One winter afternoon, a few years in the past, I backed right into a pole.
On my strategy to work on the hellish confines of an area outlet mall, I lucked into a wonderful parking house. Usually, as a result of recognition of stated mall, I needed to park a great distance away from my office. Having been at it for a number of months, I now not seemed for nearer parking. Nonetheless, on this event, I had been working late, so in a harebrained try to cut back that deficit I drove to the entrance of the lot.
Lo and behold, off within the slim, virtually hidden, entrance nook of the lot, I noticed a vacant house.
I instantly whipped into it, noting mentally that the way in which the curb curled again across the fringe of the house made it a tough match. Solely a compact automotive actually might have match there comfortably. Making it even trickier was the cylindrical concrete base of what had as soon as been a light-weight pole situated on the fringe of the jutting curb, which pressured anybody coming into the house to take action from an angle. It was solely a slight angle, however should you tried to drag in with out doing so, you’d virtually actually make contact with the concrete base.
Hours later, within the early darkish of winter, I slumped into my seat, lifeless on my ft. Christmas, I’m afraid, doesn’t deliver out the perfect in human beings, and I used to be able to get the heck out of dodge. So prepared, that in my weary state, I forgot utterly in regards to the stays of the previous gentle pole (which sat simply low sufficient to not be seen within the rear-view mirror), and threw my automotive into reverse to the symphony of a sickening crunch.
And so my newly bought automotive sustained its first disfigurement. The tail-light was simply changed. The partially crushed bumper, nevertheless, remained in its lesser state for the lifespan of the car.
How might I’ve been so silly? So unfortunate? So inconsiderate?
I swore endlessly as I reversed my automotive extra rigorously, avoiding one more tilt with the concrete barrier. I continued to kick myself mentally as I pulled into a way more open (and higher lit) part of the lot additional down the row to extra totally assess the injury.
No sooner had I began taking footage of the ruinous rear finish than I heard repeated honking from the close by freeway entrance.
A hulking, black Ford F-450 squealed into the lot above really helpful speeds, and recognizing the shut, open house in a packed vacation lot, made a beeline straight for it.
The factor about concrete is that it actually blends nicely right into a background of concrete. Particularly at the hours of darkness. And particularly at larger speeds.
I might virtually hear Carl Orff’s O Fortuna part of Carmina Burana enjoying in my head because the truck sprinted in direction of the empty house. At that distance, there was nothing to do however watch. I noticed the tail lights blush a sudden crimson — heard the squealing of the outsized car braking in useless — after which affect.
It wasn’t too horrible. In all actuality, the truck was in all probability solely going 10 mph by the point it hit the pole base. Based mostly on the sound, although, the entrance left nook was going to want some critical work, and the airbags had in all probability activated.
I lingered for a couple of minutes to see the occupants get out, as bystanders ran over to examine on them. Everybody appeared okay.
Then I acquired in my blemished trip and made my approach out of the lot, smiling a bemused smile. “Accidents can occur to anybody”, I assumed to myself. “However there’s nothing like another person’s misfortune to make you are feeling higher about yours.”
And that’s, in essence, my preview for tonight’s recreation.
As hobbled because the Spurs are, with their greatest two gamers using pine for the remainder of the season, it’s not precisely a large number of their making. Dangerous issues have occurred to them.
The Sixers, alternatively, are at present being pressured to put down on a festering mattress of their very own making. Having signed each Joel Embiid and Paul George to ill-advised max contracts, the season has gone simply in regards to the reverse of the way in which followers and the entrance workplace hoped it will.
Throw in a season-ending harm to promising rookie (and my draft favourite) Jared McCain, and the Sixers’ season is all however over.
Because of this, they seem to have determined to throw within the towel and totally tank, trying to guard their draft place by putting each decently contributing participant on their roster on the upcoming harm report.
Spurs followers gained’t even get to benefit from the homecoming of fan-favorite Lonnie Walker as he seems to be destined for road garments as nicely.
In full disclosure I have to admit an virtually lifelong animosity for Philadelphia sports activities groups (and followers) after witnessing them cheer Michael Irvin’s career-ending again harm, so to witness their downfall is at all times a delight (No, I’m not a Cowboys fan both, thank goodness).
To that finish, I hope the Spurs beat the snot out of whoever does take the courtroom for Philadelphia, supposing they’ve sufficient gamers for a beginning 5.
Approaching the exuberant heels of a extremely fulfilling victory over the Kicks, I hope Mamu goes for 50 factors tonight. This cowardice is not going to stand! Pistols at daybreak…er, 7pm!
Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs
March twenty first, 2025 | 7:00 CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports activities Community Southwest/NBA TV | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Victor Wembanyama – Out (Slumbering Beast), DeAaron Fox – Out (Hand), Charles Bassey – Out (Knee)
Sixers Accidents: Adem Bona – Out (Ankle), Andre Drummond – Out (Toe), Kyle Lowry – Out (Hip), Kelly Oubre Jr. – Out (Knee), Lonnie Walker IV – Out (Concussion), Tyrese Maxey – Out (Again), Paul George (Knee), Joel Embiid – Out (Carbonite), Eric Gordon – Out (Wrist), Jared McCain – Out (Knee)
For the Sixers’ fan’s perspective, please go to Liberty Ballers.
PtR’s Sport thread will likely be up this night for many who wish to chat by way of the sport. You may also observe together with the motion by way of PtR’s Twitter feed.
