Thoughts for the Day, June 11, 2025: RIP Brian Wilson

Random Thoughts

For many of us, the recent protests over the administration’s immigration enforcement practices bring back memories of the 60s and 70s. It was much worse back then, but the current situation may get much worse. Bringing in the national guard increases the tension. Bringing in the marines never happened during the 60s and 70s. Hopefully peaceful protests will be allowed, and intervention by the national guard or marines will not be required.

Since January, the coverage of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have taken a backseat to what has been going on in the United States. We cannot forget that people are dying, lives are being ruined, property and infrastructure are being wiped out. It is estimated that nearly 65,000 have died in the conflict between Israel and Gaza. It is estimated that nearly 1.2 million have been killed or wounded in the Russia/Ukraine conflict.

Was anyone really surprised that the bromance between Trump and Musk ended in divorce? Two alpha males rarely work well together. Two alpha males that cannot be trusted never works.

The men’s U.S Open is this week at Oakmont in Pittsburg. It is the one tournament that the best players in the world can sometimes look like the rest of us if they get in the rough or they get in the wrong place on the greens. The U.S.G.A. is notorious for setting up a course to the point it is almost unplayable. The rough will be a minimum of five inches, the greens are going to be a 14 on the Stimpmeter, (Boyne keeps their greens at 9.5 and are considered fast) and the wispy grass off the rough will be 18 inches. Don’t be surprised to see players putting the ball off the green or barely hitting the ball only a few feet when in the rough.

I have always been a hockey fan, but with the recent downfall of the Red Wings, I have found my interest has taken a major step backwards. I have not watched a Stanley Cup playoff game. Not so with the NBA. Once the playoffs start, I am tuned in every night. A night like tonight is perfect for me. The Tigers are on at 6:30 and then the NBA finals start around 8:30. My love for baseball and basketball has always been front and center for me. I guess it explains why I was an umpire for over 50 years and a basketball official for 20 years. I am hoping for the NBA finals to last seven games.

Everyone knows the WNBA women players are significantly underpaid compared to male NBA players. Claudia Goldin, a professor at Harvard University, who won the 2023 Nobel in economic science, recently authored an article highlighting the discrepancy. Her analysis compared eyeballs watching games (attendance and TV viewers) for all NBA games and all WNBA games divided by the number of players in each league. Under this comparison, the NBA has four times the number of eyeballs per player watching NBA games versus eyeballs per player watching NBA games. Under this analysis, NBA players should be four times higher than WNBA players. The average NBA salary is $10 million, and the average WNBA player is $127,000, or 1/80^th of the NBA player.

The Tigers are 20 games over 500 at 44-24 going into tonight’s game against Baltimore. They have done it in spite of major injuries to key position players and starting pitchers. Today, the Tigers announced starting pitcher Jackson Jobe is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery later this week. He will be out for the remainder of the season. The strength of this team and organization is its depth. Since Scott Harris has taken over as president of the Tigers, he has built depth throughout the organization. The Tigers minor league farm system is ranked in the top 3 in all of baseball. This depth along with the tremendous versatility of its position players has allowed the Tigers to overcome the injuries to date. It is exciting to think how good the Tigers can be if the injury bug ever goes away.

The Lions’ starting center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement last week. Ragnow has been the anchor of the Lions’ offensive line. His announcement was somewhat of a surprise because Ragnow is relatively young. Ragnow decided that his long-term health and family took priority over his football career. Who can blame him?

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys died today at age 88. His influence on rock and roll ranks with the best. His use of harmony while emphasizing summer fun in his songs were a popular combination.

Per the NY Times, on mid-1960s hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “California Girls” and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” the Beach Boys created a musical counterpart to the myth of Southern California as paradise — a soundtrack of cheerful harmonies and a boogie beat to accompany a lifestyle of youthful leisure. Cars, sex and rolling waves were the only cares.

That vision, manifested in Mr. Wilson’s crystalline vocal arrangements, helped make the Beach Boys the defining American band of the era. During its clean-cut heyday of 1962 to 1966, the group landed 13 singles in the Billboard Top 10. Three of them went to No. 1: “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda” and “Good Vibrations.”

At the same time, the round-faced, soft-spoken Mr. Wilson — who didn’t surf — became one of pop’s most gifted and idiosyncratic studio auteurs, crafting complex and innovative productions that awed his peers.

“That ear,” Bob Dylan once remarked. “I mean, Jesus, he’s got to will that to the Smithsonian.” This is my Quote of the Day

Orchid of the Day: The 32^nd Hickory Cup, which will be played at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti. This three-day match play event pits friends from Ypsilanti versus friends from Eastern Michigan University. I have spent the last 30 Fathers’ Day weekends participating in this event. Lots of fun, lots of history.

Onion of the Day: I am giving myself the Onion of the Day because I will be golfing the next six days from Thursday through Saturday. Thankfully, Leah is understanding (or she doesn’t care)

Lyrics of the Day: Martinique, that Montserrat mystique
We'll put out to sea and we'll perfect our chemistry.
By and by we'll defy a little bit of gravity. Afternoon delight, cocktails and moonlit nights. That dreamy look in your eye Give me a tropical contact high.

If you think you know the lyrics send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.

Answer to the Lyrics of the Day for June 9, 2025: Everyday People by Sly and the Family Sloan.

Question of the Day: Do you support Trump’s use of the marines to suppress the demonstrations in Los Angeles?

Video of the Day:

The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (From "Good Timin' - Live At Knebworth")