Hysterical Headlines (Funny or Absurd) for February 2nd
Bottom Line: These are the daily doses of nonsense in the media and my hot takes on them...
Blame Gov. Rick Scott for Broward Health charade | Sun-Sentinel
Excerpt: The most recent allegation is contained in a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former board chairman, David Di Pietro. He alleges that 21st Century Oncology, a radiation oncology firm with business ties to Gov. Rick Scott, used kickbacks and a good friend of the governor’s to secure a 25-year no-bid contract at Broward Health. In a statement, the governor noted that he’s not a defendant in the lawsuit and his assets are in a blind trust.
But, come on. Who gets a 25-year no-bid contract at a public hospital system, or in any industry for that matter?
Bottom Line: There's a lot here. I had to choose a lane in the interest of brevity so I choose this excerpt which is arguably the most pervasive form of slander I've come across locally. Here's the definition of slander:
the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation
So, in a story under the headline "Blame Gov. Rick Scott" you accurately state that he's not even legally implicated of having done anything improper, nor is it even possible for him to know what he has a financial interest in and your case is "But, come on"? Even for biased, partisan hacks this is deplorable and indefensible conduct. You can see how desperate and pathetic Bill Nelson and his allies in the media have become to attempt to defame the Governor in advance of what they believe will be his Senate bid this year.
It's very true that Broward Health has been a mess for a long time. I also don't believe in no-bid contracts unless it's a matter of a national security emergency so I have no interest in defending any of that activity. I do hope their new CEO proves to be the honest, capable answer the system desperately needs but regardless this is a new bottom of-the-barrel-low for the Sun-Sentinel.
ESPN Host Calls Notre Dame's Mascot Offensive - A. Raymond, Maxim
Hot Take: I can't imagine how miserable and pathetic an existence it must be to wake up in the morning walking around waiting to be offended. That is to say that in this case I'm thanking God I'm not as pathetic as Max Kellerman. So in the wake of Cleveland caving to the social justice nonsense that seeks to politicize every sport (ruining it for those who actually view it as entertainment) we now have this. Are you freaking kidding me? Now Notre Dame's mascot is too offensive to be allowed to exist. I'm beginning to think that when pathetic people who wake up in the morning waiting to be offended can't find something that offends them quickly enough they invent one so they can get their fill.
Never-mind, that the Cleveland mascot, much like the Braves mascot, much like the Seminoles mascot, etc. is, was, are revered by their fans - yes believe it or not the Native symbols are actually cheered and cherished by their fans, not mocked...but still it's just too much because as soon as someone plays the victim - well that's just too much. And now the Irish? Let me ask the Max and the buffoons at the failing ESPN... What if those of us who are simply sports fans are offended by you politicizing sports? Does that matter? I've got a little Irish in me, plus I'm Catholic so I've got all kinds of righteous ground with you fools right?
By the time this is all done I'm bound to find myself rooting for Vince McMahon's no kneeling league and cheering for "He Still Hates Me" or something.
Until Monday...