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Zero proof. Zero calories. Zero regrets. Ritual Zero Proof blew the cork off the non-alcoholic spirit game with their whiskey, gin, tequila and rum alternatives. To the three best friends that began this company, non-alcoholic spirits weren’t intended to be an “or” but an “and” – an addition to their bar and an arsenal in their cocktail kit. Ritual Zero Proof makes alcohol alternatives so that people don’t have to sacrifice their night cap, their celebratory toast or their pitcher of margaritas on the beach. But how do they make it taste so… real?

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The *zero* proof is in the pudding. Unlike many non-alcoholic spirits that have a small percentage of alcohol in them, Ritual Zero Proof truly has 0% alcohol. The reason: they aren’t an “alcohol removed” spirit. Each bottle is crafted from the ground up and made with love.

It took GG, Marcus and David over 500 different recipes and a year before they were satisfied with their truly zero proof alcohol. The three are foodies who care deeply about what’s in their glass, and while they could do without their nightcap, they found that it was this ritual that was missed most.

So, they tasted Madagascar vanilla against Chinese vanilla. They extracted the essence of Mexican blue agave, American oak and Siberian pine to replicate the tastes of the spirits they love. It took a year and over 500 different recipes that were tasted by masterchefs and Chicago’s top bartenders before they had a spirit they were proud of.

Now, each of their batches are microfiltered and date-stamped to ensure freshness. By using botanicals and all natural ingredients (organic ones when possible), Ritual Zero ensures that their alcohol alternatives are worth making the switch for… and they even captured that classic alcohol “burn”. They blend complex botanicals that both rein in your taste buds and give them a little heat so that each bottle truly packs a punch.

They’re also gluten-free and don’t have any allergens (like tree nuts). The tequila and gin alternatives have 0 calories and their whisky and rum each have less 10. Because these spirits are traditionally more sweet, their Ritual Zero Proof alternatives use natural sugars to replicate the same tastes, with significantly less.

For many, making a drink is not about alcohol. It’s about the ritual behind it. Ritual Zero Proof is there for expecting women who want to have a pitcher of margaritas on the beach with their friends this summer. They’re for the person who’s training for a marathon and needs to get up a 4am for their run but still wants to come over for a nightcap. They’re for the couples that want to toast on their wedding night, but not get carried away. They’re for those trying to lose weight or those that want to see what a non-alcohol lifestyle could look like.

Because the truth it, they’re for almost everybody. Check them out today and see how much your ritual can change.

I’m going to say it right now: I think picture books get a bad rap. They’re written off as silly books for little ones, but there are a lot of picture books out there that have strong messages and deal with real issues. A new picture book, “Pigeon & Cat,” by author Edward Hemingway, may be written for kids, but it’s certainly a book that will teach a lesson to everyone who reads it.

Dealing with issues like homelessness and empathy, “Pigeon & Cat” tells the story of an unlikely pair of animal friends who find each other and lose each other. But it also teaches how one simple act of kindness can change someone’s life.

I got to chat with Hemingway about what inspired him to write such a story and what writing this book has taught him about living life in the last couple years.

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Inspiration for “Pigeon & Cat”

During the early 2000s and into the 2010s, Hemingway lived in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The idea for the character, Cat, came from the time he lived there.

“I noticed all these feral cats living in the neighborhood and they would live in these abandoned lots,” Hemingway explained. “They were all so cute and I would go up to them and unfortunately they’re very territorial. I was fascinated with them and I was always trying to win them over, but I wondered, you know, what would it take to win them over?”

After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Hemingway was forced to leave his home in Red Hook. And even though he had left the neighborhood, he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to those feral cats. So when he was creating this new character, he immediately thought of those cats.

Feral cats are a very specific kind of cat. When we meet Cat, he lives alone in a vacant lot and is fiercely territorial of his space. He never wants to leave his lot for fear of losing the only thing that’s his, which keeps him from making meaningful relationships.

The relationship between Pigeon and Cat

In the story, Cat finds Pigeon’s egg in a nearby nest. Despite knowing that the egg would make a wonderful meal for a hungry cat, he doesn’t eat the egg. Instead he allows it to hatch and cares for the little bird.

“Pigeon’s also a stray, but she’s known nothing but love because Cat loves her. And so she is able to show Cat that he’s capable of loving so much more,” Hemingway said. “I love that idea of this small single act of kindness actually changing an entire community because it brings these two animals together.”

Cat pours so much love and care into Pigeon’s well-being. He begins to decorate their lot with pretty things and teaches Pigeon words. His love and care offers Pigeon the safety to explore, which eventually means that she leaves the lot, and Cat is alone again. But this time it’s different.

Empathy has a ripple effect

Throughout our conversation, one word came up a lot: empathy. The empathy Cat shows for Pigeon’s egg changes both of their lives for the better. And when Pigeon leaves their lot, Cat is a different animal than he was at the beginning of the book. He goes out into the world unafraid—he’s learned you can find friends where you least expect them.

“I really wanted to make a book that kind of celebrated the things that bring us all together, that make us a community,” Hemingway said.

During their time apart, both Pigeon and Cat see more of their city, making new friends and having new experiences. Cat especially learns that not everyone is a threat because he’s forced to talk to other animals in his quest to find Pigeon.

“This small act of kindness actually changes both of these characters’ lives and not only changes their lives, but actually leads to urban renewal.” Hemingway explained.

In the end, Pigeon and Cat turn their lot into a home for more than just themselves. They create a new community for other stray animals who don’t have homes where they can share their resources and support each other.

Why did he choose a pigeon and cat of all the possible animal choices?

“I think visually I love the, sort of the difference between a, you know, a feral cat and a, and a city pigeon that they’re both, they’re so different, also dynamically in the way that they would move and think. And that’s why I think they make kind of a charming pair as well.”

On writing a book about homelessness, community and empathy during a pandemic

“It was just so trippy during the pandemic to be painting these big city scenes, you know?” he said. “And I was missing all that interaction. But also, when I painted it I was yearning for all that. So I think there’s some of that in the feeling of the book too.”

Hemingway, who is an artist first (he studied at the Rhode Island School of Design), handpaints all of his illustrations on a board about three times the size of a book page. Though he now lives in Montana, he fondly remembers the community of living in a city during major devastation. Though a hurricane is different than a pandemic, there’s a similar sense of isolation.

So, what does he ultimately want readers to gain from reading “Pigeon & Cat?”

“I want it to be like a unifying book, you know? Just to remind us all that we’re all in this together,” Hemingway said.

Whether you’re a kid or an adult, you will find something to take away from “Pigeon & Cat.” That’s the beauty of picture books.

At times during the 2021-22 campaign, the Washington Wizards were quite competitive, even as Bradley Beal appeared in only 40 of 82 games. Beal’s future is perhaps the most interesting part of Washington’s offseason considering the presence of a player option and the potential for a (very) lucrative extension, but the Wizards also entered the summer in possession of a top-ten pick.

Washington has not yet struck gold in the draft for quite some time, instead focusing on relatively low-ceiling players in the late lottery and the middle of the first round. The result is a clear chasm between Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and the rest of the roster when it comes to upside, and Washington began the draft with a similar conundrum to weigh when it came to the No. 10 pick — one made even more interesting when it was reported that Beal was declining his player option with an eye on becoming a free agent.

Roster Needs: Defensive reinforcements, more shooting, health, upside talent

Johnny Davis (No. 10 Overall), B: This is pretty much exactly where I’d have Davis on my board. Early in the season, Davis was mentioned as a top-five candidate after a hot start, but this is an appropriate value for a player with a well-rounded skill set. Davis is a capable on-ball scorer with good feel and the ability to shoot. He is also a feisty defender that should be very solid-to-good against smaller wings and lead guards. He probably isn’t a star, but he projects as a future starter and Washington could use those.

2022 Free Agents:
Thomas Bryant (UFA)
Raul Neto (UFA)
Anthony Gill (RFA)
Tomas Satoransky (UFA)
Cassius Winston (RFA)
Bradley Beal (UFA)

Roster:
Kristaps Porzingis
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kyle Kuzma
Rui Hachimura
Deni Avdija
Ish Smith (non-guaranteed)
Corey Kispert
Daniel Gafford
Vernon Carey Jr.
Isaiah Todd
Johnny Davis

For more than two decades, the San Antonio Spurs were a postseason fixture, winning titles and generally competing at the highest levels. The Spurs are now in a different phase, however, with the franchise missing the playoffs in three consecutive seasons and landing below the .500 mark in each campaign. San Antonio continues to extract value from a relatively limited roster, but the team’s current corps could use the infusion of talent that an intriguing draft class can provide.

While the Spurs did not enter the draft with a top-eight pick, only a small handful of teams began the cycle with more draft equity than San Antonio on account of three picks in the top 25 and another top-40 second round selection. That type of arsenal opens up a great deal of possibilities, and, ultimately, San Antonio stayed pat at No. 9 and took an in-state prospect.

Roster Needs: Another prominent shot creator, overall roster clarity

Jeremy Sochan (No. 9 Overall), B-: This may be seen as a reach for some, but Sochan is very Spurs-y. He brings immense defensive potential with versatility, length, and acumen. Sochan is also comfortable with the ball in his hands on offense, and San Antonio has a penchant for getting the most from players with shooting limitations. If he can smooth out his offensive repertoire, Sochan could be a monster role player.

2022 Free Agents:
Lonnie Walker IV (RFA)
Devontae Cacok (RFA)
Joe Wieskamp (RFA)
Robert Woodard II (RFA)
DJ Stewart Jr (RFA)

Roster:
Dejounte Murray
Doug McDermott
Josh Richardson
Jakob Poeltl
Zach Collins
Romeo Langford
Josh Primo
Keldon Johnson
Keita Bates-Diop (non-guaranteed)
Tre Jones (non-guaranteed)
Jock Landale (non-guaranteed)
Jeremy Sochan

For much of the 2021-22 NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans were in the wilderness. New Orleans endured a brutal start and, without Zion Williamson on the floor, the Pelicans appeared to be rudderless. Then, the Pels caught fire, riding a positive wave of improved play and the acquisition of CJ McCollum to a berth in the play-in. From there, New Orleans reached the playoffs and eventually challenged the top-seeded Suns in impressive fashion, even with Williamson never appearing on the floor.

By all accounts, Williamson is expected to be ready to roll for 2022-23 and, with McCollum and Brandon Ingram in the fold, the Pelicans have an intriguing core. New Orleans also benefits from the ineptitude of the Los Angeles Lakers last season, with the Pelicans inheriting the No. 8 overall pick from Los Angeles.

Roster Needs: Health for Zion, more shooting

Dyson Daniels (No. 8 Overall), B+: Daniels is the highest-rated remaining player on my board and a personal favorite. There are questions about his offensive ceiling, especially as a shooter, but Daniels has point guard skills in a wing-sized body. He’s also one of the better perimeter defenders in the draft, and he should fit in well with Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Zion Williamson.

2022 Free Agents:
Tony Snell (UFA)
Jared Harper (RFA)
Gary Clark (UFA)

Roster:
CJ McCollum
Brandon Ingram
Zion Williamson
Jonas Valanciunas
Devonte’ Graham
Larry Nance Jr
Jaxson Hayes
Garrett Temple
Kira Lewis Jr
Trey Murphy III
Willy Hernangomez
Herbert Jones
Naji Marshall
Jose Alvarado

After a period of sustained success that included eight consecutive trips to the postseason, the Portland Trail Blazers suffered a downturn in results in 2021-22. Portland posted its worst record (27-55) in more than 15 years, leaning heavily into the tank after a long-term injury to Damian Lillard sent things into a spiral. The reward for the Blazers’ open effort to lose games at the end of the season is the No. 7 overall pick, with endless rumors about Portland’s potential desire to move that selection for present-facing help to support Lillard and a new, retooled era of Blazers basketball.

The night before the Draft, Portland showed their desire to win now by dealing a 2025 first (via Milwaukee) to Detroit for Jerami Grant. That immediately was followed by a report that the Blazers were actively pursuing OG Anunoby with the No. 7 pick, further indicating that Portland was not planning on making that selection.

In the end, the Blazers held firm at No. 7, as the promise of Draft night trades fell flat early on.

Roster Needs: A long-term co-star alongside Lillard; frontcourt stability, defensive help around a Lillard-Simons backcourt, overall direction in the present and future

Shaedon Sharpe (No. 7 Overall), B: With all of the talk about Portland using this pick for present-day help, Sharpe is a bit of a curveball, but perhaps the aim for ready-made contributors was lessened by the acquisition of Jerami Grant. In Sharpe, the Blazers are taking an upside swing on a player that was No. 1 in the 2022 high school class before reclassifying. He is a bit of a mystery after not playing in a competitive game for a year, but Sharpe’s tools are tremendous as a potential high-end scorer down the line.

2022 Free Agents:
Joe Ingles (UFA)
Jusuf Nurkic (UFA)
Anfernee Simons (RFA)
Ben McLemore (UFA)
CJ Elleby (RFA)
Elijah Hughes (RFA)
Keljin Blevins (RFA)

Roster:
Damian Lillard
Jerami Grant
Eric Bledsoe
Josh Hart (non-guaranteed)
Nassir Little
Justise Winslow
Keon Johnson
Didi Louzada
Greg Brown III
Trendon Watford
Brandon Williams (two way)
Shaedon Sharpe

A flavorful, stylish pair is gassing up for the road trip comedy 80 For Brady. Guy Fieri and Billy Porter will feature in the film about four best pals (played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field) who trek to Super Bowl LI for the championship-winning quarterback. The cast also includes Harry Hamlin, Bob Balaban, Sally Kirkland, Jimmy O. Yang, Sara Gilbert, and more. There’s no word yet on who Porter plays, but Fieri cameos as himself, and presumably they’re both a part of the ensemble of weirdos that the quartet means on the road. Bonus points to the film if Fieri and Porter appear together as best friends launching a cooking show that every single human on earth would binge.

The film, directing by indie producer and WeCrashed actor Kyle Marvin, has already wrapped filming, but doesn’t currently have a release date. It is, however, being produced by Tom Brady himself, who also plays a 5-years-younger version of himself. The film is based on a true story, with Marvin and co-writer Michael Covino rewriting a script from Booksmart’s Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins. Be on the lookout for the Paramount film soon. Maybe Brady will have retired and unretired a few more times by then.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

Though they posted intriguing metrics during the competitive portion of the season, the Indiana Pacers effectively pulled the plug during the 2021-22 season. Not only did the Pacers move on from a central piece in Domantas Sabonis, but Indiana essentially deployed a G League-level roster for a large portion of the second half of the campaign. The end result was a 25-57 record, the franchise’s worst mark in decades, and when the ping-pong balls stopped bouncing, Indiana came away with the No. 6 overall pick.

That kind of draft perch does coincide with the team’s record but, in this case, this is new ground for the Pacers. In fact, Indiana has not picked inside the top ten since 1989. That is a reminder of the usual competitive cycle of the franchise, but Indiana does have a rare opportunity to take a swing and add high-end talent to the mix.

Roster Needs: Star talent, forward depth

Bennedict Mathurin (No. 6 Overall), B+: By traditional No. 6 pick standards, this isn’t a home run, but that’s the nature of this class rather than an issue for Indiana. Mathurin is a very solid pick here and he projects as a valuable “3-and-D plus” player. He is a high-end shooter who should defend at a solid level and give the Pacers a valuable two-way wing.

2022 Free Agents:
Ricky Rubio (UFA)
TJ Warren (UFA)
Jalen Smith (UFA)
Lance Stephenson (UFA)
Nate Hinton (RFA)
Gabe York (RFA)

Roster:
Malcolm Brogdon
Buddy Hield
Myles Turner
TJ McConnell
Goga Bitadze
Tyrese Haliburton
Chris Duarte
Isaiah Jackson
Oshae Brissett (team option, non-guaranteed)
Terry Taylor (non-guaranteed)
Duane Washington Jr (non-guaranteed)
Bennedict Mathurin

A year ago, the Detroit Pistons struck gold in their rebuild, winning the NBA Draft Lottery and the opportunity to select Cade Cunningham. Following a bit of a slow start, Cunningham showed all the signs of a future star and, for the most part, Detroit was competitive in the second half of the season despite a 23-59 overall record. As such, there is a lot to be excited about for the Pistons, with Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and other pieces set to make another step forward in the near future.

Through the lens of the 2022 NBA Draft, the Pistons landed at No. 5 overall, and that brings another opportunity to add to the talent arsenal for the future. Cunningham’s versatility and size gives Detroit’s front office a great deal of flexibility when it comes to roster building, and after trading Jerami Grant for a 2025 first round pick (and clearing lots of cap room), it’s clear the focus is on the long-view.

Roster Needs: A perimeter running mate for Cunningham, more shooting, another strong guard

Jaden Ivey (No. 5 Overall), A: This is a home run for the Pistons. Even without a truly elite evaluation on Ivey, he represents a tremendous value at No. 5 overall in this draft. In addition, Ivey’s best fit might be as a No. 2 offensive option that doesn’t have to carry the full workload, and placing him next to Cade Cunningham makes a ton of sense. It might take time, but there is a lot to like about Ivey’s future.

2022 Free Agents:
Marvin Bagley III (RFA)
Rodney McGruder (UFA)
Jamorko Pickett (RFA)

Roster:
Kelly Olynyk
Cade Cunningham
Killian Hayes
Hamidou Diallo (team option)
Cory Joseph (player option)
Isaiah Stewart
Frank Jackson (team option)
Saddiq Bey
Carsen Edwards (team option)
Saben Lee
Luka Garza (team option)
Isaiah Livers
Braxton Key (two way)
Jaden Ivey

The Sacramento Kings continue to operate with the NBA’s longest playoff drought, last appearing in the postseason following the 2005-06 campaign. Over more than 15 years of struggles, the Kings have not posted a .500 record over 82 games, even as the franchise overhauls its roster on a consistent basis. During the 2021-22 season, Sacramento made a substantial investment in acquiring Domantas Sabonis as the frontcourt partner for guards like De’Aaron Fox and 2021 lottery pick Davion Mitchell.

It remains to be seen as to how that experiment will work, but the Kings finished at 30-52 in the standings last season. Sacramento did jump to No. 4 overall on the draft board, however, bringing the opportunity for a potential swing, even amid rumblings that the Kings might rather focus on the present in turning that selection into a more established contributor. Ultimately, Sacramento kept the pick and made a rather surprising selection compared to the consensus big board.

Roster Needs: Defense, wing talent, more defense

Keegan Murray (No. 4 Overall), C-: Murray is a quality prospect with tremendous numbers. He was highly productive at Iowa and is a multi-faceted forward that could be valuable in many different NBA contexts. However, this is a tier drop from another player (Jaden Ivey) that was available, and it represents an on-brand detour for the Kings.

2022 Free Agents:
Jeremy Lamb (UFA)
Josh Jackson (UFA)
Donte DiVincenzo (RFA)
Damian Jones (UFA)
Neemias Queta (RFA)

Roster:
De’Aaron Fox
Domantas Sabonis
Harrison Barnes
Richaun Holmes
Justin Holiday
Davion Mitchell
Mo Harkless
Terence Davis
Alex Len
Trey Lyles (team option)
Chimezie Metu (non-guaranteed)
Keegan Murray