(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in “The TEN”)
1. Phyllis George, co-host of “The NFL Today” on CBS with Brent Musburger and Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder in the 1970s, passed away at the age of 70.
2. Michael McCaskey, former chairman of the Chicago Bears, passed away at the age of 76.
3. MLB’s plan to return includes processing more than 10,000 COVID-19 tests per week, overhauling stadiums and in game settings to encourage social distancing.
4. Former MLB All-Star and General Manager Bob Watson passed away at the age of 74. Watson became the first black GM to win a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1996. As a player Watson spent 14 seasons with the Houston Astros.
5. Former Alabama quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has transferred to Maryland. Tagovailoa is the brother of former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who was drafted fifth overall by the Miami Dolphins last month in the NFL draft.
6. UCLA has hired Boston College’s Martin Jarmond as its new Athletic Director. Jarmond will replace Dan Guerrero who is retiring in July after 18 years.
7. Santa Anita Race Track reopened for horse racing Friday without fans.
8. On this day in 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson threw a perfect game in a 2-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.
9. Former University of Texas/NFL quarterback Vince Young turns 37 today.
10. “He hauls off and hits me in the chest, and I just haul off and hit him right in the f -ing eye. And Phil just throws me out of practice.” – Michael Jordan #TheLastDance
Bob Watson died of kidney disease after a long illness. (Source: CBS2 New York)
Phyllis George passed away due to complications from a blood disorder she had lived with for more than three decades. (Source: Louisville Courier-Journal)
Michael McCaskey died of cancer. (Source: Sports Illustrated BearDigest)
The information I just shared is readily available online. In many cases, all you need is initiative and a little time to get at the truth. (I’ll agree that there are occasions when it’s harder.)
I encourage everyone to read their obituaries; you’ll find that they all lived active and probably rewarding lives. May they rest in peace.
I thought we weren’t discussing politics on this website any more, but, since we’re on the subject, I’ll politely offer some advice.
First, it’s rather simplistic to talk about “the government” or our political system as if they’re monolithic.
In reality, we have a faction, one that currently controls the White House and the U.S. Senate, which believes our primarily profit-based healthcare system is perfectly OK. This faction is also eager to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Then there’s another faction, love it or hate it, which is trying to preserve and possibly expand the ACA. In addition, some politicians and activists on that same side are advocating the adoption of “Medicare for All.” (Of course, Faction #1 claims it would be more socialism than we could possibly handle.)
Second, I believe it’s best to avoid engaging in hyperbole at a time like this. Hopefully, we can find out the respective causes of death online, or when the newspaper comes out tomorrow.
We should value truth over fiction and facts over fear.
The three deaths above will of course be added to the coronavirus count, because in this time of national panic, nobody dies of any other cause. Strange how we are all being told that deliverance from this plague can only come from the government, the same government that is cool with people dying for lack of affordable health coverage.