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Even Olympians need lifeguards

By Paul Newberry The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — You’ve probably seen the meme of the bored-looking lifeguard sitting next to a pool. “If you ever feel useless,” it goes, “just remember that someone is a lifeguard at the Olympics swimming event.” Funny stuff, but hardly a joking matter. Lifeguards are stationed around the pool at every major swimming competition — including this week’s U.S. national championships meet in Indianapolis, which features Olympic champions such as Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel. Everyone competing at the IU Natatorium is sure ...

Reflections on 50 years of fly-fishing

By Walt Young For the Mirror A couple of weeks ago, I spent a few hours talking about fly-fishing with some young friends. These guys are in their mid to late twenties and are quite knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their favorite sport. Having started fly-fishing and fly tying back in 1964, I enjoy talking shop with the younger generation about their perspective on the state of the art. When I was their age, fly-fishing was as much a religion as it was recreation for me. Driven to be the best I could be with a fly rod, I began collecting and studying the best books on ...

Tip of cap to your dad and all dads

By Jim Lane sports@altoonamirror.com Editor’s note: Retired Mirror sports editor Jim Lane wrote this column after his dad, Kermit Lane, passed away in 1987. It’s reprinted every Father’s Day. Sunday is Father’s Day. It’s a chance to tell your favorite guy thanks for all he’s been and done for you over the years. It’s usually celebrated with a small gift, perhaps a shirt or tie or wallet. In many cases, few words are expressed. And that’s a shame. I wrote this Father’s Day column a couple of weeks after my dad died because I missed him. I still do. A day ...

Mixed signals on Morant suspension

By Paul Newberry The Associated Press This is not a defense of Ja Morant, whose erratic behavior certainly seems worthy of a lengthy suspension. Then again, in a country that worships its firearms and shrugs off repeated mass killings as nothing more than the cost of living in America, we shouldn’t be the least bit surprised when a brash young athlete chooses to flash a handgun on social media. Talk about mixed messages. Morant will have to sit out at least the first 25 games of the next NBA season for briefly displaying a pistol in a video shared on social ...

Revamped conferences seek balance

By Jim Caltagirone For the Mirror As the Big Ten Conference and SEC prepare for expansion to 16 teams for the 2024 college football season, originality and creativity may ultimately dictate the shape of team schedules. The SEC recently announced that it has adopted a temporary eight-game conference schedule for 2024 and scrapped divisions. The Big Ten just confirmed on Thursday that it is sticking with nine games and will scrap its two-division format. The addition of USC and UCLA adds more glamour and opportunities to the schedule. The SEC identifies one permanent opponent ...

Welcome to MLB’s struggle sessions

By David Harsanyl Creators Syndicate The Toronto Blue Jays’ Anthony Bass is really sorry. You see, Major League Baseball teams like the Dodgers will honor men in nun costumes who hand out condoms and simulate sex on crosses —- that’s just “inclusivity.” Orthodox Christians with opinions, on the other hand, will be compelled to engage in ritual public humiliation and beg for forgiveness. Last weekend, Bass shared a post on his Instagram account promoting “anti-LGBTQ campaigns, which targeted boycotting Target and Bud Light because of those companies associated with ...