Who would have ever thought I would be watching the Masters golf tournament in November. Normally the first major tournament of the year takes place in the second week in April , this year it is the last of the major tournaments. Just one more way Covid-19 has turned our world upside down.
I had two people ask me if I was going to watch former Ypsilanti Lincoln High basketball phenom, Emoni Bates, play on ESPN this week. Emoni was playing for the new school his father created for Emoni and a select few other talented high school players, The school was created as a way for Emoni and others to showcase their talent against similar schools and get around the restrictions put on travel by the MHSAA and most state high school athletic associations. It is Emoni’s parents rights to do what they think is best for Emoni, who is the best high school player I have ever seen. It is also my right to not participate in this sham, which is why I will not watch him play as a supposed high school student/athlete
The announcement by Pfizer, Inc. on the potential success of their Covid-19 vaccine is very encouraging. Unfortunately, it cannot come soon enough as the U.S and Michigan continue to set daily, weekly, and monthly record number of cases. As expected, hospitals in SW Michigan and northern Michigan are getting overwhelmed and have started to cancel elective surgeries and have started to have staffing shortages.
Closer to home, in the last 24 hours six people I know have tested positive and a 7th has been put under a 14 day quarantine as a result of an exposure. Please wear your mask, social distance, and avoid gatherings with people outside your immedidate home.
Agree re: Emoni…loved watching him have a couple of his greatest nights against Chelsea teams for past two years. This is a charade and first steps toward avoiding NCAAs foolish rule about doing a six month term at a college. Everyone in high school will be reclassified and given free rein to get whatever the market will bear from NBA, UK, KU, UNC, Duke…blame it on The ‘Rona. He will be a very wealthy kid in 20 months. Love your posts, TB!
I cannot blame his parents for doing what is best for Emoni financially. Barring injury, he is going to sign a max rookie contract in 2 years and then, if he is as good as I think he is, he will get the big money by the time he is 22 or 23. In talking with the AD at Lincoln, he is a good kid, who also does well in the classroom. If something happens, he can always go back to school later and have a normal life like the rest of us. It didn’t work out for Lavelle Blanchard the way everyone was hoping and now he is working a regular job. However, he has a masters degree and will be just fine.