Newsletter #5
We're back, but hopefully worth the wait
It’s been a busy month, but I’m pumped to be back behind the keyboard to bring you today’s newsletter. Though, not much to rant about this week - life is good - March Madness starts up soon, Spring Training brings the promise of a new season, Woso has been giving us an incredible amount of memeable moments already (below), and NBA & NHL Playoffs are around the corner. Plus, it’s an Olympics summer.
As promised, I’m teeing up some artist deep dives over the next few weeks (hit me up in the DMs if there’s a particular artist you’d like me to examine), and some fun collaborations are on deck.
Also: I’m excited to announce that starting next week, I’ll be providing a weekly, Monday post that contains all the memes that were shared on social media that week, allowing you to see my content w/o having to sink to the depths of hell by being on Twitter and/or Instagram. It’s easy to sign up. Just go to your account settings and flip the Weekly Recap button to opt in. If you don’t, you’ll still keep getting all the standard posts.
Art/Sports I’m Into
OOTP (Out of the Park Baseball)
This is not a paid advertisement, but rather a personal box of mine to check to tell anyone and everyone how good Out of the Park Baseball is. I’ve been playing since I was around 13 (over 20 years now), and release day is always the highlight of my Spring. Granted, it’s extremely niche, but if you’re a baseball fan (nerd) who wants to experience running an organization as a GM, simulating what Babe Ruth’s career would be like if he played in 2024, or anything in between, it’s the game for you. Again, niche, but well worth checking out. If you buy it and enjoy it and would never have heard about it w/o me, hit me up. I’m proud to have introduced a number of diehards over the years and would be excited to add you to the roster.
The Sunday Long Read
Friend of the program and journalism Mount Rushmore member Don Van Natta Jr. launched a newsletter bringing together the best long form in sports each week. He also just announced he’s writing what will surely become the definitive book on Jerry Jones, which I’ll link off to when it becomes available.
Artist of the Week
Elijah Pierce
I was lucky enough to get a guided tour of last weekend’s Outsider Art Fair from
of , and was introduced to the work of Elijah Pierce. A barber originally from Mississippi (then to Ohio), his wood carvings that he primarily made for his wives over the years eventually gained mainstream recognition when he was in his late 70’s.
His work is now featured in the collections of some of the top institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I’m definitely going to feature some of his pieces in memes going forward.
Sports Photographer You Need to Follow
Kyle Rivas
I had a chance to speak with Kyle a few days after the Super Bowl, an interview which I’ll run at some point in the late summer when we’re counting down the days until season start. For now, though, if you’re itching for football, Kyle’s instagram is an absolute must.
The thing that stands out the most about Kyle’s work is his ability to draw out the emotion from each moment - whether on or off the field - and tie it back to the prevailing storylines. His Mahomes post-Super Bowl LVIII win capture is a perfect example.
It’s a moment many would experience as excitement and celebration, but for Mahomes, it’s relief and exhalation; the culmination of his toughest season to date, where he still managed to pull off a Super Bowl victory despite a receiver corps of misfit characters. The Chiefs aren’t going anywhere, which means we’re set up for plenty more Kyle Rivas hits, and we should all be grateful for it.
These last couple of seasons whenever Curry hits a game-winner or game to decider, he he makes that face like Munch's the Scream