A reason to believe in America; a reason not to believe in MLB’s antitrust exemption; and one tip for going car-free

Roundup - November 14, 2024

Nov 14, 2024

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Good Thursday, and welcome to the Out in Left roundup, in which I highlight things about sports, politics, and American life without a car that subscribers should know about. This week’s roundup includes:

A reason to believe in the future of America (yes, this America)
A reason not to believe in MLB antitrust exemption (yes, it’s Florida)
The best take on the NBA’s increasingly meaningless regular season

And, as always, there’s a tip for going car-free (or car-light).

If any of this is interesting, and/or you want to support Out in Left in its mission of thinking differently about American society and culture, then please subscribe below. Subscribers receive these weekly emails, as well as access to the archives and subscriber-only lists (like the upcoming list of tips for going car-free/light and the Political Sports Figure Hall of Fame). If you’re already a subscriber, then, with all sincerity: thank you.

ICYMI

I published two pieces last week. One is fictional, one is not, and each is a response to the presidential election.

Bruce Springsteen was wrong

Brendan Dentino

Nov 7

Something Bruce Springsteen and I have in common, besides being wordy New Jerseyans desperate for attention, is an obsession with the idea of America. It turns out we are clueless.

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"San Diego"

Brendan Dentino

Nov 10

The following is a short story I wrote earlier this year. It will be published in the forthcoming Sunshine/Noir III by City Works Press. The presidential election prompted me to pull this from the archives.

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A reason to believe in the future of America (yes, this America)

I spent Veterans Day weekend in San Juan. The United States doesn’t deserve Puerto Rico.

The natural beauty, eclectic architecture, and warm weather are great, but I bet you a thousand Medalla Lights that you can’t find a better people. Forget statehood. It is amazing Puerto Ricans aren’t fighting for independence, considering the U.S. treats the island like a benign tumor—something tolerated, if not excised.

But it was a rejuvenating trip after watching the MAGA camp disparage Puerto Rico for years. Puerto Ricans are nothing if not compassionate, and that’s enough for me to keep fighting against Trump’s fraudulent movement, for American democracy will live as long as our compassion does. It’s a sentiment at the core of my first piece for Out in Left:

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