Maggie Haberman of The New York Times broke the news of Hope Hicks' resignation as White House Communications Director.
Hicks' resignation comes a day after testifying for 8 hours in front of the House Intelligence Committee which is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 election. During this testimony, Hicks admitted to telling "white lies" on behalf of Trump while claiming those white lies did not include Russian involvement.
But Haberman notes in the article that her testimony wasn't a factor in Hicks' resignation. Haberman later took to Twitter and stated:
Hope Hicks departure is NOT about yesterday's hearing, per multiple
sources. She had planned it before, had been thinking about it for
months. She had informed a very small number of people prior to Hill
hearing that she planned to leave.
My B.S. detector thinks otherwise. Hicks might have thought of leaving, but eight hours of testimony undoubtedly spurred her to action. Now I don't doubt there are multiple sources who told Haberman that Hicks was planning to leave. But I suspect these sources are friends of Hicks and are giving her cover.
But let's say for argument's sake that Hicks was, in fact, planning to leave. She could not have picked a worse time to break this news. It does neither her nor the Trump Administration any favors. All the more reason to believe that her time in camera made her want to go out of camera and not a moment too soon.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
So Much For Arming Teachers
So much for President Trump's proposal to arm teachers.
Today a high school social studies teacher in Dalton, Georgia was arrested for firing a shot in the classroom after barricading himself in a classroom. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
Last week, I argued against Trump's proposal. I subsequently elaborated on these arguments in an article proposal I sent to National Review Online (which politely declined to publish it). Here is a portion of that proposal:
Even if most teachers wouldn't stage a mock assassination of President Trump do we really want to arm a teacher who wrote, "I want to kill children" on the classroom projector? Who can say if an armed teacher wouldn't use his or her gun against students or perhaps against other teachers. If a university professor can kill her colleagues at the University of Alabama in Huntsville then why couldn't the same happen at the elementary, middle or high school level? It is clear that Trump has given little thought to the legal liability involved in arming teachers much less contemplate whether school boards would want to assume such a risk.
Fortunately, a tragedy was averted today. But who can say there isn't another teacher who would act in such a manner? In light of today's event why would any school board in the country consider arming their teachers?
Will Trump Fire Sessions?
President Trump has once again set sights on his Attorney General. In response to Jeff Sessions' decision to have the Inspector General investigate the FBI for its handling of FISA applications. Trump stated on Twitter:
Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!
Hours later, Sessions responded with a statement of his own:
As long as I am the attorney general, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution.
In July 2017, Trump threw Sessions under the bus in a New York Times interview when he blasted his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation noting that he would have named another appointee had he known of Sessions' position. At the time, conservatives pushed back on Trump's criticism and the President moved on to other targets.
But this is now the second time that Trump has publicly undermined Sessions and this time Sessions is talking back. Surely Trump will see this as a challenge to his authority even if Sessions is in the right here. Surely Trump will see this as an act of insubordination on Sessions' part. It would not surprise me if Trump gives Sessions his walking papers within the next 48 hours. I can't see Trump letting Sessions getting away with this statement. If Trump doesn't fire Sessions, he will be viewed as weak leader who lets his appointees push him around.
Of course, it is entirely possible that Trump wants to fire Sessions. But it is equally possible that his advisers will move heaven and earth to talk him out of such a decision. After all, Hope Hicks has just resigned as White House Communications Director 24 hours after admitting to the House Intelligence Committee she told "white lies" on behalf of Trump while denying those lies concerned Russian interference in the 2016 election. Firing Sessions would demonstrate a White House out of control and a President with no clothes.
If Sessions does stay on it will only be a matter of time before Trump publicly rebukes him again. If that happens it will be strike three on Sessions.
Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!
Hours later, Sessions responded with a statement of his own:
As long as I am the attorney general, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution.
In July 2017, Trump threw Sessions under the bus in a New York Times interview when he blasted his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation noting that he would have named another appointee had he known of Sessions' position. At the time, conservatives pushed back on Trump's criticism and the President moved on to other targets.
But this is now the second time that Trump has publicly undermined Sessions and this time Sessions is talking back. Surely Trump will see this as a challenge to his authority even if Sessions is in the right here. Surely Trump will see this as an act of insubordination on Sessions' part. It would not surprise me if Trump gives Sessions his walking papers within the next 48 hours. I can't see Trump letting Sessions getting away with this statement. If Trump doesn't fire Sessions, he will be viewed as weak leader who lets his appointees push him around.
Of course, it is entirely possible that Trump wants to fire Sessions. But it is equally possible that his advisers will move heaven and earth to talk him out of such a decision. After all, Hope Hicks has just resigned as White House Communications Director 24 hours after admitting to the House Intelligence Committee she told "white lies" on behalf of Trump while denying those lies concerned Russian interference in the 2016 election. Firing Sessions would demonstrate a White House out of control and a President with no clothes.
If Sessions does stay on it will only be a matter of time before Trump publicly rebukes him again. If that happens it will be strike three on Sessions.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Streisand Blames Trump For Parkland Shooting
President Trump says and does a lot of stupid things as was the case when he suggested he would have confronted the shooter in Parkland, Florida even if he wasn't armed.
But it's hard for me to support the so-called Resistance when they say things that are equally stupid, if not stupider.
In an interview with Variety, Streisand blamed Trump for the February 14th shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School stating, “I think even that shooter was affected because Trump brings out the violence in people. He says, ‘It’s OK — rally, lock her up.’”
You can blame Trump for many things, but this isn't one of them. The shooter was messed up before Trump was elected President having been the subject of numerous calls to the authorities. Does Streisand honestly think this wouldn't have happened had Hillary Clinton been elected President? Who was in the White House when Columbine happened? Her friends the Clintons. Are they to blame for Columbine? No. The mass shootings at Fort Hood, Tuscon, Sandy Hook, Aurora, Colorado, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, San Bernardino and Orlando all occurred while President Obama was in office. Is Obama to blame? Again, no.
The problem here has nothing to do with who is President of the United States. Rather it has everything to do with our inability to deal with mentally ill people who threaten to commit deadly violence. Then again it's easier for Streisand to blame Trump for the deaths of 17 people than it is for her to come up with a solution for dealing with people who shoot up a high school in Parkland, Florida or stab a person to death at the public library in Winchester, Massachusetts.
President Trump certainly does more harm than good with his public statements during times of tragedy. Unfortunately, statements from self-righteous liberals like Barbra Streisand do every bit as much harm and don't augment the public discourse either. We have to be better than this and if we can't then God help us.
But it's hard for me to support the so-called Resistance when they say things that are equally stupid, if not stupider.
In an interview with Variety, Streisand blamed Trump for the February 14th shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School stating, “I think even that shooter was affected because Trump brings out the violence in people. He says, ‘It’s OK — rally, lock her up.’”
You can blame Trump for many things, but this isn't one of them. The shooter was messed up before Trump was elected President having been the subject of numerous calls to the authorities. Does Streisand honestly think this wouldn't have happened had Hillary Clinton been elected President? Who was in the White House when Columbine happened? Her friends the Clintons. Are they to blame for Columbine? No. The mass shootings at Fort Hood, Tuscon, Sandy Hook, Aurora, Colorado, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, San Bernardino and Orlando all occurred while President Obama was in office. Is Obama to blame? Again, no.
The problem here has nothing to do with who is President of the United States. Rather it has everything to do with our inability to deal with mentally ill people who threaten to commit deadly violence. Then again it's easier for Streisand to blame Trump for the deaths of 17 people than it is for her to come up with a solution for dealing with people who shoot up a high school in Parkland, Florida or stab a person to death at the public library in Winchester, Massachusetts.
President Trump certainly does more harm than good with his public statements during times of tragedy. Unfortunately, statements from self-righteous liberals like Barbra Streisand do every bit as much harm and don't augment the public discourse either. We have to be better than this and if we can't then God help us.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Why Trump's Proposal To Arm Teachers Is Foolish
So President Trump insists that teachers be armed. Trump said yesterday at CPAC, “If this guy thought that other people would be shooting bullets back at
him, he wouldn’t have gone to that school. He wouldn’t have gone
there.”
Of course, the perpetrator would have gone to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was a student there. The people there were the target of his anger. He would have gone there whether the teachers were armed or not.
But let's say the teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were armed. If the Broward County Sheriff's Department arrived on the scene and saw a teacher with a gun how would they know that teacher wasn't the perpetrator? Who can say the authorities wouldn't have shot and killed the armed teacher instead of the perpetrator?
Sadly, in this instance, law enforcement didn't show up. I don't oppose armed guards in schools. Unfortunately, this is the world in which we live. But those measures are only as good as the people who are charged with that responsibility. Well, the individual who had that responsibility fell down the job and has now quit in disgrace. To make matters worse, four Broward sheriff's deputies also failed to carry out their duties.
If the students couldn't rely on trained law enforcement to protect them how can teachers be expected to do their job for them? Of course, Aaron Beis and Scott Beigel lost their lives protecting students. Theirs was an act of heroism. But expecting heroism from our teachers is a burden no one, especially President Trump, should impose upon them.
Of course, the perpetrator would have gone to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was a student there. The people there were the target of his anger. He would have gone there whether the teachers were armed or not.
But let's say the teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were armed. If the Broward County Sheriff's Department arrived on the scene and saw a teacher with a gun how would they know that teacher wasn't the perpetrator? Who can say the authorities wouldn't have shot and killed the armed teacher instead of the perpetrator?
Sadly, in this instance, law enforcement didn't show up. I don't oppose armed guards in schools. Unfortunately, this is the world in which we live. But those measures are only as good as the people who are charged with that responsibility. Well, the individual who had that responsibility fell down the job and has now quit in disgrace. To make matters worse, four Broward sheriff's deputies also failed to carry out their duties.
If the students couldn't rely on trained law enforcement to protect them how can teachers be expected to do their job for them? Of course, Aaron Beis and Scott Beigel lost their lives protecting students. Theirs was an act of heroism. But expecting heroism from our teachers is a burden no one, especially President Trump, should impose upon them.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Mixed Legacy of Billy Graham
Evangelist Billy Graham passed away today at the age of 99. He would have reached his 100th birthday in November.
Graham spent nearly 60 years organizing Evangelical rallies all over the world and had the ear of a dozen U.S. Presidents.
Perhaps Graham's greatest legacy was his insistence that his congregations be desegregated. Given his Southern heritage this took no shortage of courage. Graham also introduced Martin Luther King, Jr. to a national audience when he invited him to his revival in New York City in 1957. Although Graham and King would have differences over the Vietnam War they would remain friends until King's assassination in April 1968.
Graham's reputation took a hit when the Nixon tapes were declassified in 2002 which unveiled a conversation in which both Graham and Nixon complain about Jewish control of the media. At the time, Graham issued an apology although he did not recall his remarks. I guess he didn't recall calling the Jews "the synagogue of Satan" in a 1973 conversation of Nixon which saw the light of day in 2009. If one equates the Jews with Satan and shares that view with the President of the United States, I think one is bound to remember such a thing.
In public, Graham had nothing but good things to say about Jews and Israel. But he also had nothing but good things to say about Reverend King and desegregation. Who can say what he truly thought behind closed doors? Asking such questions complicates Graham's legacy. Notwithstanding such questions may he R.I.P.
Graham spent nearly 60 years organizing Evangelical rallies all over the world and had the ear of a dozen U.S. Presidents.
Perhaps Graham's greatest legacy was his insistence that his congregations be desegregated. Given his Southern heritage this took no shortage of courage. Graham also introduced Martin Luther King, Jr. to a national audience when he invited him to his revival in New York City in 1957. Although Graham and King would have differences over the Vietnam War they would remain friends until King's assassination in April 1968.
Graham's reputation took a hit when the Nixon tapes were declassified in 2002 which unveiled a conversation in which both Graham and Nixon complain about Jewish control of the media. At the time, Graham issued an apology although he did not recall his remarks. I guess he didn't recall calling the Jews "the synagogue of Satan" in a 1973 conversation of Nixon which saw the light of day in 2009. If one equates the Jews with Satan and shares that view with the President of the United States, I think one is bound to remember such a thing.
In public, Graham had nothing but good things to say about Jews and Israel. But he also had nothing but good things to say about Reverend King and desegregation. Who can say what he truly thought behind closed doors? Asking such questions complicates Graham's legacy. Notwithstanding such questions may he R.I.P.
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Thoughts on Columbo at 50
That night the Lieutenant was pitted against a psychiatrist who murders his wife played by Gene Barry in a rare role as a villain. Barry was best known for his leading roles in TV shows like Bat Masterson, Burke's Law and later The Name of The Game. Compared to his appearance during the 1970's, Falk has much shorter hair and looks downright buttoned down even with his raincoat. But in those more formal days, Falk's attire and blue collar demeanor earn him the condescension of his superiors and his adversary alike. Both would sorely underestimate him and not for the last time.
It would be another three years before Falk reprised the role and then starred in 43 more episodes from 1971 to 1978 becoming one of the cultural icons of the 1970's and a recognizable figure the world over. After an appearance in Wim Wenders' 1987 film Wings of Desire where Falk is repeatedly referred to as Columbo, the series was revived by ABC in 1989 aired 24 episodes over the next 14 years. Unfortunately, these episodes do not measure up to the original series in terms of writing, plot, production value and even Falk himself. Nevertheless, Columbo left an indelible imprint on TV all over the world. Did you know there is a bronze statue of Columbo in Budapest, Hungary?
Amazingly, Columbo creators Richard Levinson and William Link were originally looking to cast Bing Crosby for the role. Thankfully Bing preferred hitting the links. Levinson and Link had envisioned an older actor to play the apparently befuddled sleuth. Falk was 40 at the time he donned the raincoat for the first time. Needless to say, Falk would age into the role playing the Lieutenant from LA for the last time in 2003 when he was 75. Falk died in 2011.
If you've ever watched an episode of Columbo you will see the homicide, know who committed the homicide and about ten seconds after meeting the murderer the Lieutenant knew it was him or her. It was just a question of how Columbo would figure it out. In a way, Columbo is a purgatorial figure. He will keep coming back to ask his suspect questions turning up at their home, their work, their place of leisure. Nearly all of the perpetrators had never committed a murder and Columbo's repeated visits served as a growing guilty conscience until Columbo's final clue compelled them to confess or simply surrender unable to endure another "just one more thing."
Columbo is my Dad's favorite show. This is fascinating because Dad does not think highly of police officers. But then Columbo was no run of the mill detective. Although Columbo lived in LA and was an Italian Catholic, Dad viewed him as the New York Jew which Peter Falk was. My Dad grew up in the Bronx in a working class neighborhood where not much was expected of its residents. Dad was the first in his family not only to go to university, but would eventually earn a Ph.D spending 40 years as a university professor. Yet Dad retained that Bronx accent and was often underestimated by his peers much to their detriment. Dad identified with Columbo's ability to out think and outwit his adversaries without the use of a gun or so much as raising a hand in violence. He also admired Columbo's ability to have empathy and compassion for his adversaries and be able to see the good in them while firm in the knowledge he would have to bring them to justice. Columbo even reminds me of Dad whether it's his wavy, curly black hair and his propensity for scratching it. For all these reasons it has become my favorite show as well.
There is a possibility of a ColumboCon being organized this summer in Falk's hometown of Osining, New York. If this comes to pass, I hope to go there with Dad as it is only an hour's train ride from New York City.
If Columbo fans are unable to gather physically this summer, we do gather virtually to watch selected Columbo epsiodes on Twitter at #ColumboTV. In October, I hosted a viewing of "A Case of Immunity" with Hector Elizondo and Sal Mineo in one of his last roles before his own murder. This Saturday at 5:30 pm EST, we will be watching "A Deadly State of Mind" with George Hamilton IV and Lesley Ann Warren. Please feel free to join the party.
Just one more thing. Original episodes of Columbo currently air weekdays at 7 a.m. EST on the Hallmark Movie & Mystery Channel and on Saturday nights at 7 p.m. EST on COZI TV. Episodes from the ABC version air Sunday night at 8 p.m. EST on MeTV.
Monday, February 19, 2018
Fergie Needn't Have Apologized For Her Version of The Star Spangled Banner
After facing a barrage of criticism for her rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at last night's NBA All-Star Game, Fergie issued a formal apology.
She need not have.
Having listened to it twice, I just don't see the problem.
Yes, it was different. But this wasn't Roseanne circa 1990.
In fact, I would say it was closer to the spirit of Marvin Gaye who rendered a souful version of the Star Spangled Banner at the NBA All-Star Game 35 years ago. It proved to be his swan song as he would be shot to death by his own father a year later.
Then there was Smokey Robinson's version which incorporated a touch of "America The Beautiful" prior to Game 5 of the 1986 World Series at Fenway Park in Boston.
With the visceral reaction Fergie is facing, I cannot help but think we've not learned much in 50 years. Amazingly, this year is the 50th anniversary of Jose Feliciano unveiling his interpretation of the National Anthem prior to Game 5 of the 1968 World Series at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
It took years for Feliciano to recover from the backlash, but his version is now understood for the beauty within. Perhaps Fergie will be similarly vindicated.
J.D. Martinez Will Regret Coming to Boston
It took nearly the entire off-season, but J.D. Martinez has finally joined the Boston Red Sox signing a five year, $110 million contract pending a physical. At this point, Martinez will be the Sox's DH unless they have plans to trade Jackie Bradley, Jr. thus creating an opening in right field.
Martinez split the 2017 season between the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks hitting a combined .305 with 45 HR and 104 RBI. Of those 45 HR, 29 came with the D'Backs in only 257 plate appearances following a trade deadline deal. His contributions were critical in getting the D'Backs to their first post-season appearance in 10 years.
Martinez and his agent Scott Boras sought a free agent contract worth $200 million. But in this slow free agent market, Martinez had to settle for considerably less. The five year deal includes an opt out provision following the 2019 season. I have a strong feeling Martinez will be exercising this escape hatch.
While Martinez has emerged as one of MLB's most potent offensive forces with 128 home runs since 2014, he has never been looked upon as the big guy. While in Detroit, Martinez was in the shadow of Miguel Cabrera and, despite his numbers in Phoenix last summer, he was still second banana to Paul Goldschmidt. With a Red Sox team which was last in the AL in home runs in 2017, Martinez is now expected to be the guy in 2018. Although he undoubtedly has the ability and has put up the numbers, I'm not sure if Martinez will be a match for the Boston media especially if he struggles at the plate in April and May. As I've noted before this city is insane when it comes to the Red Sox. The team can win ten in a row, but the second they lose the season is over. Not everybody can be David Ortiz and if the Boston sports begins comparing Martinez to Big Papi nothing good can come of it.
I see Martinez as a guy who does best when he flies under the radar. As such I have a very strong feeling he'll wish he was back in Phoenix. He might get that wish, but he'll have to wait a couple of years.
Martinez split the 2017 season between the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks hitting a combined .305 with 45 HR and 104 RBI. Of those 45 HR, 29 came with the D'Backs in only 257 plate appearances following a trade deadline deal. His contributions were critical in getting the D'Backs to their first post-season appearance in 10 years.
Martinez and his agent Scott Boras sought a free agent contract worth $200 million. But in this slow free agent market, Martinez had to settle for considerably less. The five year deal includes an opt out provision following the 2019 season. I have a strong feeling Martinez will be exercising this escape hatch.
While Martinez has emerged as one of MLB's most potent offensive forces with 128 home runs since 2014, he has never been looked upon as the big guy. While in Detroit, Martinez was in the shadow of Miguel Cabrera and, despite his numbers in Phoenix last summer, he was still second banana to Paul Goldschmidt. With a Red Sox team which was last in the AL in home runs in 2017, Martinez is now expected to be the guy in 2018. Although he undoubtedly has the ability and has put up the numbers, I'm not sure if Martinez will be a match for the Boston media especially if he struggles at the plate in April and May. As I've noted before this city is insane when it comes to the Red Sox. The team can win ten in a row, but the second they lose the season is over. Not everybody can be David Ortiz and if the Boston sports begins comparing Martinez to Big Papi nothing good can come of it.
I see Martinez as a guy who does best when he flies under the radar. As such I have a very strong feeling he'll wish he was back in Phoenix. He might get that wish, but he'll have to wait a couple of years.
What if Mister Rogers Had Become President Rogers?
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. broadcast debut of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (it had aired in Canada on the CBC as a 15 minute program from 1963 to 1966).
Like numerous children who grew up in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and even into the early 2000's, I watched Fred Rogers' program and was always struck by his decency, kindness, sincerity and gentle candor. He somehow managed to win the trust of generations of children across North America without a hint of condescension.
Aside from his support for increased federal public funding for public television, I don't know what Fred Rogers' politics were. Truth be told, Mister Rogers was too smart to sully his hands in the political arena. But if he had felt compelled to run for the White House or any other public office, I believe Mister Rogers would have comported himself with dignity, grace, respect and would not have insulted the intelligence of the voters on both the campaign trail and after being sworn into office.
President Rogers would have handled his duties with enormous care especially where it concerned sending our military personnel into harm's way. I'm sure that he would have made decisions with which I disagreed. But I would have appreciated his honesty. Regardless of his decisions, Mister Rogers would have treated the office he was bestowed with his unimpeachable character.
Unfortunately, many of the children who were raised on Mister Rogers saw fit to cast a ballot for Donald Trump a little over a year ago. Perhaps they outgrew Mister Rogers' wisdom, forgot it or just plain ignored it. But Trump is everything that Mister Rogers isn't. Whereas Mister Rogers is kind, Donald Trump is cruel. Whereas Mister Rogers speaks simple truths, Donald Trump peddles lie after lie. Whereas Mister Rogers imparts wisdom, Donald Trump imparts foolishness. Could you imagine how Mister Rogers would have used his Twitter account?
Of course, Mister Rogers has been dead and gone for nearly 15 years. The idea of Mister Rogers being President during his lifetime would have been considered preposterous. Of course, it wasn't so long ago that the idea of President Trump was also considered preposterous. If Americans are now in the practice of electing TV personalities President, rather than aspiring to make America great again we should try to make a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
I think if Mister Rogers had become President Rogers, he would have addressed the nation much in the way he addressed the audience assembled at the 1997 Daytime Emmy Awards when he received a lifetime achievement award. He instructed the audience to have a 10 second moment of silence to think of the people who helped them become who they are. At first the audience thought he was joking. But when he started to look at his watch, everyone knew he was serious and they followed his he lead. Tears soon began to shed.
If only we had this kind of leadership in Washington.
Like numerous children who grew up in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and even into the early 2000's, I watched Fred Rogers' program and was always struck by his decency, kindness, sincerity and gentle candor. He somehow managed to win the trust of generations of children across North America without a hint of condescension.
Aside from his support for increased federal public funding for public television, I don't know what Fred Rogers' politics were. Truth be told, Mister Rogers was too smart to sully his hands in the political arena. But if he had felt compelled to run for the White House or any other public office, I believe Mister Rogers would have comported himself with dignity, grace, respect and would not have insulted the intelligence of the voters on both the campaign trail and after being sworn into office.
President Rogers would have handled his duties with enormous care especially where it concerned sending our military personnel into harm's way. I'm sure that he would have made decisions with which I disagreed. But I would have appreciated his honesty. Regardless of his decisions, Mister Rogers would have treated the office he was bestowed with his unimpeachable character.
Unfortunately, many of the children who were raised on Mister Rogers saw fit to cast a ballot for Donald Trump a little over a year ago. Perhaps they outgrew Mister Rogers' wisdom, forgot it or just plain ignored it. But Trump is everything that Mister Rogers isn't. Whereas Mister Rogers is kind, Donald Trump is cruel. Whereas Mister Rogers speaks simple truths, Donald Trump peddles lie after lie. Whereas Mister Rogers imparts wisdom, Donald Trump imparts foolishness. Could you imagine how Mister Rogers would have used his Twitter account?
Of course, Mister Rogers has been dead and gone for nearly 15 years. The idea of Mister Rogers being President during his lifetime would have been considered preposterous. Of course, it wasn't so long ago that the idea of President Trump was also considered preposterous. If Americans are now in the practice of electing TV personalities President, rather than aspiring to make America great again we should try to make a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
I think if Mister Rogers had become President Rogers, he would have addressed the nation much in the way he addressed the audience assembled at the 1997 Daytime Emmy Awards when he received a lifetime achievement award. He instructed the audience to have a 10 second moment of silence to think of the people who helped them become who they are. At first the audience thought he was joking. But when he started to look at his watch, everyone knew he was serious and they followed his he lead. Tears soon began to shed.
If only we had this kind of leadership in Washington.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Could Eric Hosmer Help Make The Padres MLB's Biggest Surprise in 2018?
The San Diego Padres have been courting Eric Hosmer all winter and late last night they finally snagged him as the former Kansas City Royal first baseman signed an 8-year, $144 million contract with the team. There is an opt out provision for Hosmer following the 2022 season.
This is by far the biggest contract the Padres have ever offered to a player nearly doubling the contract Wil Myers signed last season. Indeed, not only does Hosmer's contract supplant Myers, but Hosmer also supplants Myers at first base. Myers is expected to play left field for the Padres in 2018.
Could signing Hosmer be the key in making the Padres the biggest surprise in MLB this year? The Padres have bolstered their infield not only with Hosmer but with former Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis and the return of Chase Headley. The Padres also gave a three year contract extension to closer Brad Hand who had a breakthrough season in 2017 with 21 saves.
But the Padres have big question marks in their starting rotation. Indeed, they are knee deep in the Tim Lincecum sweepstakes. If you're banking on a pitcher who had an ERA over 9.00 in 2016 then it might be premature to declare the Padres a championship team in 2018. After all, they are still in the NL West. The Dodgers have won the division for five straight years and Matt Kemp has now returned to the fold. The D'Backs and Rockies are coming off NL Wild Card berths while the Giants have added Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen to their lineup.
It might also be the case that Galvis and Headley are being utilized as stop gap measures as both players become free agents after this season. Chances are the Padres won't see dividends until 2020. But they are heading in the right direction.
This is by far the biggest contract the Padres have ever offered to a player nearly doubling the contract Wil Myers signed last season. Indeed, not only does Hosmer's contract supplant Myers, but Hosmer also supplants Myers at first base. Myers is expected to play left field for the Padres in 2018.
Could signing Hosmer be the key in making the Padres the biggest surprise in MLB this year? The Padres have bolstered their infield not only with Hosmer but with former Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis and the return of Chase Headley. The Padres also gave a three year contract extension to closer Brad Hand who had a breakthrough season in 2017 with 21 saves.
But the Padres have big question marks in their starting rotation. Indeed, they are knee deep in the Tim Lincecum sweepstakes. If you're banking on a pitcher who had an ERA over 9.00 in 2016 then it might be premature to declare the Padres a championship team in 2018. After all, they are still in the NL West. The Dodgers have won the division for five straight years and Matt Kemp has now returned to the fold. The D'Backs and Rockies are coming off NL Wild Card berths while the Giants have added Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen to their lineup.
It might also be the case that Galvis and Headley are being utilized as stop gap measures as both players become free agents after this season. Chances are the Padres won't see dividends until 2020. But they are heading in the right direction.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Lindsay Shepherd Brings Some Free Thinking to Harvard
A couple of months ago, I shared my thoughts about Lindsay Shepherd. She is the teaching assistant at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, who was accused by university personnel for violating the institution's gendered and sexual violence policy, the Ontario Human Rights Code and Bill C-16 for playing a video clip featuring Jordan Peterson, the University of Toronto professor who gained notoriety for his opposition to the compelled use of transgendered pronouns.
Mind you, Shepherd wasn't playing a clip of a Peterson lecture, but rather of him participating in a panel discussion on the TVOntario public affairs show The Agenda with Steve Paikin. For this she was summoned to a Kafkaesque tribunal which Shepherd had the foresight to record. A subsequent investigation by Laurier not only cleared Shepherd of any wrongdoing but revealed there was no actual complaint against her. It was made out of whole cloth.
In the months following the incident, Shepherd has been making appearances at universities discussing the state of free speech and open inquiry on campuses in North America. Today, she made her way to none other than Harvard University in the People's Republic of Cambridge. Sponsored by Harvard College's Open Campus Initiative, the theme of Shepherd's talk was "Censorship and The Spirit of Debate on Campus."
I am struck by Shepherd's lack of pretentiousness. Notwithstanding her newfound notoriety, she doesn't pretend to be an expert about anything. Shepherd spoke of reading post-modernist texts and not getting anything from them chiding the "obscure language" of the texts arguing they are written in such a way to make it "deliberately not understood." This was music to my ears. That was precisely my reaction to much of the literature I read while I was in university more than two decades ago. I'm sure many a university student between now and then has experienced the same reaction.
Later in her talk she said, "I express my views as clearly as I can as muddled as they are." Shepherd conceded that perhaps 20 years from now she might come to see she was entirely wrong in her views about transgendered pronouns and conclude "how unprogressive I was" (although she said this with more than a hint of sarcasm). Nevertheless, Shepherd expressed concern about how elementary school children in Canada were being introduced to the so-called fluidity of gender identity including her two younger siblings. While elementary school boards think 9-year olds are old enough to understand the politics of gender identity, Wilfrid Laurier University doesn't think 18-year olds are old enough to hear Jordan Peterson's views on gender pronouns.
I asked Shepherd about her thoughts on Laurier's efforts to work on a Freedom of Expression statement. Shepherd told me that she initially welcomed the statement, but is skeptical because she is unsure how effective it will be so long as the gendered and sexual violence policy, which is mandated by the province of Ontario, remains in effect. She also expressed concern that such a statement could be watered down as it was at the University of British Columbia when a provision was included concerning how speech could affect a person's "wellness."
For all the hostility Shepherd has encountered from The Left, she considers herself "kind of a socialist." Privately, many liberals and leftists tell Shepherd they agree with her but implore her not to say anything about it. "That's a problem," she said, "This is exactly what needs to change."
There were about 25-30 people in attendance, a majority of them students. It amazes me how this generation views "freedom of speech" as a right-wing concept or an alt-right value. Of course, the Left is effectively allowing the Right to claim freedom of speech for itself. These are the sort of thoughts that could only be expressed by people who have no concept of what it is not to have freedom of speech. When we spoke one on one, I told Shepherd that in an authoritarian or totalitarian country we could be arrested for having our meeting. Shepherd agreed and said people of her generation had no such understanding of what authoritarianism or totalitarianism is.
Shepherd is well known for her toque. I brought along mine and she agreed to posing with a dueling toques theme. I appreciate her humoring me.
Mind you, Shepherd wasn't playing a clip of a Peterson lecture, but rather of him participating in a panel discussion on the TVOntario public affairs show The Agenda with Steve Paikin. For this she was summoned to a Kafkaesque tribunal which Shepherd had the foresight to record. A subsequent investigation by Laurier not only cleared Shepherd of any wrongdoing but revealed there was no actual complaint against her. It was made out of whole cloth.
In the months following the incident, Shepherd has been making appearances at universities discussing the state of free speech and open inquiry on campuses in North America. Today, she made her way to none other than Harvard University in the People's Republic of Cambridge. Sponsored by Harvard College's Open Campus Initiative, the theme of Shepherd's talk was "Censorship and The Spirit of Debate on Campus."
I am struck by Shepherd's lack of pretentiousness. Notwithstanding her newfound notoriety, she doesn't pretend to be an expert about anything. Shepherd spoke of reading post-modernist texts and not getting anything from them chiding the "obscure language" of the texts arguing they are written in such a way to make it "deliberately not understood." This was music to my ears. That was precisely my reaction to much of the literature I read while I was in university more than two decades ago. I'm sure many a university student between now and then has experienced the same reaction.
Later in her talk she said, "I express my views as clearly as I can as muddled as they are." Shepherd conceded that perhaps 20 years from now she might come to see she was entirely wrong in her views about transgendered pronouns and conclude "how unprogressive I was" (although she said this with more than a hint of sarcasm). Nevertheless, Shepherd expressed concern about how elementary school children in Canada were being introduced to the so-called fluidity of gender identity including her two younger siblings. While elementary school boards think 9-year olds are old enough to understand the politics of gender identity, Wilfrid Laurier University doesn't think 18-year olds are old enough to hear Jordan Peterson's views on gender pronouns.
I asked Shepherd about her thoughts on Laurier's efforts to work on a Freedom of Expression statement. Shepherd told me that she initially welcomed the statement, but is skeptical because she is unsure how effective it will be so long as the gendered and sexual violence policy, which is mandated by the province of Ontario, remains in effect. She also expressed concern that such a statement could be watered down as it was at the University of British Columbia when a provision was included concerning how speech could affect a person's "wellness."
For all the hostility Shepherd has encountered from The Left, she considers herself "kind of a socialist." Privately, many liberals and leftists tell Shepherd they agree with her but implore her not to say anything about it. "That's a problem," she said, "This is exactly what needs to change."
There were about 25-30 people in attendance, a majority of them students. It amazes me how this generation views "freedom of speech" as a right-wing concept or an alt-right value. Of course, the Left is effectively allowing the Right to claim freedom of speech for itself. These are the sort of thoughts that could only be expressed by people who have no concept of what it is not to have freedom of speech. When we spoke one on one, I told Shepherd that in an authoritarian or totalitarian country we could be arrested for having our meeting. Shepherd agreed and said people of her generation had no such understanding of what authoritarianism or totalitarianism is.
Shepherd is well known for her toque. I brought along mine and she agreed to posing with a dueling toques theme. I appreciate her humoring me.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Tito Francona, R.I.P.
Former MLB player John "Tito" Francona passed away on February 13th at the age of 84. The cause of death has not been released. His son, of course, is current Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona whose nickname is also Tito.
A native of Western Pennsylvania, the elder Francona signed with the St. Louis Browns out of high school. By the time he reached the majors in 1956, the Browns had moved east to Baltimore. Splitting time between the outfield and first base, Francona had a strong rookie season with the Orioles finishing tied for second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting with Rocky Colavito in a year that saw future Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio win the honors.
However, Francona would suffer the sophomore jinx in 1957 and prior to the 1958 season was sent to the Chicago White Sox in a seven player deal which included Larry Doby, the AL's first African-American player. Things did not improve for Francona on the South Side of Chicago and by June of that year he was again sent packing this time to the Detroit Tigers in a four player deal for Ray Boone, the father of Bob Boone and grandfather of Bret Boone and current New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Alas, Francona was no more productive at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull and was again traded again for Doby this to the Cleveland Indians prior to the 1959 season.
Francona would make an immediate impact in Cleveland hitting career highs in both batting average (.363) and home runs (20) along with 79 RBI. Those numbers were good enough to finish fifth in AL MVP voting in 1959. In 1960, Francona led the AL in doubles with 36 and in 1961 would earn his lone AL All-Star Team selection. Francona would remain with the Tribe through the 1964 season.
Between 1965-1970, Francona bounced around with the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Oakland A's and the Milwaukee Brewers where he was largely relegated to pinch hitting duty. In 15 big league seasons, Francona collected 1,395 hits for a lifetime batting average of .272 with 125 home runs and 656 RBI.
In the video above taken in July 2015, Francona talks about the 1959 season and reminisces about teammates like Herb Score, Rocky Colavito and Gary Bell as well as the challenges of traveling. R.I.P.
A native of Western Pennsylvania, the elder Francona signed with the St. Louis Browns out of high school. By the time he reached the majors in 1956, the Browns had moved east to Baltimore. Splitting time between the outfield and first base, Francona had a strong rookie season with the Orioles finishing tied for second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting with Rocky Colavito in a year that saw future Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio win the honors.
However, Francona would suffer the sophomore jinx in 1957 and prior to the 1958 season was sent to the Chicago White Sox in a seven player deal which included Larry Doby, the AL's first African-American player. Things did not improve for Francona on the South Side of Chicago and by June of that year he was again sent packing this time to the Detroit Tigers in a four player deal for Ray Boone, the father of Bob Boone and grandfather of Bret Boone and current New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Alas, Francona was no more productive at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull and was again traded again for Doby this to the Cleveland Indians prior to the 1959 season.
Francona would make an immediate impact in Cleveland hitting career highs in both batting average (.363) and home runs (20) along with 79 RBI. Those numbers were good enough to finish fifth in AL MVP voting in 1959. In 1960, Francona led the AL in doubles with 36 and in 1961 would earn his lone AL All-Star Team selection. Francona would remain with the Tribe through the 1964 season.
In the video above taken in July 2015, Francona talks about the 1959 season and reminisces about teammates like Herb Score, Rocky Colavito and Gary Bell as well as the challenges of traveling. R.I.P.
Morgan Tsvangirai, R.I.P.
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change and that country's Prime Minister from 2009 to 2013, died on Valentine's Day following a battle with colon cancer. He was 65.
A nickel miner by trade who became a union leader, no man posed a greater threat to the rule of Robert Mugabe than Tsvangirai who endured numerous beatings and imprisonment. It is a wonder he lived as long as he did.
Tsvangirai actually bested Mugabe in the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections a decade ago. But government violence against his supporters forced Tsvangirai to withdraw from the second round of voting. The following year then South African President Thabo Mbeki brokered a power sharing agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai in which the latter became Prime Minister, a position he held for four years. But Tsvangirai yielded little power or influence and was accused by some of his supporters of selling out. There was little enthusiasm when Tsvangirai ran against Mugabe in 2013.
At least Tsvangirai lived long enough to see Mugabe step down from power last November. But ZANU-PF remains firmly in the saddle with Emmerson Mnangagwa in charge. The democratic change Tsvangirai fought for will have to be taken up and attained by others Zimbabweans. R.I.P.
A nickel miner by trade who became a union leader, no man posed a greater threat to the rule of Robert Mugabe than Tsvangirai who endured numerous beatings and imprisonment. It is a wonder he lived as long as he did.
Tsvangirai actually bested Mugabe in the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections a decade ago. But government violence against his supporters forced Tsvangirai to withdraw from the second round of voting. The following year then South African President Thabo Mbeki brokered a power sharing agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai in which the latter became Prime Minister, a position he held for four years. But Tsvangirai yielded little power or influence and was accused by some of his supporters of selling out. There was little enthusiasm when Tsvangirai ran against Mugabe in 2013.
At least Tsvangirai lived long enough to see Mugabe step down from power last November. But ZANU-PF remains firmly in the saddle with Emmerson Mnangagwa in charge. The democratic change Tsvangirai fought for will have to be taken up and attained by others Zimbabweans. R.I.P.
Kimmel Wants Trump & Congress To "Do Something" About School Shootings, But Doesn't Say What Should Be Done
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel devoted part of his monologue last night to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Valentine's Day which claimed the lives of 17 people, 15 students and two staff members. After playing a clip of President Trump's comments on the shooting, Kimmel said the following:
Agreed. So I agree with both of those statements. And here’s what you do to fix that: Tell your buddies in Congress, tell Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and Marco Rubio, all the family men who care so much about their communities, that what we need are laws, real laws, that do everything possible to keep assault rifles out of the hands of people who are going to shoot our kids. Go on TV and tell them to do that.
But Kimmel doesn't say what he wants Trump to tell Congress to do. Does he want more background checks? Does he want a ban on the sale of AR-15 rifles? Or does he want the implementation of a mandatory buy back & confiscation program?
Kimmel did take Trump and Congress to task for a "roll back the regulations that were designed to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill." In February 2017, Trump approved Congress' reversal of such a regulation implemented by the Obama Administration to do just that, well sort of. Following the December 2015 San Bernardino attacks, Obama issued an executive order requiring the Social Security Administration to submit information to the National Instant Background Check System of people "adjudicated as a mental defective". This regulation would have affected approximately 75,000 people. But unless the suspect in the Parkland shooting had a) applied for Social Security disability benefits and b) been deemed a mental defective then there's a good chance this regulation would have no effect. It wouldn't have had an effect in Las Vegas. Nor for that matter would it have had an effect in San Bernardino where a straw buyer was involved.
Indeed, it is worth noting that Kimmel didn't state Trump should reverse himself on repealing Obama's executive order. I suspect that Kimmel didn't get into specifics because deep down he knows that such measures don't yield any meaningful results.
I do, however, agree with Kimmel on one thing he said:
It is amazing to me that if one illegal immigrant causes a car accident, we’ve got to build a wall to keep the rest of them out. Why are you looking for solutions to that problem and not this one?
This is absolutely true. If the perpetrator in Parkland, Florida had been an illegal immigrant, Trump would not have adopted any measured tones. He and his Republican lemmings would be screaming to do something - namely building a wall. But what good is a wall when it comes to someone who has overstayed their tourist or student visa? What of the 9/11 hijackers? There are laws on the books, but they don't mean much if they aren't properly enforced.
The truth of the matter is that people on both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of either inflicting easy answers upon us or demand that we do something without saying what ought to be done. Whatever the solution there's a good chance the cure will be worse than the disease.
Of course, no parent should have to worry about whether they'll see their child again when they leave home to go to school. But I wonder how many of those parents own at least one firearm. Is Jimmy Kimmel among them? If Kimmel does own a firearm would he prepared to have the government take it away from him in the name of ensuring his child's safety away from the home? In that instance, I'm not so sure Kimmel would be so eager to say do something.
Agreed. So I agree with both of those statements. And here’s what you do to fix that: Tell your buddies in Congress, tell Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and Marco Rubio, all the family men who care so much about their communities, that what we need are laws, real laws, that do everything possible to keep assault rifles out of the hands of people who are going to shoot our kids. Go on TV and tell them to do that.
But Kimmel doesn't say what he wants Trump to tell Congress to do. Does he want more background checks? Does he want a ban on the sale of AR-15 rifles? Or does he want the implementation of a mandatory buy back & confiscation program?
Kimmel did take Trump and Congress to task for a "roll back the regulations that were designed to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill." In February 2017, Trump approved Congress' reversal of such a regulation implemented by the Obama Administration to do just that, well sort of. Following the December 2015 San Bernardino attacks, Obama issued an executive order requiring the Social Security Administration to submit information to the National Instant Background Check System of people "adjudicated as a mental defective". This regulation would have affected approximately 75,000 people. But unless the suspect in the Parkland shooting had a) applied for Social Security disability benefits and b) been deemed a mental defective then there's a good chance this regulation would have no effect. It wouldn't have had an effect in Las Vegas. Nor for that matter would it have had an effect in San Bernardino where a straw buyer was involved.
Indeed, it is worth noting that Kimmel didn't state Trump should reverse himself on repealing Obama's executive order. I suspect that Kimmel didn't get into specifics because deep down he knows that such measures don't yield any meaningful results.
I do, however, agree with Kimmel on one thing he said:
It is amazing to me that if one illegal immigrant causes a car accident, we’ve got to build a wall to keep the rest of them out. Why are you looking for solutions to that problem and not this one?
This is absolutely true. If the perpetrator in Parkland, Florida had been an illegal immigrant, Trump would not have adopted any measured tones. He and his Republican lemmings would be screaming to do something - namely building a wall. But what good is a wall when it comes to someone who has overstayed their tourist or student visa? What of the 9/11 hijackers? There are laws on the books, but they don't mean much if they aren't properly enforced.
The truth of the matter is that people on both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of either inflicting easy answers upon us or demand that we do something without saying what ought to be done. Whatever the solution there's a good chance the cure will be worse than the disease.
Of course, no parent should have to worry about whether they'll see their child again when they leave home to go to school. But I wonder how many of those parents own at least one firearm. Is Jimmy Kimmel among them? If Kimmel does own a firearm would he prepared to have the government take it away from him in the name of ensuring his child's safety away from the home? In that instance, I'm not so sure Kimmel would be so eager to say do something.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Tom Rapp, R.I.P.
Tom Rapp, the founder and lead singer of the 1960's psychedelic group Pearls Before Swine who later became a civil rights attorney, has passed away at the age of 70.
I must confess I was unfamiliar with Rapp and his music until two years ago when I began to hear Pearls Before Swine as well as some of Rapp's solo music on my Google Play Music service. Combine Rapp's vocal lisp with gorgeous arrangements and you have music which lasts.
My favorite Pearls Before Swine song is "The Jeweler" which was later covered in the early 1980's by This Mortal Coil. The original is truly original from the opening vocals. Please have a listen. R.I.P.
I must confess I was unfamiliar with Rapp and his music until two years ago when I began to hear Pearls Before Swine as well as some of Rapp's solo music on my Google Play Music service. Combine Rapp's vocal lisp with gorgeous arrangements and you have music which lasts.
My favorite Pearls Before Swine song is "The Jeweler" which was later covered in the early 1980's by This Mortal Coil. The original is truly original from the opening vocals. Please have a listen. R.I.P.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Some Thoughts For My Grandmother
On February 1st, my maternal grandmother Anna Marconi passed away at the age of 98.
In recent weeks, she had fallen on two occasions requiring hospitalization on both occasions. Although it was very likely she would need to transfer from her retirement home to a long term care facility, her condition was not deemed to be imperiled. But at that age and in unfamiliar surroundings, the stability of one's health is not predictable. Sadly, her condition deteriorated very suddenly.
Naturally, I wanted to travel up to Ottawa to attend her funeral. Unfortunately, my ongoing work situation (or lack thereof) is now such that I must leave my apartment of 10 years. Needless to say there are pressing matters which required me to remain here in Boston. Fortunately, my family is understanding about these circumstances.
Of course, I had been looking forward to the possibility of grandma reaching her 100th birthday in August 2019. Although cenetarians are is less of a rarity now reaching that mark is nevertheless a remarkable achievement which deserves a joyous celebration. Alas, this will not come to pass.
With that said, I think if you told most people they would live to the age of 98 they would be reasonably satisfied. Born Anna Alampi she grew up in Reggio in the Calabrian region of Italy, she emigrated to Canada in her early teens settling in Coleman, Alberta, a coal mining community in the Crowsnest Pass. She would not return to her native land for 70 years until my parents took her back there on vacation in 2002.
On September 1, 1939, she married Jack Marconi. Yes, my grandparents were married the same day Hitler invaded Poland. Needless to say their union easily outlasted the Third Reich. By the time my grandmother married my grandfather, he had been working in the mines nearly a decade earlier at the age of 15. They would become parents of two children. First came my Uncle John who still lives outside Ottawa. Then came my mother Arlene three and a half years later. Eight grandchildren (including myself) plus numerous great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren would follow. My grandparents were married 60 years until granddad died in April 2000, shortly after I moved to Boston.
When I was growing up in Thunder Bay, we usually saw my grandparents once a year during the summer. I saw them more frequently in 1978-1979 when my Dad took his sabbatical to Victoria, British Columbia. We stayed in Coleman en route to Victoria and on the way back with them visiting us in B.C. I had more extensive contact with my grandparents when they took care of us (save for my older brother Ezra who was in New York City) during the summer of 1983 when my parents went to Europe. While my grandfather was sweet and prone to spoiling his grandchildren, my grandmother was far more strict, less likely to offer praise and was blunt. Although she had mellowed somewhat when she and my grandfather moved to Ottawa in 1995, she still had her moments. I can recall during one visit in 2009 she told me, "Aaron, you're fat!!!" Needless to say, this didn't fill me with confidence. But having looked at a picture taken of me with her from that visit which was shown during her funeral, I have to admit she was right. I just wish she had a chance to see me 30 pounds lighter.
But my grandmother had a very strong artistic side. She spent many years making pottery, jewels and painting. On her 95th birthday, I made a point of giving her a large paint brush as her tribute to her artistry.
In some ways I wish I had known her better. While I have seen many pictures of her in her youth, I saw a picture of her on a horse. I don't ever remember seeing that picture. If I had then I surely would have asked her about it. It certainly would have given me a greater understanding of how she adapted to life in Canada. But adapt she did. R.I.P.
In recent weeks, she had fallen on two occasions requiring hospitalization on both occasions. Although it was very likely she would need to transfer from her retirement home to a long term care facility, her condition was not deemed to be imperiled. But at that age and in unfamiliar surroundings, the stability of one's health is not predictable. Sadly, her condition deteriorated very suddenly.
Naturally, I wanted to travel up to Ottawa to attend her funeral. Unfortunately, my ongoing work situation (or lack thereof) is now such that I must leave my apartment of 10 years. Needless to say there are pressing matters which required me to remain here in Boston. Fortunately, my family is understanding about these circumstances.
Of course, I had been looking forward to the possibility of grandma reaching her 100th birthday in August 2019. Although cenetarians are is less of a rarity now reaching that mark is nevertheless a remarkable achievement which deserves a joyous celebration. Alas, this will not come to pass.
With that said, I think if you told most people they would live to the age of 98 they would be reasonably satisfied. Born Anna Alampi she grew up in Reggio in the Calabrian region of Italy, she emigrated to Canada in her early teens settling in Coleman, Alberta, a coal mining community in the Crowsnest Pass. She would not return to her native land for 70 years until my parents took her back there on vacation in 2002.
On September 1, 1939, she married Jack Marconi. Yes, my grandparents were married the same day Hitler invaded Poland. Needless to say their union easily outlasted the Third Reich. By the time my grandmother married my grandfather, he had been working in the mines nearly a decade earlier at the age of 15. They would become parents of two children. First came my Uncle John who still lives outside Ottawa. Then came my mother Arlene three and a half years later. Eight grandchildren (including myself) plus numerous great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren would follow. My grandparents were married 60 years until granddad died in April 2000, shortly after I moved to Boston.
When I was growing up in Thunder Bay, we usually saw my grandparents once a year during the summer. I saw them more frequently in 1978-1979 when my Dad took his sabbatical to Victoria, British Columbia. We stayed in Coleman en route to Victoria and on the way back with them visiting us in B.C. I had more extensive contact with my grandparents when they took care of us (save for my older brother Ezra who was in New York City) during the summer of 1983 when my parents went to Europe. While my grandfather was sweet and prone to spoiling his grandchildren, my grandmother was far more strict, less likely to offer praise and was blunt. Although she had mellowed somewhat when she and my grandfather moved to Ottawa in 1995, she still had her moments. I can recall during one visit in 2009 she told me, "Aaron, you're fat!!!" Needless to say, this didn't fill me with confidence. But having looked at a picture taken of me with her from that visit which was shown during her funeral, I have to admit she was right. I just wish she had a chance to see me 30 pounds lighter.
But my grandmother had a very strong artistic side. She spent many years making pottery, jewels and painting. On her 95th birthday, I made a point of giving her a large paint brush as her tribute to her artistry.
In some ways I wish I had known her better. While I have seen many pictures of her in her youth, I saw a picture of her on a horse. I don't ever remember seeing that picture. If I had then I surely would have asked her about it. It certainly would have given me a greater understanding of how she adapted to life in Canada. But adapt she did. R.I.P.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Are The Cubs Better Off With Yu Darvish Than Jake Arrieta?
The Chicago Cubs have persuaded free agent pitcher Yu Darvish to sign a six year, $126 million contract to come to Wrigleyville.
This effectively means that Jake Arrieta's tenure with the Cubs is over. Arrieta had been seeking a contract in the range $200 million. The most the Cubs were willing to offer was in the neighborhood of $110 million over four years. That would amount to $27.5 million per year as opposed to $21 million Darvish will get. But why were the Cubs willing to give Darvish six years and Arrieta only four? Arrieta is only six months older than Darvish.
It might come down to strikeouts. Although Darvish had a so-so 10-12 record with a 3.86 ERA with both the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, he also fanned 209 batters in only 186 2/3 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Arrieta went 14-10 with a 3.53 but fanned 163 batters in 168 1/3 innings pitched.
It could also be the case the Cubs think Arrieta had a career year when he won the NL Cy Young Award in 2015 and will not reach those heights again. Then again Darvish has been a .500 pitcher since coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2016.
The question remains is where Arrieta will end up. The Brewers? The Nationals? Perhaps Southern California - Angels or Dodgers? But it won't be in the Windy City.
This effectively means that Jake Arrieta's tenure with the Cubs is over. Arrieta had been seeking a contract in the range $200 million. The most the Cubs were willing to offer was in the neighborhood of $110 million over four years. That would amount to $27.5 million per year as opposed to $21 million Darvish will get. But why were the Cubs willing to give Darvish six years and Arrieta only four? Arrieta is only six months older than Darvish.
It might come down to strikeouts. Although Darvish had a so-so 10-12 record with a 3.86 ERA with both the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, he also fanned 209 batters in only 186 2/3 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Arrieta went 14-10 with a 3.53 but fanned 163 batters in 168 1/3 innings pitched.
It could also be the case the Cubs think Arrieta had a career year when he won the NL Cy Young Award in 2015 and will not reach those heights again. Then again Darvish has been a .500 pitcher since coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2016.
The question remains is where Arrieta will end up. The Brewers? The Nationals? Perhaps Southern California - Angels or Dodgers? But it won't be in the Windy City.
Did You Know Wally Moon Bested Both Hank Aaron & Ernie Banks for 1954 NL Rookie of the Year?
Former St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Wally Moon has passed away at the age of 87.
After a distinguished collegiate career, Moon signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1950. Prior to the 1954 season, Moon was told by the Cardinals to report to minor league camp. Moon made the brash move of reporting to big league camp and demanding he be given the chance to make the big league roster or retire. The Cardinals took Moon up on his offer and he had a such a good spring training he was named the starting right fielder replacing the popular Enos Slaughter who was then traded to the New York Yankees.
This was not a popular move in St. Louis as Slaughter had played his entire 13-year MLB career with the Cardinals. But Moon quickly won over fans by hitting a home run in his very first big league at bat. Moon hit .304 with 12 HR and 76 RBI along with 18 stolen bases. Those numbers earned him the 1954 NL Rookie of the Year easily beating out future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks.
Moon would make his first NL All-Star Team in 1957. That year he would hit a career high 24 home runs. However, Moon's numbers slipped in 1958 when he mustered only 7 home runs along with a 57 point drop in his batting average to .238. The Cardinals would trade Moon to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Gino Cimoli prior to the 1959 season.
This trade proved to be over the moon for the Dodgers. Moon would have the best year of his career in 1959 leading the NL in triples which was good enough to finish fourth in NL MVP balloting and earning the first of three World Series rings with the Dodgers over the next seven years. Although Cimoli drove in 72 runs for the Cardinals in 1959, he was shipped off to Pittsburgh the following year.
While Moon did not have the Hall of Fame career of Aaron or Banks, he won more World Series rings than both of them combined. In 12 big league seasons, Moon hit .289 with 142 HR and 661 RBI. If you've ever heard the term "Moon Shot" in baseball you can thank Moon. Although 142 HR wasn't Aaron like, he tended to hit his home runs long distances. Those home runs made Moon the favorite player of Dodgers fans like Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame. In fact, Cranston named his production company Moon Shot Productions in honor of his favorite player.
Moon was profiled by his alma mater during last year's World Series between the Dodgers and Astros. Their timing couldn't have been better. R.I.P.
After a distinguished collegiate career, Moon signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1950. Prior to the 1954 season, Moon was told by the Cardinals to report to minor league camp. Moon made the brash move of reporting to big league camp and demanding he be given the chance to make the big league roster or retire. The Cardinals took Moon up on his offer and he had a such a good spring training he was named the starting right fielder replacing the popular Enos Slaughter who was then traded to the New York Yankees.
This was not a popular move in St. Louis as Slaughter had played his entire 13-year MLB career with the Cardinals. But Moon quickly won over fans by hitting a home run in his very first big league at bat. Moon hit .304 with 12 HR and 76 RBI along with 18 stolen bases. Those numbers earned him the 1954 NL Rookie of the Year easily beating out future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks.
Moon would make his first NL All-Star Team in 1957. That year he would hit a career high 24 home runs. However, Moon's numbers slipped in 1958 when he mustered only 7 home runs along with a 57 point drop in his batting average to .238. The Cardinals would trade Moon to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Gino Cimoli prior to the 1959 season.
This trade proved to be over the moon for the Dodgers. Moon would have the best year of his career in 1959 leading the NL in triples which was good enough to finish fourth in NL MVP balloting and earning the first of three World Series rings with the Dodgers over the next seven years. Although Cimoli drove in 72 runs for the Cardinals in 1959, he was shipped off to Pittsburgh the following year.
While Moon did not have the Hall of Fame career of Aaron or Banks, he won more World Series rings than both of them combined. In 12 big league seasons, Moon hit .289 with 142 HR and 661 RBI. If you've ever heard the term "Moon Shot" in baseball you can thank Moon. Although 142 HR wasn't Aaron like, he tended to hit his home runs long distances. Those home runs made Moon the favorite player of Dodgers fans like Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame. In fact, Cranston named his production company Moon Shot Productions in honor of his favorite player.
Moon was profiled by his alma mater during last year's World Series between the Dodgers and Astros. Their timing couldn't have been better. R.I.P.
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Eagles Upset Patriots to Win Super Bowl LII; Backup QB Foles Wins MVP
There won't be a parade in Boston this time.
The five time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots could not make it six as they fell 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII who earned their first championship in the Super Bowl era. The Eagles won the NFL Championship Game versus the Green Bay Packers back in 1960. Despite passing for 505 yards and three touchdown passes, Tom Brady couldn't do it alone.
Except for a brief period in the fourth quarter, the Eagles led most of the game and set the pace. There were two questionable touchdown catches by Corey Clement and Zach Ertz. Frankly, they would not have been counted as TDs during the regular season. Nevertheless, Eagles backup QB Nick Foles rose to the occasion with three TD passes for 373 yards and wasn't the least by intimidated by Brady or Belichick. Foles shone when he caught a TD pass by tight end Trey Burton. Earlier in the game, Brady had tried the same thing but dropped a ball thrown to him by Danny Amendola. It also didn't help that Stephen Gostkowski had missed two field goal attempts (the first miss could be attributed to a bad snap by Ryan Allen). The Pats weren't bad, but this was far from their best effort despite briefly coming back from yet another 10 point deficit.
Needless to say, Foles won the Super Bowl MVP. Despite this, he will be revert to being a back up QB after Carson Wentz returns from injury next season. Some back up.
It's probably just as well. Boston has had 10 championship parades since 2002. Yet we never seem to entirely appreciate what we have. It's not that we're sick of winning it's just that misery is our default disposition. Well, let Philly have their parade. It's been nearly a decade since they last had one after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. Perhaps they will savor it better than us.
The five time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots could not make it six as they fell 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII who earned their first championship in the Super Bowl era. The Eagles won the NFL Championship Game versus the Green Bay Packers back in 1960. Despite passing for 505 yards and three touchdown passes, Tom Brady couldn't do it alone.
Except for a brief period in the fourth quarter, the Eagles led most of the game and set the pace. There were two questionable touchdown catches by Corey Clement and Zach Ertz. Frankly, they would not have been counted as TDs during the regular season. Nevertheless, Eagles backup QB Nick Foles rose to the occasion with three TD passes for 373 yards and wasn't the least by intimidated by Brady or Belichick. Foles shone when he caught a TD pass by tight end Trey Burton. Earlier in the game, Brady had tried the same thing but dropped a ball thrown to him by Danny Amendola. It also didn't help that Stephen Gostkowski had missed two field goal attempts (the first miss could be attributed to a bad snap by Ryan Allen). The Pats weren't bad, but this was far from their best effort despite briefly coming back from yet another 10 point deficit.
Needless to say, Foles won the Super Bowl MVP. Despite this, he will be revert to being a back up QB after Carson Wentz returns from injury next season. Some back up.
It's probably just as well. Boston has had 10 championship parades since 2002. Yet we never seem to entirely appreciate what we have. It's not that we're sick of winning it's just that misery is our default disposition. Well, let Philly have their parade. It's been nearly a decade since they last had one after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. Perhaps they will savor it better than us.
Friday, February 2, 2018
Dennis Edwards, R.I.P.
Former Temptations lead vocalist Dennis Edwards has passed away of a lengthy, but unknown illness one day shy of his 75th birthday.
Originally a member of The Contours, in the summer of 1968, Edwards was given the unenviable task of replacing his friend David Ruffin as the voice of Motown's most popular group aside from The Supremes. Ruffin did not help matters when he crashed Edwards' debut and several other Temptations' concerts that summer.
But Edwards would persevere and leave his vocal imprint on the group singing lead on such hits as "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Ball of Confusion" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". Edwards remained with the group until he was fired by Temptations' founder Otis Williams prior to the departure from Motown in 1977, but would rejoin the group in 1980. After embarking upon a solo career in the mid-1980's, Edwards rejoined The Temptations in 1987, but was fired by Williams again in 1989. Edwards also toured and collaborated with Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick, but their deaths in the early 1990's derailed the trio's plans.
Edwards formed his own version of The Temptations during the 1990's raising the ire of Williams. After starting out as Dennis Edwards & The Temptations, the group became The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards. This group remained active until Edwards' death.
It sure was a ball of confusion. But Edwards help make that confusion sound pretty good. R.I.P.
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