Clerk Kant – Page 3 – The Fortress of Platitudes

United States 3, South Africa 0

Levi’s Stadium
Santa Clara, CA
May 12th, 2019

After rooting for and watching them win year after year, I finally got my opportunity to see the United States Women’s National Soccer Team live before they head to the World Cup in France. The game was part of the Send Off Series and this was the first one.

‘Reluctance’ would mischaracterize how I felt about going stag to this match, but the feeling was akin to it. Since it was Mother’s Day, my friends had prior commimtments and I had just visited my family in Texas.

I bicycled to Levi Stadium and donned my San Jose Earthquakes t-shirt only to find no one else was repping anything except the Team USA gear. Among a sea of women (and a few male significant others) clad in white jerseys or other patriotic attire, I stuck out a little.

Sure I possibly exacerbated the feeling when I got caught lecherously staring at some fine ass ladies who then avoided eye contact, I admit it.

But I didn’t allow myself to feel self-conscious and enjoyed the game from start to finish!

The South African team was outmatched. Their opportunities downfield were few and the game was mostly played on their side of the field, with them defending against constant pressure by the US. When they did manage to cross the 50 yard line (what is it called in soccer?), they failed to do much more than take weak shots on goal.

My favorite player, Carli Lloyd, scored the third and last goal by kicking the ball between the legs of the goalie and past another defender. It was pretty awesome.

I was surprised with how much hard contact I saw. With the cameras as far away as they are, it’s hard to appreciate just how physical the women’s game is. An American got her head checked after taking what looked like a shoulder right in her temple and two different South African players required either a stretcher or multiple trainers / doctors.

Holy smokes! Pay them already!

If You’re Into Jerky and Fish

These dried, little mackerels (I think?) are one of my favorite snacks. They remind me of the harder parts of a salmon steak in texture, which I love. Not too salty, I was expecting more of that, and with a teriyaki flavor.

This is something I can only describe as fish bacon roast. It does not have any fishy taste to it, but not as brittle as bacon nor as dry as jerky. A perfect in-between. Same great teriyaki flavor as the mackerels. All three of them have this and it’s pretty damn good.

Fish jerky for sure. The equivalent of the moist, boutique premium beef jerkys except made of fish. The texture reminds me of sashimi. No fishy taste in this either. A light teriyaki glaze that doesn’t stay on the fingers. Very delicious and tasty.

The Other Side of Valentine’s Day

One of my friends from college has struggled to make lasting and meaningful connections with people all her life. She suffers from loneliness while living out of her car. She gets passed up for promotions at Wal-Mart, despite having a four year degree and never missing a shift.

Some people get kicked while they’re down and have decades of encumbrances to ensure they never get back up.

For those individuals, Hallmark holidays can put an exclamation mark on what they don’t have. While the average happy human is flexing their logistical savvy to make Valentine’s Day a perfect experience, others say this:

Just another day, but with more reminders of love all around us, more than usual. Making Valentine’s Day inherently un-usual. And even moreso for those of us who’ve yet to obtain anything even remotely close to love. It rubs it in our faces, like salt to a wound.

Makes us long to feel what love must feel like. A fairytale dream that would be so wonderful, but it never comes true. And just when you think u’re close to obtaining it, your heart gets shattered into a million pieces. As though it’s no big deal, you’ll just get over it. But it is a big deal.

And it just sucks.

I’m glad it’s over.

The Bakersfield Banditos Will Touch Them All in 2019

March 18, 2019 – The Vallco Benihana’s

2019 Bakersfield Banditos
Round	Overall Pick	Player
1	9	Aaron Judge (NYY – OF)
2	12	Manny Machado (SD – 3B,SS)
3	29	Khris Davis (Oak – OF)
4	32	Cody Bellinger (LAD – 1B,OF)
5	49	Andrew Benintendi  (Bos – OF)
6	52	Lorenzo Cain (Mil – OF)
7	69	Zack Greinke (Ari – SP)
8	72	Blake Treinen (Oak – RP)
9	89	Masahiro Tanaka (NYY – SP)
10	92	Jonathan Villar (Bal – 2B,SS)
11	109	Wil Myers (SD – 3B,OF)
12	112	Dee Gordon (Sea – 2B,SS,OF)
13	129	Edwin Encarnación (Sea – 1B)
14	132	Kyle Hendricks (ChC – SP)
15	149	Eduardo Rodriguez (Bos – SP)
16	152	Yadier Molina (StL – C)
17	169	Tim Anderson (CWS – SS)
18	172	Cody Allen (LAA – RP)
19	189	Max Kepler (Min – OF)
20	192	Justin Smoak (Tor – 1B)
21	209	Adam Eaton (Was – OF)
22	212	Jon Gray (Col – SP)
23	229	Randal Grichuk (Tor – OF)
24	232	Marcus Semien (Oak – SS)
25	249	Shohei Ohtani (Pitcher) (LAA – SP)