TERRY MOSHER

TOP OF THE TOWN – Boy, the news these past few days has been something else. It’s like the world is unraveling in layers like peeling an onion. I’m so happy the U.S. Soccer women finally moved up in equality with the men in pay. The gender pay gap was stupid in the first place. Why do we treat women as second-class so often? I remember as a young kid thinking what the bleep is going on? Women were then mostly consigned to their homes, taking care of them and the children they gave birth to. I know, I know, that is a tough chore often unappreciated and one that was, and is, needed. But I thought we were wasting half of the brain power of the population by the premise girls were supposed to be engaged by the time they graduated high school. I remember girls in high school not already engaged saying they were going to college to find a man, and most of them did. So I applaud the fortitude of the U.S. Soccer women like Megan Rapinoe and others who pushed hard to get this agreement with U.S. Soccer that pays them $22 million with another $2 million going into a fund to help players in their post-careers. The agreement also includes soccer’s governing body promising to equalize pay. So, again, about time and I’m more than pleased. … Speaking of women, Sue Bird officially announced she is coming back to play for the Storm for her 21st year – two seasons were lost to injuries – and again I’m happy for it. Bird is the best point guard the WNBA has seen and at 41 she can still deliver the ball. And she’s such a positive person. What is there not to like about her? I got a kick about Bird in a Seattle Times story written by Larry Stone when she said, “It was probably 10 or 15 years ago, the first time I stepped on the court against an opposing player and they whispered in my ear, ‘I had your poster on my wall growing up.’”Her poster is likely on a lot of bedroom walls of girls in our country. Bird is one of the good ones ­‑ the best of the good ones. … I live in two writing worlds. My education from a young age has centered on world affairs and politics. My degree from Western Washington is political science along with economics and history. At one time I wanted to be a constitutional lawyer and work in the State Department. I am glad I did not go down that path because I found I like to write. I joined the Bremerton Sun sports department on Feb. 2, 1970 and I have not worked a day since. So I have sports and world affairs in my life. I comment on both and as I said leading this off the news is packed today, and not all good like Sue Bird. Putin made good on his promise a long time ago to conquer Ukraine and pull that country back into the Russian fold. He started by invading the two breakaway regions of Ukraine and has a huge army of men and modern weapons ready to tear into the rest of Ukraine at any moment. If he goes too far, say into Poland, we are then into World War III because we and our Western allies and NATO are committed to defending such a move. I have a deep spiritual belief God will not allow nuclear weapons to be used, but if a World War starts and one side starts to lose, all bets are off. I hope we don’t go there. There are enough such weapons around the world to blow this planet apart. So hold your breath and pray. … The NBA released what it says is its top 75 players of all time. Michael Jordan and LeBron James are 1-2 in the 75-player rankings by major news outlets. Elgin Baylor was ranked 23rd. I would have put him higher. He hid his ego and if he had been more outspoken would have been ranked higher. One guy I personally saw several times and would have been on this list if tuberculosis had not laid him low his senior year at St. Bonaventure was Tom Stith. He and teammate Freddy Crawford both came down with TB. The Knicks drafted both Stith and Crawford. The disease was too much for Stith to overcome and his career was cut way too short. You should look up Stith to see what I mean. Crawford averaged 26.3 points for the Bonnies in 1963-64 season and played five seasons in the NBA for Knicks, Lakers, Bucks, 76ers and Clippers. He never really overcame what TD had done to him. Ok, that is enough for today. Be safe.

Be well pal.

Be careful out there.

Have a great day.

You are loved.