Feldman's Faves: June 13, 2022

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE

This weekend Mike P and I went to Boston to watch Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which was pure joy. Stefs performance (scoring 43 points) was otherworldly – he is really something special. Sorry Celtics….I will say that while Celtics fans are hardcore, there is nothing comparable to a frenzied Raptors crowd. I guess when you are trying win your 18th championship the desperation level (and insecurity level) is somewhat reduced. In any case, it was really fun. It’s also good to see that travel restrictions are being relaxed (no more Covid tests needed to enter the USA and no more random testing at Pearson). This change should make travel a little easier as summer starts (but I guess we will see).

And of course a happy belated birthday to our good friends Jay and Noah.

The theme this week are two of my (completely unrelated) obsessions – Russian corruption and basketball.

FREEZING ORDER By: Bill Browder – I know many of you are big fans of Bill Browder’s first book Red Notice, which he wrote as part of his life mission to uncover the corruption and criminal activity of the Putin regime following the death of his good friend (and lawyer) Sergei Magnitsky (who had discovered this criminal activity and was tortured and ultimately killed in a Russian prison as a result) and which led to Browder getting the Magnitsky Act passed in numerous jurisdictions around the world (which freezes assets of Russians who stole and laundered money). In Freezing Order, Browder describes the process he went through to figure out who was behind the $230 million “tax refund” scheme that Magnitsky revealed and led to his tragic end. Browder is truly an international man of mystery having worked with and against government officials, international agencies, banks, PR firms and law firms to trace this money to Putin, which he did at a huge personal expense to himself both financially and more importantly his and his family’s safety. As one reviewer writes, “As law enforcement agencies began freezing the money, Putin retaliated. He and his cronies set up honey traps, hired process servers to chase Browder through cities, murdered more of his Russian allies, and enlisted some of the top lawyers and politicians in America to bring him down. Putin will stop at nothing to protect his money. As Freezing Order reveals, it was Browder’s campaign to expose Putin’s corruption that prompted Russia’s intervention in the 2016 US presidential election. At once a financial caper, an international adventure, and a passionate plea for justice, Freezing Order is a stirring morality tale about how one man can take on one of the most ruthless villains in the world—and win.“ Browder was a simple hedge fund manager looking for opportunity in the new Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Instead his life’s work has become a crusader for justice and human rights and the story in Freezing Order is an amazing follow up to that in Red Notice and is a good reminder of John Lennon’s famous line that “life is what happens when you are busy making other plans”. The question that remains open is whether this “light shedding” will ever actually hit Putin where it hurts. I hope it does but we will see. Please read this book – it is as important as it is entertaining. Here is a good review from The Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/04/15/how-russia-fought-us-rights-law-man-who-championed-it/

30 For 30 PodcastsA Streetball Mixtape - If you are a sports fan than you will agree that there is nothing better than the 30 for 30 series when it comes to great storytelling in the world of sports. This PODCAST is the latest example of this magic in which the history and influence of streetball in basketball and in wider culture is explored. If you have ever been in NYC to watch streetball (in the “cage”)– the epicenter of it all – it is truly like watching poetry in motion. The creativity on (the moves…) and off (the nicknames..) the court has no real equivalent. When I lived in NYC I spent entire afternoons just watching (not playing, was never invited)– the best free entertainment in the world…. Here is an excerpt from the PODCAST itself: “Streetball. It's a style of basketball defined by trash talk, windmill dunks, no-look passes, and broken ankles. You can find streetball at city parks and rec centers, driveways and playgrounds, pro-am leagues and even -- in spirit -- NBA arenas. Through it all, you might even call it hoops in its purest form. Drawing inspiration from hip hop mixtapes, this podcast explores how streetball – and the way it’s played around the United States – has shaped not just the game of basketball, but the country's culture. In true mixtape form, the podcast is a compilation of stories, styles, and sounds, all illuminating the essence of the game.” https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/30-for-30-podcasts/id1244784611?i=1000564659337

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and participation.

And remember to stay safe, stay healthy and to docket daily.

Jon