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March 2020
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Lessons From the Madness Basketball, Family, and Personal Injury
Here we are, on the eve of one of the world’s great sporting events: March Madness. I’m more of a college football guy when we’re comparing regular seasons, but you can bet that my family and I will be eating up all the drama and heart-pounding moments of this year’s NCAA tournament. My kids in particular will be drawing inspiration from the games. My boys are at that age where they love just about every sport. From tossing a football in the yard to shooting hoops in our driveway, they’ll play until the sun goes down. As a former student-athlete myself, it does me proud to see them enjoying these physical activities. Part of me just hopes that as they grow older, the tougher parts of athletics don’t discourage them. Broken thumbs, twisted wrists, sprained ankles — I had my fair share of sports injuries growing up. Those kinds of risks come with the territory, and they can be painful for players and fans alike. We Pelicans supporters learned that first hand when Zion Williamson tore his meniscus last fall and missed a lot of the start of the season. Obviously, the injury hurt the rising star more than it did any of us, but it’s a good illustration of how a debilitating wound can have large ripple effects. Sports can be used as a metaphor for a great number of things, and personal injury law is definitely one of them. Just like when a star player has to be benched and the whole team suffers, the same is true for when a breadwinner is hurt in an accident. No matter how much they may want to get back on the court and make a difference, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it: They need to take the time to heal.
The difference is that those pro athletes are still collecting huge paychecks while they go through physical therapy and rehabilitation. For those of us who don’t have contracts with NBA teams, being knocked out of the game can be far, far more distressing. This is why pursuing lost wages as part of an accident claim becomes critical — you need to make up for those days, weeks, or months you were kept from providing for your loved ones. Recovering these damages can be a tough fight, but once again, basketball offers us a handy metaphor. Almost every March Madness tournament, a little team from a school no one’s even heard of brings their A-game and beats some of the highest ranked colleges in the nation. It’s a great reminder of something we see in our line of work all the time: With the right amount of skill and practice, the underdog can win. It doesn’t matter if you’re against a Pac-12 school or a billion-dollar insurance company —with the right team behind you, those David and Goliath battles can end in victory.
“Sports can be used as a metaphor for a great number of things, and personal injury law is definitely one of them.”
Here’s to all the lessons sports teach us,
504-894-9653 • 1 -Seth Smiley
A Boutique New Orleans Law Firm Resolving Your Legal Matters
RETIRE IN STYLE 3 PLACES TO RETIRE INTERNATIONALLY
all of those funds to health care and education, Costa Rica is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Central America.” Known for its stable democracy, safety, and socialized health care that’s only available once you’ve obtained residency, Costa Rica also offers climates for just about everybody — from the lush jungles of the south to the hot, dry beaches of Guanacaste in the northwest. Expect to find large communities of expats to help you acclimate. MEXICO The first things that come to mind for most people when you mention Mexico are margaritas and beach umbrellas, but this country offers a lot more than that. For starters, Mexico features an enticingly low cost of living. International Living estimates a couple could live in Mexico on anywhere from $1,500–$3,000 per month, depending on location, including health care expenses. Once you’ve obtained residency status, you can sign up for national health care plans that offer full coverage for just a few hundred dollars annually.
Even if you’ve always planned for a comfortable retirement in the United States, choosing to live internationally could be a smart alternative to improve your standard of living in retirement. International Living Magazine’s Retirement Index has tracked objective retirement metrics — like the cost of living, democratic stability, and health care — for the last 40 years. They also take into account reports of correspondents actively living abroad. Here are some of their top picks for international retirement destinations. PANAMA Panama ranks No. 2 in International Living Magazine’s list of best places to retire internationally. With its tropical climate, proximity to the United States, excellent health care, and low tax burden, it’s easy to see why. In Panama City, you can expect to pay at least $2,600 a month in living expenses, but housing costs are substantially lower outside of major metropolitan markets. Panama also offers excellent discounts, up to 25% off of things like airline tickets, hotels, and energy costs through its Pensionado program. COSTA RICA If it’s a textbook paradise you’re looking for, look no further than Costa Rica. Thanks to a 1948 decision to abolish their military and direct
THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY How a Battle of Boxers Captivated the World
Frazier earned two championship belts through major knockout fights. But when Ali settled his court case and came to reclaim his title, Frazier wasn’t ready to give it up easily. Ringside seats for the fight sold for today’s equivalent of over $1,000. Millions watched the broadcast in over 50 countries around the world, and Madison Square Garden sold out to a crowd of 20,455 spectators. The fighters possessed polar opposite tactics, backgrounds, and social impacts, but when it came to skill, they were evenly matched. The fight captivated the nation. As Sports Illustrated put it at the time, “The thrust of this fight on the public consciousness is incalculable. It has been a ceaseless whir that seems to have grown in decibel with each new soliloquy by Ali, with each dead calm promise by Frazier.” The fight exceeded all expectations with a fully engrossing 15 rounds. For the first quarter of the match, it seemed Ali would best his opponent, but Frazier came back with fury. Even though Ali continued to rise to his feet round after round, Frazier emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, dealing Ali his first professional loss ever. The landmark event highlighted an unforgettable night of skillful prowess like the world had never seen. Even though the title fight was only the beginning of the rivalry between the two boxers, the matchup rightfully took its place as one of the greatest fights in the history of the sport.
On March 8, 1971, all eyes were on the world of boxing as people watched what would become known as “The Fight of the Century.” It was one of the most anticipated matchups the sport had ever arranged: Current heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali were finally facing off, the first time two undefeated boxers would fight each other for the heavyweight title. Spectators were hungry for a battle. Both fighters held rightful claims to the title of world heavyweight champion. Ali won it in 1964 and successfully defended it for several years, but he was stripped of the title during a legal battle over his induction into the U.S. armed forces. In his absence from the sport,
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TAKE A BREAK
ANOTHER SLICE OF PI(E) The Sweetest Ways to Celebrate Pi Day
Break out your calculators and grab your aprons because it’s almost Pi Day! This holiday has gained popularity among mathematicians and bakers alike — two groups that rarely overlap.
Pi Day is March 14, which, when written numerically, is 3/14, the first three digits
of the mathematical constant pi. Pi is special because it’s used to calculate the circumference
of a circle. This might not sound like a big deal, but pi is used in engineering, construction, GPS, motors, power generation, and even television! If we hadn’t calculated pi, none of these achievements would be possible. Pi is pretty important, and it’s definitely worth celebrating! Here are two ways you can get in on the fun.
PESTO CHICKEN WITH BLISTERED TOMATOES
LEARN TO RECITE PI
Brighten up after a cold, dark winter with this fresh and flavorful springtime dish.
Pi has fascinated mathematicians for centuries because it’s an irrational number, meaning the digits go on forever. If you want to
Ingredients
try your hand at memorizing some of the numbers, here are the first 50 decimal digits of pi (with spaces, so they’re easier to remember!).
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2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
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2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1-inch thickness Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko
1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 6 tbsp spinach pesto 2 cups cherry tomatoes 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 1 tsp red wine vinegar
3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510
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To make things simple, we often round pi up to 3.14, but many people have challenged themselves to memorize and recite as many digits as possible. In the Guinness Book of World Records, the record is currently held by Rajveer Meena, who recited pi to the 70,000th digit on March 21, 2015. And he did it all while blindfolded!
Directions
1. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. 2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and add it to pan. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove pan from heat. 3. In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and butter. 4. Spread pesto over chicken and top with panko mixture. 5. Broil chicken for 2 minutes on high heat until browned. 6. In a skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. 7. Add tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes. 8. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 9. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, and add red wine vinegar. 10. Serve tomatoes with broiled chicken.
EAT SOME PIE
Another popular way to enjoy Pi Day is to bake and eat pie. This dessert is perfect because it’s both a homophone (same pronunciation as “pi” but with a different spelling and meaning) and a circle. Challenge your friends to a pie-baking contest, or buy your favorite pie from the store and have a pie- eating contest. And, while this may be a controversial stance, we believe pizza pie deserves a place in Pi Day celebrations, too.
Here’s to Pi Day: the tastiest, nerdiest holiday of the year!
Inspired by CookingLight.com
504-894-9653 • 3
A Boutique New Orleans Law Firm Resolving Your Legal Matters
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365 Canal Street, Suite 1680 New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: 504-894-9653 Fax: 866-761-8934 www.SmileyFirm.com OPEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
What March Madness Can Teach Us
Retire in Style Boxing’s Greatest Battle
2
Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes Would You Like Some Pi?
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4
New York City’s Chaotic Annual Tradition
SMASHED MIRRORS, MAIMED SOFAS, AND MISSING BED-SCREWS THE DAY EVERYONE IN NEW YORK CITY MOVED
explanation, however, is the May 1 move commemorated the day Dutch colonizers “moved” to Manhattan in the first place. The Moving Day tradition began vanishing in the early 20th century because many cartmen and housing builders were drafted during WorldWar I, leaving fewer movers and less available housing. Additionally, the construction of the New York City subway gave other tenants rapid access to more housing options outside Manhattan. Finally, after many cartmen were again drafted in WWII, the tradition officially ended in 1945.
and frontiersman Davy Crockett called it an “awful calamity”when he discovered the event in 1834. Still, some people loved Moving Day. Long Island farmers took their carts into the city on May 1 and charged as much as a week’s wages to move desperate tenants’ belongings to their new homes, which was a tidy sum in those days. Children were also fond of Moving Day because they got the day off school to help their families navigate the tumultuous time. A few prominent theories have emerged about the origins of this tradition. Some posit that May 1 coincided with the English celebration of May Day. Others say it morphed out of an event where servants would look for new employers. The most well-known
Moving is the worst. The costs of hiring a moving company and the sheer amount of time it takes to physically move everything make the whole affair an aggravating mess. And if you thought moving just one house on your street was terrible, imagine the chaos that would ensue if everyone in your whole city moved on the same day. That’s exactly what happened in New York City for nearly two centuries. FromColonial times until the end ofWorldWar II, May 1 was Moving Day in NewYork. On that day, every lease in the city ended, and pandemonium reigned in the streets as everyone scurried to their new homes. Eyewitness accounts of Moving Day describe the tradition as sheer mayhem. An English writer said Moving Day looked like“a population flying from the plague,”
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