Cussing mom, Kemp breaks the NCAA, Bottoms is out
My mother could out curse a drunken Aussie sailor, and laugh while doing it.
First things first: Happy Friday before Mother’s Day! Yet I am ashamed of myself today.
Yesterday, I cussed. Twice. I am no prude, and I used to have a real potty mouth. It’s always pleasingly surprising to me how a relationship with Christ leads to sanctification; many people lose addictions, guilt, or poor relationships. Me, I stopped cussing, a cleansing of the mouth which I never asked for. Even the thought of a four-letter curse escaping my lips causes me stress, and I don’t like hearing or reading those words either (which is why I suffer a lot, reading anything but the newspaper), especially coming from my own lips.
Cussing has become so commonplace lately, it’s just part of the coarsening of society. Every new show, movie, even Barstool Sports, is chalk-full of f-bombs, and the word for feces is not even considered a “bad word” anymore, but it is to me.
My mother could out curse a drunken Aussie sailor, and laugh while doing it. She likely broke Guinness Book of World Records for using the f-bomb in every grammatical part of speech—if there is such a record. She left us in 2008, and I do miss her. She loved her kids with passion, and we loved her, potty mouth and all. Be nice to your mom on Sunday, and if they are not with us any longer, remember the best about them.
Kemp breaks the NCAA
Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation allowing college athletes in Georgia to make money off their image, joining other states in a movement to break the NCAA’s stranglehold on college sports cash.
The “Name, Image, Likeness Bill” (HB 617) allows college athletes to have professional representation, receive compensation for the use of their name, image, or likeness, and, effectively, to get paid by the NCAA teams who for decades piled billions into their pockets and the pockets of advertisers, through television deals.
The NCAA has taken its case for limiting student athlete compensation directly to the Supreme Court. The outcome of the case will determine whether laws passed by states like Florida, and now Georgia, will stand.
"There's no question that the commercialization of big-time college basketball and football have morphed into a very lucrative business and are taking advantage of students to generate that income," says Gary Roberts, who has practiced and taught sports law and antitrust law for more than four decades.
Indeed, in 2016 the NCAA negotiated TV rights of $8.8 billion over eight years for the March Madness basketball competition.
“I think it’s just a sign of things to come and gives us another tool in the toolbox. And sure this issue will develop over the years,” said Gov. Kemp, WSB-TV reported.
The new law contains provisions requiring student athletes to complete a financial-literacy workshop, and their earnings would be kept in an escrow account for at least a year after they graduate or leave school.
This is an especially big issue in Georgia, where big-time entertainment, big-time corporate sponsors, and big-time football live in relative harmony. If young YouTube stars like Mr. Beast can make millions, why can’t the best of the Bulldogs put some cash away for after college? It might take some of the heat off top juniors to bolt to the NFL before graduation, which, to anyone who thinks about it, is a good thing.
Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms is out, or is she?
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms penned a “Dear Atlanta” letter announcing that she will not run for a second term.
The dearatl.com site links to a video and a letter written on city stationary outlining Bottoms’ reasons for her decision, and hinting at something to come.
“Is she running for another office?” While I am not yet certain of what the future holds, I trust that my next season will continue to be one full of passion and purpose, guided by the belief that within each of us is the power and responsibility to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
The letter walks through Bottoms’ term, with a list of accomplishments and challenges. From the city’s terrible cyber-ransom attack to federal investigations into her predecessor, to her commitment to transparency, to COVID-19, Bottoms certainly had an eventful time at City Hall.
As Derek and I have given thoughtful prayer and consideration to the season now before us, it is with deep emotions that I hold my head high, and choose not to seek another term as Mayor.
I believe that Keisha Lance-Bottoms is far from done in politics, from the local, to the state, and even the national stage. Is this a setup to run for president? While I don’t agree with many of her policies and politics, I believe Mayor Lance-Bottoms is a good person, with faith and a commitment (as much as a politician can have) to telling the truth. I like her.
It would be no surprise to see Bottoms join with Stacey Abrams, or be offered some position with the Biden administration (which she reportedly turned down when originally offered), or some high-profile media position. Whatever she does, Bottoms will remain a very popular and respected Democrat. I wish her a successful next step.
Let me rant here.
If conservatives can't wish liberals personal success--if we must curse the very ground they tread upon because they're the "other party"--then life becomes drained of vibrancy, color, grace, and sweetness. If we can't wish a decent person who prays to Jesus Christ a good next phase in a life, we'll be as bad as the mad censors, safe-space thumb-sucking pajama-wearers, victim-worshipping woke scolds, and comically stupid amateur socialists we mock.
What’s next for Atlanta? Hopefully not a return to the execrable and corrupt Kasim Reed. The AJC reported that in an interview with KISS 104.1 FM, Reed said he wasn’t planning to run, but the fact he gave an interview about running before Bottoms’ announcement is the stuff of rumors.
The now wide-open Atlanta mayor’s race, along with the governor’s race, redistricting for the House of Representatives and a Senate race, is going to make 2022 a very, very interesting year for Georgia politics.
If you haven’t subscribed to the Racket yet, click the button below to do so while it’s still free. And remember, with the Racket you get MORE than what you pay for!
You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook. Join the discussion online with our Racketeers Facebook group.
The Racketeers are Jay, Steve, and David. Click each name to contact us on Twitter!
As always, we appreciate shares. If you see something here that you like, please send it to your friends and tell them that all the cool kids read the Racket!
"The new law contains provisions requiring student athletes to complete a financial-literacy worship..."
All hail the IRA, mighty in it's power! Bow before the budget, it will keep you solvent!
As an alumnus of the only top ten public university in the state of Georgia, I do not see anything good coming from allowing college scholarship athletes to profit from their play. If they wish to enroll, take a full course schedule and keep their grades up with no scholarship, more power to them. Of course we all know that alumni with personal wealth and influential corporate or professional positions will find a way to funnel cash to the better players. Schools with huge fan bases outside their alumni rolls will enjoy more of a competitive advantage than they already do.