02/07/23
Good morning! It’s Tuesday, February 7th. African American Coaches Day.
So naturally… let’s look at some numbers!
In the NFL – 58% of the players are Black, but since 1990, only 11% of the head coaches are Black. Although, in 2018, there were 7 Black coaches, currently there are only three. Out of 32 teams.
In MLB, 66.7% of coaches are white. 8.9% are Black.
The NBA is the only one that has made a genuine effort to diversify their coaching staff and now half of the franchise coaches are Black. Although the W has yet to follow suit, with only 3 Black coaches in the 12-team league, only one of which is a Black woman.
And that’s just the professional team, to say nothing of college and other leagues. The NBA is proof that, just like diversifying is a choice… so is not working to diversify.
And now, the news.
Quake Hits Turkey and Syria
-via Washington Post & AP News
We start tonight with an update on the devastating 7.8 earthquake that hit southern Turkey and Syria on Monday night, with aftershocks that included a 7.5.
As of this recording, the death toll is over 3,800, a number that is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
The number of injured in Turkey is over 14,000.
I mean… there’s really not much more to report but it’s just a horrific tragedy in areas that certainly don’t need any additional problems. As a reminder, of top of everything else, Turkey is also home to millions of refugees from Russia’s attack on Ukraine. And Syria’s been in a civil war for the last 12 years.
The US will send search and rescue teams to help where possible.
Chinese Spy Balloon is Down
The Chinese spy balloon spotted over Montana last week has been shot down… by our military. Not by, as physics expert Marjorie Taylor Green suggested… people just like shootin’ at it and stuff. Because of how it was MILES in the air.
It was shot down on Saturday afternoon.
I mentioned in Friday’s show that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was scheduled to leave for China on a previously planned trip. That trip has been cancelled.
MEANWHILE, meanwhile the House Republicans are considering passing a resolution condemning Biden for letting the balloon float over the country for as long as he did. Which… I mean… do they know it’s not an actual balloon? So taking it down needs to be PLANNED?
But here’s the cherry on top of this… the Pentagon now says there were THREE Chinese spy balloons drift around the country without knowing or doing anything about it under the Trump administration, calling it a “domain awareness gap.”
So the idea that House Republicans are going to go after Biden for this is yet another sign of the lack of governing they’ll be doing for the next two years. Because you know what’s cooler than just looking into this one balloon? Looking into all the balloons and figuring out how to solve the actual issue.
Two Charged in Power Grid Scheme
-via Buzzfeed News
Two people, including a neo-nazi leader, have been charged with scheming to shut down Baltimore’s power grid in what’s being called a racially motivated attack.
If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Ohio Train Derailment
-via CBS News
Crews have begun a very careful release of toxins in the air after a train derailment in Ohio on Friday showed signs of possibly exploding.
4,800 residents in the area, at the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line, were urged to leave the area, as the controlled burn will put toxic fumes into the air.
I…. don’t know how to end this segment.
And… I guess. That’s it. That’s the news.
Sorry about no news yesterday. I had no voice! Not in like a political way. I just lost my voice.
I’m proud of… excellent coaches.
Speaking of… where is that dang Ted Lasso premiere date?
It’s also National Fettuccine Alfredo Day… a meal I have not had in a long time, but it always makes me think of being in high school and going to Applebees with friends.
What else can I say to make this episode not be super short? Ummmm….. Oh! I watched Ticket to Paradise the other night. And more than how just no notes perfection Julia Roberts is in most things, but ALWAYS in a romcom… I mean, she really just nails it. I don’t know how she does it but you put her in a romcom and it’s gonna be a winner for me. Actually anything. Put her in anything, and it’s a winner for me. But more than that, more than Julia Roberts!… I’m proud of you.