The BulleTin • Tuesday, May 25, 2021 A7
CLOCKWISE FROM
LEFT: Memphis
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant
(12) shoots against
the Golden State
Warriors Friday.
Atlanta Hawks’
Trae Young reacts
during Sunday’s
game against the
New York Knicks.
Dallas Mavericks
guard Luka Doncic
shoots against the
Los Angeles Clip-
pers Saturday.
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I am in a rock
band with some friends.
All of us are in our 50s and
60s. We have been playing
together for the last three
years. Last year, our bass
player joined another band
(while staying in ours) be-
cause another friend was in
it, but they broke up because
of COVID. Now that music
venues are opening up again,
he has joined yet another
group.
I’m a loyal guy, and it
bothers me that he doesn’t
seem as loyal to our band.
He says he can easily do
both, but for me, it causes
booking issues because the
other band will be blocking
out dates that we might be
able to book. I see no other
conflicts. He even asked if I
was interested in joining the
other band, too, because he
figured that if he can’t be in
two places at once, it might
as well be both of us. Should
we cut our losses and replace
him? Loyalty is really im-
portant to us.
— Rocking On in Texas
Dear Rocking On: Because
you feel that loyalty is para-
mount and your friend may
have scheduling conflicts
because of his participation
with the other band(s), yes,
he should be replaced with a
musician you can rely on.
Dear Abby: I have a friend
who feels a need to correct
the behavior of others by
writing letters. There are not
too many businesses around
town that haven’t received
one of her letters and, no
doubt, others in her circle of
friends have, too.
After a misunderstand-
ing for which I apologized,
I received one of them. Be-
cause she lacks understand-
ing or the ability to forgive,
a vitriolic diatribe came my
way. In her letter, she related
past “unfortunate (in her
opinion) ill behaviors on my
part for which I should be
ashamed.” Then she ended a
friendship we had for many
years without trying to mend
the relationship. This is very
hurtful for me, and I’m sure
for others. How does one re-
spond, if at all, to something
like this?
— Suffering in Michigan
Dear Suffering: One does
not respond. One copes by
recognizing that the only
person this unhappy woman
is punishing is herself, as her
circle of friends diminishes
and businesses around town
no longer welcome her.
Dear Abby: My wife re-
cently asked me if she could
take off her wedding ring in
favor of wearing her moth-
er’s, which is much larger
than the one I gave her. I re-
gard it as a lack of respect
for our marriage, which has
been under a lot of stress for
a long time. (No affairs.) I
also view it as symbolic of
how much she has financially
sacrificed being married to
me. What do you think?
— Wondering in the East
Dear Wondering: I “think”
you should tell your wife it
would hurt you deeply if she
follows through, and why.
I also think the time has
come for the two of you to
talk about what is “stress-
ing” your marriage with a li-
censed marriage and family
therapist.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from
5 p.m. to 11 p.m. EDT today (2 p.m. to 8 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves
from Scorpio into Sagittarius.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021: You have
a quick wit and a fabulous imagination. You are caring and compassionate,
and you have an organized, analytical mind. You have a strong sense of jus-
tice. Your year ahead will be wonderful because now you will begin to reap
the benefit of your previous actions in the past nine years. Expect kudos and
applause! You will also exercise more power this year.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Relations with others are passionate and intense! Something might
occur that actually has a therapeutic effect on your relationship by releasing
hidden energies that might have weakened the ties between you. Tonight:
Learn something new!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Today you will do whatever you can to get at the true meaning of your
feelings for a partner, spouse or close friend. You want to get to the bottom
of things. You want to bring things to the surface so you can deal with them.
“Is that you, Siggy?” (Oh yes, Freud was a Taurus.) Tonight: Expect a favor.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
You’ll find it rewarding to get down to basics to improve something
today. This could be related to your health or about your job. You want to
tidy up things so you feel better organized and more on top of your game.
Tonight: Enjoy good times with others.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Romance is passionate today! This is because passions are running
high. When talking to others, you will want to experience life at a profound
level — nothing superficial. Superficial is for other people; today you are
special. Tonight: Your health is vigorous.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
It will please you to tidy up at home today. Make changes, especially
short-term changes like cleaning, repairing and reorganizing things. At least
get everything in neat, tidy piles. Note: If you put out fresh flowers you don’t
have to dust. Tonight: Socialize and schmooze!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
You might be obsessed about something today to the point that you
lose track of everything else. If you can channel this focus of concentration,
you will get a lot done. If you can’t channel it, you are at its mercy. Tonight:
Entertain at home.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
“Show me the money!” Your thoughts about your possessions and
your earnings are not casual today. You have specific ideas about what you
want to do with what you own. You definitely want to make it work for you.
Tonight: you feel optimistic!
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today the Moon is in your sign dancing with your ruler Pluto, which
triggers a love of mysteries in you. You will enjoy reading a good mystery
novel or delving into anything that is mysterious or hidden. You see the sub-
text of things. Tonight: Trust your moneymaking ideas.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You want to withdraw from the busyness of the world around you
so you can explore hidden knowledge or look for deep answers about who
you really are. It feels like this is a kind of day where, if you look hard enough,
you will find something. Tonight: You’re happy!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
If you’re talking to a friend today, you want to get right down to the
nitty-gritty of things. You want to know what really makes this friendship
tick. What are the variables at play? What needs do you each fill for each oth-
er? Tonight: Life feels secure.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Because you are prone to obsessive, compulsive thinking today, tread
carefully when dealing with bosses, parents or the police. It is in your best
interests to be more open-minded and receptive to what they have to say.
Tonight: Socialize with friends.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today you are curious about hidden knowledge and attracted to
information about astrology, psychology, supernatural phenomena and
anything that explores the unknown. You want the big answers to the big
questions. (Like what’s the best volumizing shampoo?) Tonight: VIPs like you!
AP photos
Mickelson
Continued from A5
“Until I actually did it,”
Mickelson said, “there was a
lot of doubt.”
Never mind that he had
gone two years without win-
ning on the PGA Tour, eight
years since winning a major,
nine months since playing a
final round on tour that mat-
tered. The physical part wasn’t
an issue. This was more about
the mind, and it deeply con-
cerned him.
It was only three weeks ago
that Mickelson spoke of men-
tal lapses during a round that
was costing him careless bo-
geys, keeping him from con-
tending or even making the
cut.
“I don’t have a great solu-
tion right now,” he said after
missing the cut in the Valspar
Championship. “But I’m work-
ing on it.”
He found the answer.
Some of the shots he
hit Sunday were exquisite,
whether it was the pitch-and-
run from behind the second
green to a back pin that led to
birdie or his 7-iron into the
wind and over an expansive
waste area to start the back
nine with a birdie for a four-
shot lead.
Through it all, Mickelson
kept his head in the game. He
walked slowly. Except for a few
lapses to be expected of any-
one in such testing conditions
as Kiawah, he didn’t hit a shot
until he had a clear picture of
what it was supposed to look
like.
“It’s very exciting because
I’ve had a few breakthroughs
on being able to stay more
present, be able to stay more
focused, and physically, I’m
striking it and playing as well
as I ever have, but I haven’t
been able to see that clear pic-
ture,” Mickelson said.
Most telling was what he
shared going into the week-
end about trying to find more
length, not with his driver but
with his concentration.
“I might try to play 36, 45
holes a day and try to focus on
each shot so that when I go out
and play 18, it doesn’t feel like
it’s that much,” Mickelson said.
“I might try to elongate the
time that I end up meditating,
but I’m trying to use my mind
like a muscle and just expand
it because as I’ve gotten older,
it’s been more difficult for me
to maintain a sharp focus, a
good visualization and see the
shot.
“Physically, I feel like I’m
able to perform and hit the
shots that I’ve hit through-
out my career, and I feel like
I can do it every bit as well as
I have,” he said. “But I’ve got
to have that clear picture and
focus.”
His brother was an enor-
mous help. Tim Mickelson, the
former golf coach at Arizona
State, became his caddie four
years ago and knew what but-
tons to push over the weekend.
“It’s trying not to overthink
things,” Tim Mickelson said.
“We’ll talk about a shot 200
yards away and I’d say, ‘Let’s
worry about it once we get
there.’ I told him to keep his
mind quiet, not think about
Playoffs
Continued from A5
Doncic hit a buzzer beater against the
Clippers to win a game in last year’s post-
season, but this is his first time facing a
playoff road crowd. No problem with that
— or Kawhi Leonard or Paul George — so
far, finishing with 31 points, 11 assists and
10 rebounds in Dallas’ 113-103 victory at
Staples Center on Saturday. He has three
triple-doubles in seven postseason games.
Memphis and Atlanta wrapped up the
weekend with road victories. The Griz-
zlies, just days after winning at Golden
State just to earn the final postseason
berth, beat No. 1 seed Utah 112-109. Mo-
rant scored 26 points, becoming the ninth
player 22 or younger since 1984 to score
25 or more in a postseason debut — which
Doncic did last year.
Young had 32 points and 10 assists in
New York, where his floater in the lane
with 0.9 seconds left gave the Hawks a 107-
105 victory. He’s had to face comparisons
to Doncic ever since their draft rights were
swapped for each other in 2018, with Dal-
las moving up two spots to No. 3 to take
the eventual Rookie of the Year.
Young finally got the Hawks back to the
playoffs for the first time since 2017 and
made it a memorable return.
“He belongs,” Lou Williams said. “He’s a
postseason player. He showed it tonight.”
The young stars are doing plenty of that
so far.
“I might try to play 36, 45 holes a day and try to focus on
each shot so that when I go out and play 18, it doesn’t feel
like it’s that much. I might try to elongate the time that I
end up meditating, but I’m trying to use my mind like a
muscle and just expand it because as I’ve gotten older, it’s
been more difficult for me to maintain a sharp focus, a
good visualization and see the shot.”
— Phil Mickelson
anything until it was time to
hit the shot.”
The concentration lapses
are only natural for someone
who now has PGA Tour victo-
ries 30 years apart — no one in
tour history has done that —
and for a player who loves to
compete at age 50 as much as
he did when he was 20.
Confidence has never been
an issue for Mickelson. It stems
from the joy of competing.
Steve Stricker was reminded of
that when they arrived at Ki-
awah Island for a money game
on Monday — Stricker and
Mickelson against Zach John-
son and Will Zalatoris.
“Phil and I were 3 up af-
ter three and he said it loud
enough so everybody could
hear, ‘You know, Strick, I
thought we’d be up more at
this point.’ And we were 3
up after three,” Stricker said.
“Typical Phil. He still has a tre-
mendous amount of desire to
compete at this level, and that’s
why he’s doing it.”
Mickelson is scheduled to
play at Colonial this week.
The U.S. Open — the one
major he lacks for the career
Grand Slam — is a month
away. Mickelson originally
needed an exemption for the
U.S. Open. Now he can play
through 2025, unless he wins
another major.
Would winning another be a
surprise given his endless sup-
ply of desire?
“I think the best players in
the world, I think they all have
that,” his brother said. “Phil
has just carried that on for 35
years. He just loves golf. When
he’s at home, he’s still play-
ing almost every single day. It
never stops for him.”