>> Dominic: FOR TONIGHT’S MONOLOGUE, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE VERBAL RORSCHACH TEST.

READY?

HERE WE GO.

TONIGHT’S MONOLOGUE IS ABOUT AN EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE THIS WEEK ON THE EAST COAST.

IT’S SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEFORE HAPPENED IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

IT GOT A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION REALLY WORKED UP.

AND IT INCLUDES A FAIR AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY GOING FORWARD.

WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?

IS IT THE TRIAL OF DONALD TRUMP, WHO BECAME THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT TO BE CONVICTED OF A FELONY, AND THE INEVITABLE APPEALS PROCESS THAT WILL FOLLOW?

OR IS IT THE TRIUMPH OF MINNESOTA’S PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM, WHICH WON THE LEAGUE’S FIRST-EVER CHAMPIONSHIP BUT STILL DOESN’T HAVE A NAME?

NOW, AS WITH A RORSCHACH BLOT, THE ANSWER IS BOTH... AND NEITHER.

BUT I WOULD INVITE YOU TO INTERROGATE YOUR REACTION TO THE FIRST 30 SECONDS OF TONIGHT’S MONOLOGUE.

DID YOU FEEL YOUR PULSE OR YOUR IRE RISE?

WERE YOU DISAPPOINTED, MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE ANGRY, WHEN I WASN’T TALKING ABOUT THE THING YOU THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT?

OR WERE YOU MAYBE STRUCK BY THE SIMILAR WORDS AND THE SIMILAR WAYS IN WHICH WE RESPOND TO SPORTS AND POLITICS?

I’M KIND OF HOPING IT’S THAT LAST THING.

SPORTS FANATICS AND POLITICAL JUNKIES TEND TO BE JOINED BY AN UNYIELDING PERCEPTION OF THE LIFE-AND-DEATHNESS OF IT ALL.

AND BY A SENSE OF CERTAINTY THAT ISN’T ALWAYS BACKED UP BY REALITY.

AND BY THE HABIT OF MAKING INDIVIDUAL WINS AND LOSSES OUT TO BE BIGGER THAN THEY ARE.

YOUR ARMCHAIR-PSYCHOLOGICAL LESSON FOR THE DAY?

RECOGNIZING THESE THINGS ABOUT OURSELVES ISN’T ALWAYS EASY.

BUT IT’S PROBABLY A LOT MORE HEALTHY.