Mike’s Manifesto .017
THOUGHTS ON SPORTS, MUSIC, TECH, AND THE LIFE IN BETWEEN - Captain’s Log .017
First there was two sets of footprints in the sand,
Then there was one set of footprints in the sand,
When times get hard and shit hits the fan,
God don't walk with me, he carry me man…— Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
THE OPENING
I have to start this week off with an apology. I missed Monday, because you know life.. Life is meant to be enjoyed and lived. A quick weekend getaway always does something for the mental psyche. It gives you a chance to explore. The ability to spend time with yourself that you might not take advantage of when in a comfortable place. It also gives you a chance to experience people in a variety of different ways. Building connection. Learning from an alternate train of thought. Partaking of Jazz Bars in another city is highly recommended. Art Museums on a Saturday afternoon. I have always had an impeccably great eye for Art…
🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS
Uninterrupted
These last few weeks have been eye opening from the standpoint that the world from many facets, was reminded how much racism is never absent. Three prominent athletes were disrespected from figures trying to remind the athletes of their power and place in it all.
Kylian Mbappé was compared to a chimpanzee by the Paraguay Senator Celeste Amarilla after the quarterfinal game in the World Cup between Paraguay and France. It stemmed from an altercation between the Paraguay Goalie and the French captain during the match. Mbappé in response condemned the senator and took classy approach for a rather ugly situation.
Angel Reese faced a similar situation where the Toronto Tempo Head Coach, Sandy Brondello, was caught on a hot mic calling Reese a, “Protected Species.” Angel’s response was not shocking — tweeting out, “ARE WE SURPRISED?!”. Which was then followed rather quickly with an apology publicly and reaching out to Reese privately as well. She was later suspended for 1 game. But the bigger story is apologies. They don't undo what was said when nobody was supposed to be listening. True feelings are typically what people say when they think no one is listening is always the truth.
Adam Silver recently called out LeBron James with his comments about the release of the NBA league schedule. Claiming that their schedule release and their “duty” to the business partners is solely reliant on one player, a black man, free agency decision. You mean to tell me, you cannot make a schedule for 30 teams because of one player?! That should say a lot and the part said loudly is the disrespectful nature in which the blame falls on the shoulders of one person.
All three took the high road. All three responded with more grace than the moment warranted. The running theme here is WE were never seen as human nor equal. Sports for some was seen as an equalizer, but I believe more and more athletes are realizing that is no longer the case. I just request for them to stop being so humble, and start being real. It’s a bill that is long past due.
🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD
Fix Your Face, Seriously!?
Masego will never do wrong in my eyes musically. And the fact that he is from the 757, he will get my support until he does something ignorantly stupid. This album was released on July 17th, which meant a welcomed return from one of the most uniquely gifted artists in the R&B and Jazz space.
He has a catalog full of great songs and his ear for making quality sounding music is to be studied. This is not a review of the album, but a reminder that music can meet you exactly where you are in life at the present time.
This album sounds like a man looking for love and trying to make sense of the things that get in the way of the pursuit. “Hello” is the record that you get a break from the yearning. It provides the backdrop of a tightly packed club, and the woman that you are with, you grab her by the waist and share a few moments on the dance floor like it is only the two of you unexpended.
What I appreciate most about Masego is he is a band kid, which means, they know how music should sound with the presence of true instrumentation. The music and vocals sound crisp and he also never departs from his pocket vocally, which I respect and admire. A great listen for those who enjoy good R&B and Jazz done with purpose and intention.
📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE
Google Drops New A.I. Models
Google just made its most calculated move yet in the AI arms race and it deserves your attention.
Alphabet dropped three new Gemini models: Gemini 3.6 Flash, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, and Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber. The strategy is clear: compete on price and efficiency where others are competing on raw power. Gemini 3.6 Flash uses up to 17% fewer tokens while delivering improved coding and performance—and it undercuts comparable models from Anthropic and OpenAI on cost.
The most pointed release though is Flash Cyber, a model specifically designed to detect and patch software vulnerabilities. That’s a direct challenge to Anthropic Mythos, which has an early and commanding lead in AI-driven cybersecurity. That does not mean it is the best model though — that is what Google is currently trying to prove. Google is essentially saying they can do what Mythos does at a fraction of the price.
The biggest question to me remains, when are we getting a physical that is actually heralded and consistently in the top A.I. models used. This might be their last ditch effort to gain traction, but quality over quantity is always the standard. Hopefully Google’s latest attempt can close the widening gap they so behind in.
❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY
No Performance Necessary
It feels good to be seen — and not in the typical “oh you know me so well sense” either. It feels good to be exposed. Now some will say, hey man, you sure about that. Let me say, when you are seen by someone who is nurturing and caring, it makes all the difference in the world. It is almost the equivalent of standing in front of someone naked.
In that moment, there is nowhere to turn or hide and you must face and address the eyes that are piercing at your entire being. Now the biggest factor in receiving that assessment, is how much healing have you done to acknowledge that someone can see you and you can speak to it. I had a very interesting conversation around what someone saw of me and what they “observed” of me. Full transparency, it felt weird, but also gratifying.
The bizarre feeling of someone calling you out on your stuff but then stating that it was a quality of mine that is redeeming, was a little shocking. After hearing that aloud, they exited the room, and I was sat there with a ton to think about before they came back. Someone telling you they noticed your “strategic” management of people and situations was eye opening. They go on to say the people I love most; I move in earnest and fairness. It is on display with the people who I have withdrawn from that seem to be the ones questioning the intention once the effort stops.
This conversation would have gone completely different had I not being in therapy for the past few years. Interestingly enough — the conclusions I settled on led me to believe she was right. I truly had to ask myself why that is. I noticed the theme in those situations, I detached to avoid getting hurt, even if my intention was to never hurt the other party. More like self-preservation. The old say, “I love you, but I love myself more” reigned hollow in my mind.
Subconsciously, I had no clue I was protecting my heart in that manner. It also donned on me that; it was the obvious reaction. I have yet to master the art of giving at limited capacity. With me, it’s all-in or all-out. It sounds great, but it is not sustainable. Over time it will chip away at you because you will start to question everything, over-analyze people, and create scenarios that have not even occurred yet.
It was the first time I accepted an observation from someone I barely know. But it was also the first time, I had to accept the truth for myself. What this conversation confirmed is that healing is not linear, and it is not quiet. Sometimes it shows up in the middle of an ordinary moment like a Friday night out in New York and hands you a mirror you were not ready for. The gift is not always in the reflection, it rests in your willingness to look without flinching.
I am still all-in or all-out. I am still learning the art of giving at limited capacity without feeling like I am shortchanging the people who deserve my best. But what has shifted is the awareness. And awareness, when you actually do something with it, is where transformation begins.
No performance necessary does not mean you stop showing up. It means you stop showing up as someone you constructed for the comfort of others or the protection of yourself. It means the person who walks into the room is the same person who exists when the room disperses.
And what I learned from this conversation that night is that she did not tell me this to push me away, but to move in closer. A gentle reminder to continue to be consistent and present, not to resort to performance in the moments where silence lives. Most importantly, I discovered, I met my match. Checkmate.
WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK
SUBSTACK
Making Out should be revived. Mika’s article outlines why it is important.
SONG
Earth, Wind & Fire — “Getaway”
Nothing beats a good morning with one of the Elements’ best records.
READ OR WATCH
December cannot get here fast enough.
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— WESS