EVENTS THAT ARE ON MY MIND RIGHT NOW: A CELEBRITY DEATH, PRO BASKETBALL NEWS, THE LOS ANGELES JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, AND FINALLY—A RESTAURANT REVIEW!!!

There has been so much on my mind since yesterday that I feel the need to address it all right now. Some sad, some happy, some perplexing. But all of them interesting.

So here are a few of my recent thoughts:

DONALD SUTHERLAND DEATH

I was shocked when I read that Donald Sutherland had died. I had no idea that he had been unwell for a while. Even though the prolific actor was eighty-eight-years-old, my heart still sank.

I met Donald Sutherland only once, but he surprised me by just how sweet and intense he was. It was at the opening night after-party for a show he was starring in in L.A. The single and attractive friend I had brought along really wanted to meet him. So even though I really do not like to bother the toast of a soiree, I went over to laud him, just so she could chime in. And he did not take his eyes off mine for the next ten or fifteen minutes! He asked me everything! He was not trying to hit on me at all—he was just a nice person who seemed to be interested in others. I really appreciated my very brief time with the man.

And I have to apologize to Donald Sutherland for something. And that is thinking he was going to be the killer in my favorite TV show in years, The Undoing. But that’s how good of an actor he was—he tricked even my honed detective skills!

And now, my heart goes out to his family, fans, and friends, especially our great mutual pal, Elliott Gould, who has had a forever-bond with Donald ever since they starred in the classic movie M*A*S*H together. I’ll ask him to tell me a story or two about the Canadian legend this week.

R.I.P., Donald Sutherland.

JJ REDICK

As I predicted on Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers hired former NBA player JJ Redick as their new Head Coach, despite the fact that he has never served in that capacity anywhere before. Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who just shepherded that team to the NBA championship, is perhaps the youngest coach ever at thirty-five, (he’ll be thirty-six at the end of this month,) but he had been an assistant coach in small colleges forever, and he come up through the ranks to sort-of luck into the Celtics head coach position a couple of years ago. That’s the hard coaching path that he took, and most pro coaches have similar ones.

As I stated just a few days ago in this e-zine, (in my article about Danny Hurley turning the position down, which you can still read here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/basketballkarens-thoughts-danny-hurleys-excellent-decision,) JJ Redick has never even coached Little League, let alone anywhere else. He’s never even been an assistant coach in college! He’s never done anything more than play ball in high school and college and the NBA. And he’s been a commentator for the past couple years. But, again, never any kind of coach. (And trust me, I researched him quite a bit to make sure I was correct!)

So, I don’t really predict great things for him in the pro league. His contract is for four years, but I have a feeling that the Lakers will suck at the beginning of the season, and JJ will be gone by December. I really feel that they needed to hire a veteran coach, such as Jeff Van Gundy or Mark Jackson or Mike Brown, but oh well. As many of you know, even though I love Los Angeles, in general, more than anyone else I’ve ever met, I just have never gotten behind the Lakers. So there you have it.

BRONNY JAMES PREDICTION

Now to continue on the Laker tip, here’s what I think will happen here. I feel that LeBron James struck a backroom deal* with the Laker powers-that-be to make sure that his son, Bronny James, gets on the team with him. And if they do not choose him in the draft, (or even after the draft because he’s not really a hot commodity, and for sure not one of the sixty best players coming into the league, so in a fair world, he would still be available after the draft ends,) then LeBron and his son will go elsewhere. *[Note: I just read that their agent is declaring that they are not a “package deal,” but I beg to differ. So we’ll see.]

So, to any NBA teams who are reading this, here’s what you need to do: Unless you have first, second, or third pick in the Draft, if you’re ahead of the Lakers’ #17 choice, you should choose Bronny just to be able to trade him to the Lakers. Even though he doesn’t seem to be a great player himself, (which means that a team couldn’t get much in a trade for him,) I feel that the Lakers will do anything to get him, to keep LeBron James on the team. So if you choose Bronny before the Lakers can, you can basically write your own ticket of just whom and what you want in exchange for the kid! That would be a genius move, (even if I do have to say so myself.)

By the way, I really do want to see a father and son play together in the NBA, and this will be our best chance for that. I applaud LeBron for being such a dedicated father. Even though he’s still a great player, I don’t know if he would still be playing if it were not for the opportunity to play on the same team as his son. So I really hope that it will come to pass, and in this upcoming season, for sure. (But what’s LeBron going to do when his second son comes up in the world??? I’ll ponder that question some other time. As you can see, I have enough on my mind for one day!)

CAITLIN CLARK

I’ve honestly never seen anything like this in pro sports before—opponents being allowed to harm a fellow player with no repercussions from the league! It’s disgusting. By that I mean both the treatment of Caitlin Clark and the non-calls and no fines for the offenders.

Caitlin is not only the best player in the WNBA in quite awhile, but she’s also the only reason that any of the other players in the league are having people see them play. Just about no one has been interested in seeing women play basketball before this season, and now they finally have someone who is so good and intriguing that she’s selling out the previously empty arenas!

Plus, the teams have had to fly commercial all these years, (and I highly doubt it was even in Business Class,) but because of Caitlin, they are finally having charter flights. They need to be grateful for the girl, not evil to her!

It’s bad enough that she’s been left off the Olympics team, which, of course, she’s been more than gracious about, but she’s getting thrown around by bigger women, on purpose. And no one is doing anything to help her.

I hate to say it, but I agree with everyone else that it’s about race. (I would say that if it was the other way around, too.) And jealousy. All those other women, especially the ones Caitlin played against in college, (yes, you, Angel Reese,) are so jealous of her that it’s making them extra-crazy. And they need to stop it this very second before someone gets really hurt.

The refs need to really take charge. And, very shamefully, Caitlin needs to have a bodyguard with her.

But most importantly, the WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, needs to issue a warning. She can make it generic, such as, “If any player harms another player, they will be suspended indefinitely, effective immediately.” Dot, dash, end of story.

LOS ANGELES JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

I hope you all read my preview of this local annual film festival the other day, (here’s the link, in case you missed it: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/upcomingmovies-los-angeles-jewish-film-festival-2024-preview,) and that many of you were at the Opening Night Gala the other night. I wasn’t planning on also doing a review of it, but the event was so excellent, that I just have to tell you a little bit about it. And remind you that the festival is happening right now, and advise that, if you’re in SoCal, you should check out all their other offerings.

My friend Nina and I were overwhelmed by the number of people who turned out for the opening night. It was at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, which has a massive auditorium, and it was absolutely packed! We got there a little bit before 7PM, when it was due to start, and the line of well-dressed ticket holders was already around the block.

The reception came first; I really didn’t know what to expect in the way of food, but it was all delicious! And plentiful. The buffets featured several kinds of finger foods, and Nina and I loved it all. There were mini knishes, (of course,) hotdogs in “blankets,” chicken fingers, beef “cigars,” and vegetables on one table, and on another was Chinese food, (also of course.)

In addition to cut-up fruits, the desserts were marble cake and some mini pastries, such as cheese danishes.

And then, we made the most incredible discovery at the other end of the spacious lobby-–a whole table full of all kinds of packaged treats! It was a snack bonanza. There were tiny chocolates, crunchy quinoa chocolates in several different flavors, and Hawaiian sea salt macadamia nuts. That was my favorite area, of course.

There were also different alcoholic beverages. I don’t drink, but I believe I saw bottles of wine and vodka.

And the movie itself, Guns and Moses, was very good. Even though I knew it was a crime drama, it had me jumping several times. There were fun surprises and even a bit of humor. I’m going to try to attend some of the other films in the Festival, and I hope to see many of you there.

I was glad to see a serious security force all over the venue. And we had to go through metal detectors, which, in this day and age, I really appreciated.

www.lajfilmfest.org

BLUE BIRDY SPORTS BAR AND CAFE

My glowing review of this new eatery on the Sunset Strip is coming on Monday, so please be sure to look for it then. Here’s a quick preview: The picky Mr. X loved what he ate there! And you will not believe what his favorite dish is. You can try guessing, but I doubt you will get it. So remember to check back early next week to see how you fare.