Lockard is an Iowa resident who regularly contributes to regional newspapers and periodicals. She is working on the second of a four-book fictional series based on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice."
So, what could Nelson Mandela and Caitlin Clark possibly have in common?
Both are conclusive proof that “the times, they are a-changin’.” Also, neither the former president of South Africa nor the basketball superstar “shrink” to accommodate others’ ideas of how they should live. Neither “plays small.”
Mandela helped end apartheid in South Africa 30 years ago. In his inaugural speech in May 1994, as he was sworn in as the country’s first Black president, he spoke of what it takes to overcome the most daunting obstacles, often those we have no control of, like the color of our skin.
Other things we have no control of: our sex (at least at birth,) and our height. Just 30 years ago, women, still considered the “weaker” sex, were preferred smaller. They needed “bigger” men to “take care” of them — basically a parent/child relationship, unfair to both sexes. “Shrinking” girls were common then.
How exactly does one shrink, anyway? Oh, there are ways. A tall girl can shrink herself by slouching, wearing whisper-thin shoes, remaining seated — anything not to tower over the boys. A short boy might do the opposite: sneak lifts into his shoes or hang upside down like a bat to “stretch” himself. Not long ago, tall girls and short boys were considered an unfortunate result of genetic dice, or even medical problems. Hormonal therapies were available to help a short male attain increased height by delaying his puberty. Hastening a tall female’s puberty had the opposite effect: Though it likely would not qualify her to shop in the petite section, she might “shrink” to a more desirable height.
Fast forward 30 years and bring on 6-foot-tall Caitlin Clark from Des Moines, Iowa, one of the most recognized figures in sports, men’s or women’s. Her NCAA legacy is the stuff of legend. All-time leading scorer, breaking the men’s Division 1 record with a career total of 3,685 points. (But who’s counting?) The Big Ten’s all-time leader in assists and a unanimous AP preseason All American. The list of her accomplishments goes on and on. After sporting No. 22 on her University of Iowa jersey (now retired), she was picked first in the WNBA draft in April and now plays for the Fever wearing the same No. 22. She is all of 22 years old. Must be her lucky number.
But it is not luck. It is not shirking, and not shrinking. It is a combination of talent and hard work, with a huge dose of commitment thrown in. Renowned for her shooting range, but just as much for her passing ability and assists, Clark shares both the ball and the accolades with her teammates. She will not lose her false eyelashes during the game, and won't be assessed fouls for using profanity. She is real; she is nice. Little girls want to be like her when they grow up; big girls want to be her now.
Caitlin Clark makes Iowans proud. She makes sports fans everywhere proud. But sports fan or not, one cannot help but be dazzled by her. “The Caitlin Clark effect” has been credited for the surging popularity of women’s basketball, changing everything for women’s sports.
Keep the faith, share the ball, make the most of your abilities, practice what you’re good at. Basketball and life are not so different. The stakes are high in both; both are tough and often unfair. Mandela spent 27 years in prison. Then he became first Black president of South Africa? A “girl” breaking the NCAA Division I scoring record? Impossible! Or so they said.
Oh, no! Neither Caitlin Clark, when missing a shot, nor Nelson Mandela, when missing a third of his life in prison, “shrank” so others wouldn’t feel insecure around them. They simply got on with their game. Whether “Caitlin Clark fever” continues with the Indiana Fever remains to be seen. This much is certain, however: She will not “play small.”
If looking for a sign the world is going in the right direction — often two steps forward, one back, yet still the right direction — remember Nelson Mandela from South Africa and think of Caitlin Clark and tall girls from Iowa, from everywhere. Tall girls and short boys, Black people and white people and sky-blue or pink people, all people.
We each bring something no one else can to that big table called Life.
We each bring our one and only self.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a“ Steel Across America” event ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks on the Ellipse near the White House on Sept. 8, 2026 in Washington, D.C. President Trump welcomed 9/ 11 first responders to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’ s“ Steel Across America” event featuring a 16,900- pound, 21- foot steel beam recovered.
For Trump, even 9/11 is an opportunity
There was a reason organizers of the 9/11 ceremony in Manhattan told President Trump he could not speak at this year’s memorial service.
A good one, it turns out.
Because in a speech he gave on Tuesday in Washington, he did exactly what they were presumably worried about — he made it about himself.
According to The New York Times, Trump had wanted a speaking role at the service, but the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum, which oversees the site, said no, as they’ve maintained for the past decade-plus that the venue and event should be nonpartisan.
Trump has long used awful tragedies to either puff himself up, trash political opponents, or sell lies to the American people.
He blamed a deadly plane crash at Washington National Airport last year on diversity, equity and inclusion policies. He blamed Puerto Ricans for the devastation they endured after Hurricane Maria in 2017. He reportedly considered withholding disaster relief after the California wildfires based on the way affected regions voted. In an interview on Fox News meant to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, he used the occasion to slam former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi…with graves of the dead behind him.
And now, as we approach the 25th anniversary of what many New Yorkers consider the darkest day in modern history, Trump has done it again.
He told a rambling, nonsensical story — one he’s told before — about going to Ground Zero just after terrorists flew two commercial jets into the twin towers. In the story, which no one has been able to verify, despite multiple attempts, he says firefighters had to carry him out of One Liberty Plaza, also known as the U.S. Steel Building, because they thought it was about to collapse.
As CNN fact checker Daniel Dale notes, there’s no evidence Trump went into this building, especially at a time when NYPD and NYFD had locked down the area. There’s no evidence that building was collapsing — in fact, it was deemed structurally sound and reopened within two months of the attacks. There’s no evidence he was carried out of it by firefighters.
But the lie isn’t even the worst part. Pretend it was all true — why would the leader of our country, and a New Yorker, decide to make that tragic day about himself?
Because that’s who Donald Trump is. He’s a malignant narcissist.
He’s also, incidentally, a terrible and ineffectual president, who’s made ill-fated decisions that he has to keep defending, and there’s nothing he won’t do to make himself look and feel better.
Within the first two minutes of his speech, he was cravenly using 9/11 to justify and promote his dumb war in Iran — two events separated by 25 years and 6,000 miles.
“And I will tell you, we’re right now fighting because we have a certain nation that wanted a nuclear weapon, they were very close to getting it, and now they have no chance at getting it. They will never have a nuclear weapon. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. And they’ve been punished greatly. As you know, we’ve really taken it to them.”
As a New Yorker who lived through 9/11, still one of the worst days of my life, I’m utterly sickened by Trump’s crass, political, and self-promotional framing of that awful day.
And I’m relieved he won’t be given a platform to do it again on Friday’s anniversary in lower Manhattan.
Because for Trump, everything is his for the taking, and absolutely nothing is sacred.
S.E. Cupp is the host of "S.E. Cupp Unfiltered" on CNN.