It was reported over the weekend that the NCAA and their
president Mark Emmert were personally alerted to specific problems with
Michigan State and their response to sexual assault cases as far back as 2010.
37 cases were reported to the NCAA involving basketball and football players.
Wendy Murphy, who is a national legal expert of the issue met with Emmert at
the time and after some initial encouragement came to the conclusion that
Emmert was controlled by his board to sweep these things under the rug. With
the ramifications of the Larry Nasser case causing numerous resignations and
probable lawsuits, more scrutiny is being leveled on Michigan State coaches
like Mark Dantonio and Tom Izzo. This is a scandal that may cause more problems
for the Spartans athletic programs than the Sandusky/Paterno situation did at
Penn State. One thing is clear, the investigation of the situation by the NCAA
is tainted on its face and should be discounted. The NCAA continues to be a
ridiculous organization and if this causes it to be broken up or changes in
some fundamental way, that will be a great thing.

There was much excitement at Brewer Fan Fest in Milwaukee
yesterday. Both Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich were there and both fans and
players were buzzing with excitement. The players are definite believers that
they can make a run this season and this is more than just a pre-spring
training burst of optimism. With the signing of a top pitcher (and that’s coming)
Brewer fans should be all in. Its probably gonna be tougher to find cheap
tickets this year.

This is the anniversary of the death of Freddie Prinze from
a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 22. He became an instant star for
his role in ‘Chico & The Man” …another one of those 70’s shows that took a
look at racism through a humorous lens. Chico taught the Man tolerance over the run of the show.

The Bucks are 3-0 under interim coach Joe Prunty. It was
announced over the weekend that Prunty will be the coach until the end of the
season. A search will be done but if the Bucks prosper the rest of the season
don’t be surprised if Prunty gets the job.

The Badgers have received another commitment
for their 2019 football class. Defensive back Bryson Shaw from Bullis high
school in Maryland will be heading to Wisconsin. He’s listed as a three-star
prospect and was originally going to Maryland to play la crosse. He’s from the
same high school as current Badger safety Patrick Johnson.

According to Sports Illustrated, thanks to a
combination of the CBA and state tax laws in California and Minnesota. Jimmy
Garoppolo will earn more money from Super Bowl 52 than Tom Brady.

Elections have consequences…The Trump administration
is reversing a decades-old emissions policy. According to the Wall Street
Journal story by Timothy Puko The EPA is getting rid of requirements that it
forever keep sites classified as “major sources” of hazardous air pollution.
Critics say the requirement kept polluters from trimming back to just below the
major-source classification to avoid requirements that could further lower
emissions. This decision will surely lead to dirtier skies and an increase in
pollutants that cause cancer, brain damage, infertility and developmental problems
in areas that already suffer from these conditions. Since these emissions are
not controlled by state borders you will be breathing more asbestos, arsenic,
benzene, chloroform, cyanide, formaldehyde, lead and mercury. Tell Sean Duffy,
Ron Johnson and Donald Trump thanks when you see them………………….Trump touted his
job creation numbers at Davos. No surprise it was a lie. He said that the job
creation numbers in 2017 were the best ever. They actually were the worst since
2010………………….The Trump administration and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (who is
in the running for worst cabinet secretary in American History) have cancelled
an environmental impact statement of a mining plan by a Chilean company on
public lands near the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area in Northern Minnesota. I’ve
never been there but I know folks who have and call it one of the most
wonderful outdoor areas in the country. The US bureau of Land Management says
the leases by Antofagasta Mining are to be automatically renewed which would
put the public land in the company’s control in perpetuity. And why you ask? Zinke
met with lobbyists for Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of the Chilean fir,
which belongs to the family of Andronico Luksic, who rents a Washington home to
Ivanka and Jared Kushner………….Since 1978 the cost of housing increased 380% in
America. The cost of medical care increased 601% and the cost of college
tuition increased 1,120%. And yet the pay for typical workers rose 10%, minimum
wage workers wages (measured against inflation) fell 5.5% and CEO pay increased
937%……..Arizona Trump supporters harassed a Navajo lawmaker, told him to
get out of the country and asked him if he was here illegally. You can’t make
up the stupidity of some of Trumps base. Its breathtaking….

Quotes Of The Day

“The Grammys: My annual reminder of how out of touch I am
with the kids”-Doug Russell

“Love seeing the old white haired guys giving Kendrick Lamar
a standing ovation when you damn well know they didn’t understand a word of his
performance”-Doug Russell

“Robert Mueller didn’t indict Flynn, Manafort, Gates and
Papadopoulus, a grand jury did…Robert Mueller didn’t plead guilty for
Papadopolus and Flynn, Papadopoulus and Flynn did…Robert Mueller didn’t appoint
himself Special Councel, Republicans did! Understand?”-Brian Krassenstein

Hey Republicans and Democrats, instead of pointing fingers
and shrieking at each other every time one of your donors turns out to be a
filth-bag, how about passing some meaningful bi-partisan campaign finance
reform? Get the corrupting influence of money out of politics now!’-Walter
Schaub

“A memo can be a weapon of partisan mass distraction.
Especially at a pivitol moment in American history, when it behooves the man in
charge for supporters to believe the institutions cannot be trusted,
investigators are corrupt , and the news media are liars. Context matters”-Fox
News Shepard Smith on the Nunes Memo

You should remind Donald Trump that the infamous mobster
John Gotti, was considered to be untouchable and was nicknamed the “Teflon Don”
because prosecutors couldn’t get him for any crimes. But you know who sent him
to prison for the rest of his life? Robert Mueller III.”-Mat Molina

“Men who ask “Can I even talk to women now” are in fact, not
allowed to talk to women”-unknown

“You can always count on Americans to do the right
thing-after they’ve tried everything else”-Winston Churchill

Songs Of The Day (on
this date in 1979 Emerson, Lake & Palmer broke up) here are a couple of
their prog-rock classics.