Elman
Outlaw's Outtakes

11-5-18 - Warriors  - Darren Yamashita
"...closest thing to perfection..."  Photo by Darren Yamashita.

11-5-18- Warriors - Darren Yamashita
"...relentless hound-from-hell..."  Photo by Darren Yamashita.

11-5-18 - Warriors - Darren Yamashita
"...seven-foot marvel that scores at will..."  Photo by Darren Yamashita.

Let me count the ways
by Outlaw

We are living in a time of uncertainty and fear, and require the distraction of sport, for it can excite, energize, ennoble and inspire us. I woke up Saturday morning in the afterglow of yet another Warrior win, with a 168-year-old sonnet coursing through my mind.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,  wrote English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1850, for her beloved husband Robert.

I love the grace of Kevin Durant, the seven-foot marvel that scores at will from all over the court, quietly racking up a cool 33 points and 13 rebounds while you get up from your couch to get a beer. I love the picture-perfect shot of Klay Thompson, who can break your heart on the stop-and-pop, and oh, by the way, might drop 52 on you. I love our humble, heroic, baby-faced, shimmying point guard, our super-Steph, the closest thing to perfection on a basketball court, one whose final line read 28 points, 7 assists, and 9 rebounds--an "off-night."
 
But how can I count the ways that I love Draymond? I love thee to the depth and breadth and height, for the assists, the rebounds, the relentless hound-from-hell defense and the unflagging leadership. Friday night at Oracle--once again--when it came down to "winning time" as his childhood idol Magic used to say, it was number 23 who led a smothering Warrior defense, holding the Timberwolves to a measly 12 fourth quarter points, thus turning around a solid effort from the visitors, who actually led by four headed into that fatal final period. When the dust settled, the Dubs had won by 17. Case closed.

"Her sense of art is pure in itself," wrote Edgar Allen Poe of Browning. Old Eddy could have been describing the hardwood artistry that is the Golden State Warriors. Lest I forget, there is one couplet in her timeless poem which brings to mind coach Steve Kerr, the epitome of compassion, class, social conscience and humility.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. 

Let me count the ways.

*          *          *

From 2000-2005 I wrote a column for the late great Oakland Athletics Fan Coalition (OAFC) entitled  Elman Swings
, a play on the fact that I'm a musician. Some of you may remember the OAFC, an East Bay organization that at its peak had several thousand members devoted to keeping the A's in Oakland and guess what? They've succeeded. Perhaps one or two of you might remember my articles (more like rants) about baseball and society. So when the Ultimate Sports Guide asked me to compose regular screeds for this weekly blast called Outlaw's Outtakes, how could I say "No?" ('Outlaw' is their nickname for me.) -- Pete Elman

Pops
3-6-17 - Pops

Michael King (left), with an associate from USF (center), and Karla Granadino-King, are pictured at the Olympic Club in San Francisco,  proudly sharing with the world their  Pops Premium Rumpopo. A King family secret, Pops Premium Rumpopo is a  delicious rum cream liqueur recipe brewed in the family tradition.  The award winning recipe is a Belizean family favorite and now available at all Total Wine & More stores in California and Bay Area retailers.
For more information, visit https://www.bzecheers.com/rumpopo

Pops - Original
Pops Back Label