On the Miami Hurricanes, Bob Dole, and Jeopardy!
The Monday Musings!
*** Classless! That's the best word to describe how the University of Miami has handled its football coaching position this past weekend as the world waits to learn who will lead the Hurricanes next year.
At the time of my writing this afternoon, Manny Diaz, a man who led the Hurricanes to a 7-5 record this past season, has been fired. Nothing new there—coaches get fired all of the time. Where the "classless" word kicks in is that Miami brass allowed Diaz to be on the road recruiting for next season, all the while knowing that it had offered $8 million dollars to former Miami star (and current Oregon coach) Mario Crisotbal to take command of the program.
I believe that Cristobal will say "yes," but if he doesn't and chooses to stay at Oregon, Miami will have no one but its own brass to blame for the eggs that will be on their respective faces!
But the real truth is that major college football is, ostensibly, professional sports by another name; with multiple billions of dollars in television revenue pouring into Power Five Conference coffers, the days of $100 million dollar coaching contracts are here to stay—as are summary firings when coaches don't win enough games to satisfy spoiled fans and impatient university brass alike.
That said, it is still critically important for professionalism and tact to proceed in personnel issues, and Miami's lack on both fronts makes them more the “Hurri-Shames” than Hurricanes.
*** I was saddened yesterday to learn of the passing of former Kansas Sen. Robert Dole, 98, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee who was a mainstay in the U.S. Senate for decades.
Dole was one of the last relics of a bygone era in politics; a veteran who was severely wounded while fighting Nazi Germans during World War II, Dole's civility was such a hallmark that he could strongly disagree with Democrats like the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy on the Senate floor by day—and enjoy meals and laughter with his ideological opposites later that evening.
I don’t know whether American politics will ever return to that level of civility, but as one who has lived long enough to remember it, and as one who laments the current hostility, I sincerely pray that the powers that be will listen to the remembrances of Dole's well lived life and aspire to be more statesman/stateswoman like in their own avocations moving forward.
***Earlier today, former Georgia Sen. David Perdue (R) launched a primary challenge to Gov. Brian Kemp (R), the incumbent who drew the ire of former President Donald Trump for refusing to back his quixotic claims of widespread voter fraud in Georgia. Perdue hopes to gain the endorsement of Trump and, should he prevail in the primary, will likely face Democrat Stacy Abrams, Kemp's 2018 opponent, next November.
With Abrams having hit the ground running last week for her second campaign in as many cycles, it will be interesting to see if her ability to focus on the general election will help her efforts while Kemp and Perdue seek to out "trump" each other in what portends to be a bitter primary race.
Stay tuned!
It’s time to play Jeopardy!
The photo above, circa June 1993, features the Morehouse College HCASC quiz bowl team deep in thought during a match against Norfolk State University that was nationally televised on BET. To my right in this picture is my teammate John Harkless, a "nerd's nerd" and easily one of the most brilliant men I have ever known.
The photo below features Dr. John Harkless circa last month in the promotional shot for the Jeopardy! Professors Tournament.
A fellow member of the HCASC Hall of Fame, Harkless is a chemistry professor and HCASC Coach at Howard University who will showcase his skills TONIGHT during the first match of tournament; please join me in watching my old teammate and good Brother as he matches wits with other professors from across America!
Thank you for subscribing to the Hobbservation Point—have a wonderful Monday!
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