Random Ramblings: I'm Old Edition

* Look, I understand that I’m old and am increasingly out of touch. I recently read in my Ithaca College alumni magazine (yes, a print version!) that “The hottest career choice is no longer doctor, lawyer, or actor. It’s now content creator” with 57% of Generation Z (people born between 1997-2012) saying they would become an “influencer” if given the chance.” I think I’ve heard of the biggest content creators/influencers. There’s Mr. Beast who makes videos and seems to give away significant amounts of money. I don’t know what Druski does, but he’s in several commercials with Snoop and Zoe Saldana. I’ve heard the name Alix Earle though I’m not sure what she does either except that she spent time with Tom Brady at a party. This brings me to Kendall Vertes. The Pittsburgh Pirates shared pictures of her throwing out the first pitch at a recent game. Despite having nearly 11 million followers on Instagram, I had never heard of her. 

Apparently, Kendall is/was on Dance Moms and started on the show as a child when she was definitely not a mom. But if the show is about the moms, shouldn’t her mom have 11 million followers? Since Kendall seems to be a big deal, they should rename the show Dance Moms and Dancing Kids. Maybe create a new show called Dance Kids Who Are No Longer Kids? I’m sounding older and older as I continue to type this, so I’m stopping now.

* Based on the schedules of my kids’ activities, I haven’t been able to work as a soccer referee this spring. I worked one game as an assistant referee a few weeks ago, so I was excited to have two games as a center over the weekend. Just before I was about to leave my house, the assigning app gave me a notification that my games were canceled. I figured it was a mistake, and since I was running a few minutes late and the field was about 25 minutes away, I ignored it and drove to the field. When I arrived at the sports complex, the parking lot was mostly empty. There was an adult soccer game occurring on one field but no one else was there. I checked my email to see two more notifications that my games were canceled. Apparently, the county (not the county where I live) closed the grass fields due to rain from the night before. My particular field was absolutely playable. One of the coaches was there and grumbled about county officials not actually visiting the field before making a decision to cancel games.

I got back to my car and emailed the referee assigned to see if any other games were available. She gave me several options in the afternoon, but I couldn’t do them. Instead, I took one U-12 girls rec game in the exact opposite direction. The game was fine as I really enjoy teaching and mentoring younger referees and explaining rules and calls to the players (and sometimes coaches). Still, I drove 16 miles to the original field, 33 miles to the second field, and back 19 miles to Luigi’s flag football game. That’s 68 miles just so I could make $30 for a game with 30-minute halves. While I joke that I get paid to exercise when I referee, I’m not sure the paycheck will cover the cost of gasoline!

* I loved the TV show Jury Duty from a few years ago. The show was made up of all actors except for one guy who thought he was a member of the jury in an actual case. Highly recommend seeing it if you haven’t. I was skeptical about the new series, Jury Duty Presents Company Retreat since I wasn’t sure how they would do it again. Despite the awkward title, the show was just as good as the original.

* A few weeks ago, I wrote how I thought (but wasn't 100% sure) that retired Browns and Steelers cornerback Joe Haden was a coach in my third grader's flag football league. It's now confirmed that the 3-time Pro Bowler is a coach. The Moose got a picture with him at Luigi's last game, and we talked to him for about 30 seconds. He was in Pittsburgh to announce a pick at the NFL draft on Friday evening and then flew to the DC area on Saturday to make it back in time for his team's flag football game. That's dedication!

* My kids’ elementary school holds an annual Heritage Night where the gym is filled with tables of families’ cultures/countries. It’s such a fun event, and the kids (and parents) get to try different types of foods from all over the world. 

* I might have been 100 feet from US soccer great Clint Dempsey last week. Men In Blazers, maybe the biggest soccer podcast/show in the US, held a contest for the Best American Soccer Bar. Ireland’s Four Courts near where I work in Arlington won, so Men In Blazers held a live event which featured Dempsey. I walked by the restaurant a little before taping, so I might have been close to him.

* In the next few weeks, I plan on writing two "serious" posts. I have general notes and ideas but need some time to fully form them into posts. They're going to be a little different for me.

Random Ramblings: April 2026 Edition

When I was in preschool or early in elementary school, my mom worked as a real estate agent for Howard Hanna. While I don't think she worked in real estate for very long, and I don't remember much of her time there, all of the families were invited to a BBQ at a nice house with a big backyard. Phil Garner of the Pittsburgh Pirates was at this gathering, and I got his autograph. Garner passed away on Saturday at the age of 76.

Luigi is playing flag football this season and had his first game over the weekend. About half-way through his game, we saw another team, the Browns warming up for their game. I'm 98% sure that the Browns are coached by 3-time Pro Bowl cornerback of the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, Joe Haden. The coach definitely looks like Joe Haden and he wore Browns shorts with Haden and #23 on them. I also overheard some other parents mentioning that he played in the NFL. The only reason I'm not 100% certain that the coach is Joe Haden is because I can't figure out why he's coaching a 2nd-3rd grade team in Northern Virginia. Apparently, Haden lives in Bowie, Maryland, which isn't that far from the Northern Virginia field, but it's not necessarily close either. Luigi's team plays the Browns in mid-May. The Moose wants to meet him!

Since my wife rarely reads this blog, I'm going to share something personal today. I always throw in a dryer sheet for each load of laundry I put in the dryer. She never does. I don't understand this. Why have staticky clothes when the load finishes when this is easily preventable? 

Just finished season 3 of Shrinking. Loved it! I read that the show was renewed for a fourth season. While I think season three ended at a perfect spot and another season isn't necessary, the cast and writers are so good that I'm sure they'll figure out a way to make another season great.  

The Moose is playing recreational basketball this spring in a league of 9th and 10th graders. Even though he just played basketball this winter, the kids seem much bigger this season. Apparently, some of the kids on high school basketball teams play rec now that the high school season is over. The team The Moose faced on Sunday had two players that were at least 6'3"!

Joe Haden and Roger Federer

Although Joe Haden is a free agent and not currently a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I think he qualifies for a brand new edition of PAWRA! If you're not familiar with PAWRA (and why would you since I haven't had a PAWRA post in over 3 years), PAWRA is Pittsburgh Athletes with World-Renowned Athletes, just another of my many popular series (serieses?). Joe Haden is in Paris and apparently ran into Roger Federer, only one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

I reached out to Haden to see how and where he met Federer (presumably at the French Open or at an event associated with the French Open), but he's on vacation and surprisingly did not respond to my random question on Twitter. I don't know the identity of the person on the left in this picture.

Photo from Joe Haden's Twitter page.

Steelers-Browns Recap

Can we pretend that the second half didn't happen? Wouldn't you feel so much better about the Steelers if this game ended after 30 minutes? Let's start with the fact that the Steelers defeated the Browns and are now 1-0. This is also the first time since the 2010 season that the Steelers started 1-0. In the big picture, the Steelers are 1-0 and have a win against a division opponent. Woo!

Now, here are my notes from the game:

- The Steelers led Cleveland 27-3 at halftime and outgained Cleveland 364-101 yards and had five plays of 30+ yards. Wow!

- To paraphrase Meatloaf, Antonio Brown would do anything to win a football game, but he won't do that (well he shouldn't have done this):



I was all prepared to compare Antonio Brown's kick to The Karate Kid, but nearly everyone on the internet already beat me to this observation.

- For the second half, I feel like the Steelers coaches probably told the players simply to keep doing what you're doing while the Browns actually made adjustments. Meanwhile, did the Steelers players think the game was over at the half? I feel like the players and coaches were equally responsible for the poor second half performance.

- How much did Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey make for the Lincoln MKC commercial? It has to be 7-figures, right? Unfortunately, he didn't end the commercial by saying, "I get older, they stay the same age."



- Steelers RS Le'veon Bell is good.

- I love the fact that announcer Ian Eagle stated that the Steelers avoided testing Cleveland all-pro cornerback Joe Haden, and then as soon as he stopped talking and the play started, Brown beat Haden for a touchdown.

- I was impressed by Steelers wide receivers Markus Wheaton & Justin Brown. I had low expectations for both of them, but they certainly looked like they belong in the NFL.

- The Steelers offense allowed 4 sacks while the defense gave up 183 rushing yards. Browns rookie RB Terrance West had 100 yards. The team needs to allow less sacks and rushing yards if they want to be successful this season.

- Am I the only one who thinks of the song Broken Wings by Mr. Mister whenever new Steelers punter Brad Wing takes the field?



- I've been a big Ike Taylor defender over the years. Sure, he has trouble catching the ball, but throughout his career, he generally prevents opponents' top wide receivers from having big games. Taylor didn't look good against a Browns team on Sunday without Josh Gordon or any other "scary" wide receivers.

- Good luck to Ithaca College graduate CCH Pounder on her new show CSI: New Orleans. I just wish CBS would promote the show more and give it some exposure.

The Steelers play again in 3 days against the Ravens. 3 days!

P.S. Quote of the day about the Steelers game goes to the terrific writer/reporter Dejan Kovacevic: I’ll repeat my summer-long plea for more Gay. Yes, I'm still 12 sometimes.

h/t Mikey for the video.