallowing in it too.
  • Roy offers to train Jamie. Starts the next morning at 4AM.
  • Shandy eyes Zava. Keeley eyes Roy. Rebecca eyes Sam.
  • Keeley: there are better things ahead than anything we leave behind.
  • Sam hands Rebecca a green match box.
  • Trent sees Collin kissing his boyfriend.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!