Anyone who watched the Netflix documentary, “Who killed Malcom X” is not surprised by Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam being exonerated for the murder of Malcom X.
Orchid of the Day: Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, two of the men found guilty of the assassination of Malcolm X are expected to have their convictions thrown out on Thursday. Their exoneration represents a remarkable acknowledgment of grave errors made in a case of towering importance: the 1965 murder of one of America’s most influential Black leaders.
Quote of the Day: “It’s long overdue. This is one of the most prominent figures of the 20th century who commanded enormous attention and respect. And yet, our system failed.” Bryan Stevenson a civil rights lawyer and the founder of the Equal Justice initiative.
Did I jinx Juwan Howard on Tuesday? My post on Tuesday was titled “A good day for Juwan Howard”. I made the comment because of the 5-year contract extension Howard signed earlier in the day. Since I completed my blog prior to the tip-off of Michigan’s basketball game against Seton Hall, I was hesitant about using the title because I was concerned about jinxing Howard and Michigan. I don’t really believe in jinxes, so I went ahead and posted it. Two hours later, Michigan lost. I know my blog had nothing to do with it, but it makes you wonder.
Speaking of contract extensions, MSU has shocked the NCAA football coaches establishment by giving football coach Mel Tucker a 10-year $95 million extension. Clearly MSU leadership and boosters do not want to lose Tucker, to another university. Making him the second highest paid college football coach in the country, feels a little premature to me. Other than beating Michigan twice, his record doesn’t warrant him having such a lofty status. I have always said, NCAA sports is like a nuclear arms race. As soon as one gets something, the rest will follow with something bigger. Mark my words. Within 3 years, Tucker will not even be in the top 10 for highest paid coaches.
As one who worked at two Division 1 universities, I have always been amazed at the disparity of what the men’s football coaches and men’s basketball coaches make compared to others at the university. At MSU, President Stanley’s annual salary of $960,000 will be 1/10th of Tuckers. During Jim Harbaugh’s original contract, he was making a $7 million annual salary and his two coordinators were both making over $1 million, while the president was not making a million. Even the top physicians at U of M, some of whom are the best in the world, do not make anything close to what the football and basketball coach makes. And the physicians are saving lives every day. Don’t get me going on what we pay teachers and nurses compared to others. It says something about our society’s priorities.
The U.S. is facing a major mental health crisis that continues to worsen. Per the NY Times, In the 12-month period that ended in April, more than 100,000 Americans died of overdoses, up almost 30 percent from the 78,000 deaths in the prior year, according to provisional figures from the National Center for Health Statistics. The figure marks the first time the number of overdose deaths in the United States has exceeded 100,000 a year, more than the toll of car crashes and gun fatalities combined. Overdose deaths have more than doubled since 2015. Administration officials said on Wednesday that they will expand access to medications like naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose, by encouraging states to pass laws that will make it more widely available and promoting its use by Americans. “I believe that no one should die of an overdose simply because they didn’t have access to naloxone,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Sadly, today that is happening across the country, and access to naloxone often depends a great deal on where you live.” Until we have a uniform approach of treating addiction as medical problem, these numbers are going to continue to increase at an alarming pace. Unfortunately, too many of our politicians think addiction is a problem only affecting people in the lower income levels and our inter cities and it is not something that is a concern in the suburbs and gated communities of the elite. It will take them attending a funeral of someone close to them to open their eyes and their minds.
Nothing more needs to be said about the coronavirus in Michigan. The following link is worth a thousand words. Déjà vu all over again. https://infogram.com/dashboard-cases-1hzj4onjgomp2pw>
Stay safe. Wash your hands regularly. Schedule your vaccine and booster. Wear your mask. Social distance.
Onion of the Day: The Whitmer administration and theMichigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency for paying out more than $3.9 billion in overpayments to over 347,000 recipients that will unlikely be recouped. I wonder if AG Nessel is considering criminal charges against those who were so reckless with the taxpayer’s money.