I was very proud of my son's exploits in a Little League doubleheader yesterday. He was great at the plate -- including a home run; he pitched an excellent inning; and he was very good at shortstop, his best position.
However, there was one unique moment that stood out -- and I didn't know whether to be proud or embarrassed.
Late in the second game, with his team up by several runs, my son pulled off what is known as the "hidden ball trick." It involves pretending to throw the ball back to the pitcher at the end of a play, but hiding it instead in your glove, then tagging the runner out when he tries to lead off the base, thinking that he is safe to do so. A YouTube favorite.
I knew exactly what he had done when I saw him hold up his glove with the ball in it. I cheered for him -- and felt immediately bad for the unfortunate baserunner who had been tagged out. I had to explain it to the other parents.
My son's coach was pleased, but I went over to the other coach to apologize -- sort of -- for my son's impish competitiveness and ingenuity. He said it was OK, a learning experience -- though I had the sense he felt it was 'just not cricket."
My son was thrilled and will probably tell the story to his friends at school for days. And to be honest, I laughed about it throughout the day. That's my son -- he always wants to win, and he is a trickster. Not just on the baseball diamond.
How am I supposed to feel about it? He's the young Donald Trump of little league baseball: very effective, but also... kind of a jerk, and he doesn't mind.
All I can really say that I know, upon reflection, is: he didn't get it from me.
This week, we are tackling two major areas of contention between the Trump administration and Democrat governors: fighting crime, and redistricting. The president is sending the National Guard to blue cities -- and blue states are trying to stamp out Republican representation. Is this a civil war situation?
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye -- Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on redistricting
- Tom Manza, California Business and Industrial Alliance, on Gavin Newsom
- Jon Fleischman, veteran California political expert, on the special election
- Dan Backer, veteran political lawyer and consultant, on corruption
- DJ Mark Anthony, on a recent visit to Rome and visiting Pope Leo XIV
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week's portion is the last of the month of Av -- also known as Menachem (Comforter) Av -- which begins in mourning and ends in celebration and anticipation of the New Year and the process of repentance and renewal.
In a similar vein, the portion features Moses offering the Israelites a choice between a blessing and a curse. They are masters of their own fates: if they obey God's commandments, they receive the blessings -- and vice versa.
The key commandment is to reject idol worship. There is said to be something magnetic about the practice of worshiping idols in the new land, such that it would be constant moral battle, both individually and collectively, in the land.
Nowadays, according to Jewish tradition, humanity has lost the urge for idol worship (and the antidote, which is divine prophecy) -- but there are several near substitutes, such as lust or excessive appetites for worldly pleasures.
We are wired for compulsive behaviors, bad habits, and even addictions. These ...
We have so much to talk about this week -- Trump's efforts to negotiate peace through negotiation, and Gavin Newsom's efforts to divide Americans through gerrymandering. We'll also talk about Playboy leaving LA and California.
Special guests:
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Russia & Ukraine
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on Newsom
Harmeet Dhillon - DOJ Civil Rights Division chief, on the fight against DEI
Jessica Vaugn - Playboy model on political commentator, on California
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 PT
Call: 866-957-2874
