HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA: 1776-2023

Ralph Morrow

... a veteran sports columnist, says the only sport he doesn’t follow is cricket. That leaves plenty of others to fill his time.

ralphmoro1936 @gmail.com

Don’t say you never heard of Victor Wembanyama. I wrote about the 7’5” Frenchman several months ago, previewing his selection as the No. 1 choice in the June 22 NBA draft. I didn’t know at the time which team would take him, but it turned out to be San Antonio.

Marty Smith, an ESPN announcer, was stationed in San Antonio, dressed for the occasion, as he entertained the crowd.

Wembanyama was at the Barclays Center in New York, where he was interviewed by ESPN’s Monica McNutt and his responses entertained the crowd. Later, a private plane took him to San Antonio, where a large and welcoming crowd cheered his arrival.

“Wemby,” as he’s called, was a pleasant choice, a good-looking Frenchman who speaks perfect English and plays perfect basketball, as demonstrated by the many films of him in action. Many basketball minds believe he’ll have no trouble turning the Spurs from an also-ran into a quality team.

The Miami Heat, on the other hand, were the 18th team to select in the draft, having finished in eighth place in the East when the playoffs began and finishing runner-up to champion Denver when it ended. That meant the Heat and team president Pat Riley were choosing well down the line. Of course, Riley and Co. still made good use of their selection. They picked Jaime Jaquez, a junior from UCLA, whom several analysts said would be perfect for the Heat. We’ll see. Having already included their second-round pick in an earlier deal, the Heat had no further selections.

Brandon Miller was selected No. 2 by the Charlotte Hornets, while Scoot Henderson, a 6’8” forward and a freshman at Alabama, went to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 3.

Henderson sparked conversation about the availability of Portland’s star Damian Lillard. If available, the Heat would be interested. However, the president of that team said strongly that Lillard was not available.

Next up to pick in the draft were the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons, who took twins Amen and Au- sar Thompson in succession. They had been playing for the Overtime Elite. This will be the first time Amen and Ausar have played on different teams.

The Orlando Magic, picking sixth, took Anthony Black of Arkansas. After Indianapolis and Washington made their selections, Taylor Hendricks became University of Central Florida’s first selection for the first round. Hendricks was drafted in the No. 9 position by the Jazz.

If there was one pattern about this draft, it was that few college seniors were selected. Nearly all the drafted players showed their emotions by crying real tears. The mothers, wives or girlfriends of all the draft candidates did their best to out-dress — and outcleavage — each other.

Many of the players tried to get into the dressing competition. My vote would have gone to Scoot Henderson, whose suit was emblazoned with silver decorations.

There were also several trades made during the draft. Marcus Smart went from the Boston Celtics to Memphis. The deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston was finally completed, as was the one that sent Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors.

Next up for the executives and some players is the free agent grab bag, which opens June 30. Players who are not satisfied with the contract offered them, announce they are free agents and can be claimed for an agreeable salary. Both sides can think about it until an early July date, when they can sign the official papers.

Two hundred forty-seven years ago, our Founding Fathers put their reputations and lives on the line — literally — when they signed the document that in effect charted the course for a new nation. Adopted by the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence announced to the crown that the thirteen American colonies were now independent states, no longer part of or bound to the British Empire. (The very faded original signed document, which was actually signed on Aug. 2, 1776, is part of our nation’s heritage and is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.)

While this Declaration was certainly a product of late 18th-century America, certain parts of it have become synonymous with basic human rights around the world:

“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

While Thomas Jefferson is considered the principal author, the Declaration can be more likely attributed to a “Committee of Five” appointed by Congress on June 11, 1776: John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration was modified by the committee and eventually adopted on July 2, 1776.

John Adams, a signer and our second president, predicted that July 2 would become our national holiday. Because the final wording of the already-passed Declaration was approved on July 4, in large handwritten letters on the top of the document, our Independence Day is actually two days later than Adams originally believed it would be. Ironically, on the 50th anniversary of the final adoption of the declaration, July 4, 1826, both Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. Their legacy, as well as all the Founders and early American patriots, is a nation and a people still worthy of celebration. As always, celebrate responsibly, and cast a thought or two back to the people who actually signed a document that closed with the following:

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appeal- ing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Speaking of July 4, please come to Sombrero Beach for our big July 4 celebration! Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marathon and the City of Marathon, this all-day festive beach event starts with a parade on Sombrero Beach Road, and moves to the beach. Come hungry and thirsty — the event features burgers, dogs, beer, soda and more being sold by Rotarians, and the money goes to local scholarships and charitable donations. There will be fun stuff for kids of all ages, as well as live music, and the best small-town fireworks display in America. See you at Sombrero on Independence Day!

— Find John’s music anywhere you download or stream your music. www. johnbartus.com • johnbartus.hearnow. com

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald