Mike O'Connell

So my beloved New York Yankees were able to reach .500 at the All-Star break, though they’re still seven and a half games out of first place in the AL East. Two Bronx cheers for the Pinstripers.

In the National League, my hometown Nats are enjoying this respite with a .600 winning percentage and a six game lead over the Mets and Marlins. With healthy arms and some solid bats you can lock up a playoff spot for the Nats. (You heard it here first.)

Tonight, of course, is the All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby. Last year’s rules changes made the thing epic, and I expect this year to bring the same. The only confusing thing I imagine is that though I’ll be watching the event live at night here it will be daytime in San Diego, reminiscent of when they used to tape the thing during the day and show it at night.

No matter. I plan to be entertained, though I’m a bit disappointed Giants pitcher (pitcher extraordinaire) Madison Bumgarner won’t be involved as was suggested some time ago. That guy (who threw a one-hitter yesterday, by the way) would have been my favorite to win, of course. As things are… Cano all day.

Yeah, he still makes me feel old, but at least it’s not as terrible as the other guys.

Still basking in the glow of Monday’s first ever public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Sterling Park we turned our attention now to baseball, our national pastime, where most MLB teams are playing under God’s lights this summer afternoon.

My hometown Nationals have opened up a four-game lead over the second-place Mets before their series with said Mets this weekend. With a win in at least one of their next five games the Nats have assured themselves first place in the NL East heading into the All-Star break.

In the American League, my beloved New York Yankees have not fared quite as well. They are currently in fourth place in the AL East, and one game below .500. Amazing considering their lineup, which as of Sunday boasts three players with at least 400 career home runs (A-Rod, Carlos Beltran, and Mark Teixeira). That’s about the nicest thing I can say about the team right now. (And I believe this is the first such occurrence in MLB history. I have scoured the Internet looking for this gem of a stat and have found it nowhere, hence its inclusion here for public record.)

Fourth of July weekend is upon us—isn’t it great when holidays naturally fall on Mondays?—and I’m gearing up for a new/old tradition this year.

As I did half a dozen times in my old hometown of Binghamton, New York, this Monday I am presenting in my new hometown of Sterling, Virgnia, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. I’ll be reciting the entire text of the declaration at our local community center’s playground beginning at 11 a.m.

In the 19^th century and into the early part of the 20^th century it was customary on the Fourth of July for a public official—a mayor, a judge, a justice of the peace—to recite the text of the Declaration of Independence in a public place for residents to come together as a community and celebrate the holiday. Like many traditions, this one faded, and now it is difficult to find such an event anywhere in the nation, let alone one’s hometown. I’m aiming to amend that Monday with what I hope to be the first of many such occurrences in Loudoun County. If you are able to join us please do so. Further information can be found on the Events page of this site. Now let our patriotism commence!

Conservative columnist George Will announced Friday he has left the Republican Party, citing irreconcilable differences or some such thing between him and the GOP’s presumed presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Much as I’ve liked Will in the past, I say good riddance.

There’s a certain attitude among Washington’s political and media elite that one must be part of the club to, well, be part of the club. There’s the in-group and the out-group, and it has nothing to do with party affiliation. Among media types George Will is the establishment Republican. Now he’s just establishment.

And unless it’s about baseball, I now have no reason to read any more George Will columns.

Oh, soccer… you with the periodic way in which you get our hopes up. It’s not just every four years now, either. Somehow it’s become more frequent than that. You got me again last night, as I tuned in to see my national team face off against a real soccer team from Argentina in the Copa America Centenario.

It was exciting for about 10 minutes.

Four-nil? That’s like 40-nil in a real sport.

Kudos, soccer promoters, though, on slipping this one in off schedule to milk some American wishful thinking. You got me again.

See ya at the Olympics.