When Steve Kerr said what we're all feeling

PLUS: Yet another return of The BYC, some vintage Richard Hadlee acting, and the Caster Semenya conundrum.

This is a sports newsletter. Without wanting to assume too much about the most intelligent group of readers in the country, I’m guessing most of you come here for a bit of mindless escapism, with the occasional mindful insight thrown in.

Today, like a lot of you would have, I received a news alert this morning about another mass shooting at an American school and I’ve spent most of the rest of the day in a quiet, impotent rage.

Normally I can talk sport on cue with anyone about nearly anything - okay, so modern pentathlon is a bridge too far - but as myself and podcast colleague Jason Hoyte gathered to prep for today’s show (see below), there was a quiver in his voice when he talked about what happened at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

We’re parents, we send our kids off to school every day in the expectation they’ll be kept safe. It’s beyond extraordinary that in America, a country that has done so much good in the world and which even in troubled times remains a beacon for optimism, refuses to enact simple measures that would help keep their children and wider population safer.

But, hey, this is a sports newsletter and I want to keep that spirit alive, so here’s Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors coach and a man who lost his own father in a terrorist attack, saying what everybody needs to hear.

Golden State Warriors @warriors

Steve Kerr on today's tragic shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

LeBron James @KingJames

There simply has to be change! HAS TO BE!! 😔😔😔😔🥺🥺🥺🥺.. Praying to the heavens above to all with kids these days in schools. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Now, back to the escapism…