2019
October
29
Tuesday

Monitor Daily Podcast

October 29, 2019
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In today’s issue, our hand-picked stories explore the changing face of political conspiracies, camaraderie among Trump tailgaters, fighting fake political videos, how Afghan art inspires perseverance, and self-sufficiency on rollerblades in Congo.  

First, every decade or so, a really big man comes along in the NBA. Yao Ming and Manute Bol come to mind. Their stature alone gave everyone pause.

Tacko Fall may be that player today. He can dunk without jumping.

At 7 feet, 6 inches and 310 pounds, he redefines the term Big Man. For context, LeBron James is 10 inches shorter and 65 pounds lighter. 

To be clear, Tacko Fall is no LeBron James. His game is a work in progress. But he works hard and is smart. In 2015, the Bleacher Report asked him if he could be King James or Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, the computer science major replied, “I would be Steve Jobs.” 

That answer might be different today. 

On Saturday night, as the Boston Celtics' lead stretched to 25 points, Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden started chanting, “We want Tacko!” 

New York fans are not known for their grace or generosity of spirit, especially toward a Boston team. But that makes what happened so remarkable. They chanted until, well, they got Tacko. 

For the final 3:38, the Senegalese skyscraper worked the court, including two dunks. The crowd loved it. “For an undrafted player on the road in his first career game, the whole scene is incredibly surreal ... but as long as Tacko brings opposing fans together, I think it’s a beautiful thing,” wrote Deadspin’s Lauren Theisen.

Here’s to the beauty of unity inspired by awe. 


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Today’s stories

And why we wrote them

A deeper look

Story Hinckley/The Christian Science Monitor
Randal Thom (center), a self-employed painter from Lakefield, Minnesota, and other Trump supporters counter-protest in front of a massive inflatable "Trump baby" in Minneapolis.

The Explainer

Scott Peterson/Getty Images/The Christian Science Monitor
Michael Barry, a historian of the Islamic world and professor at the American University of Afghanistan, teaches students about the significance of medieval Afghan art, May 16, 2019, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Kudra Maliro
Alice Nguru Bagheni (left), Chakila Melchois (second from left), and a teammate prepare to begin a drill with their coach Joel Kavuya (right) in Beni, Congo. The women are members of the Dream Team Rollers, the city's only competitive skating team.

The Monitor's View

Elise Amendola/AP
The Boston Red Sox's Chaim Bloom smiles at a news conference Oct. 28, 2019, at Fenway Park in Boston, where it was announced he will be the baseball team's Chief Baseball Officer.

A Christian Science Perspective

About this feature

A message of love

Life in a California wildfire zone for a Red Cross worker

( The illustrations in today’s Monitor Daily are by Jacob Turcotte. )

A look ahead

Thanks for joining us. Come back tomorrow: We’re working on a story about the Boeing CEO’s testimony before Congress and the delicate art of apologies.

More issues

2019
October
29
Tuesday
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