Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Corbett Sues NCAA For 'Illegal' PSU Sanctions
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett today announced that he is suing the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), calling its sanctions against Penn State University arbitrary and illegal, saying they would result in irreparable economic damage to the university, the commonwealth and its citizens.
“Penn State football has played a major role, not only as a focus of campus life, but as a generator of revenue for a proud university, a leading tourist attraction and a creator of jobs in the state,’’ Corbett said.
“In the wake of this terrible scandal, Penn State was left to heal and clean up this tragedy that was created by the few. The students, the alumni, the board, the administration and faculty all came together at that moment and began to rebuild.
“At that same time, while the healing was taking place, the NCAA piled on, choosing to levy, in their words, ‘unprecedented sanctions’ against Penn State and its football program,’’ Corbett said.
“While what occurred at Penn State was both criminal and heinous,’’ Corbett said, “the conduct for which Penn State was sanctioned consisted of alleged failures to report criminal activity on campus that did not impact fairness or integrity on the playing field.’’
“These punishments threaten to have a devastating, long-lasting and irreparable effect on the state, its citizens and its economy,’’ Corbett said.
The governor, on behalf of Pennsylvania’s citizens, asked the court to throw out all of the NCAA’s sanctions, including the $60 million fine, and asked that the court declare the consent agreement illegal.
After months of research and deliberation, as well as discussions with alumni, students, faculty, business owners and elected officials, Corbett said he has concluded that the NCAA’s sanctions were “overreaching and unlawful.’’
“The only logical conclusion is that the NCAA did it because they benefited from the penalties and because the leadership of the NCAA believed they could. And that’s wrong,’’ Corbett said.
“These sanctions are an attack on past, present and future students of Penn State, the citizens of our commonwealth and our economy. As governor of this commonwealth, I cannot and will not stand by and let it happen without a fight.’’
The lawsuit, to be filed today in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, also accuses the NCAA of forcing Penn State president Rodney Erickson into silent compliance with its sanctions by threatening to impose even more debilitating sanctions to the football program.
Corbett called NCAA's application of enforcement "arbitrary and capricious" with the intent of crippling Penn State football and harming the citizens of Pennsylvania who benefit from a successful football program at Penn State.
Such benefits, the governor added, range from a college student waitressing at a State College restaurant and local business owners, to its tremendous financial contribution to the university and the state.
The NCAA is a trade association whose major purpose is to set the rules for competition in intercollegiate athletics and exists by mutual consent of its members.
“However, the NCAA leadership can’t make up its own rules,’’ Corbett said. In this case, “a handful of top NCAA officials simply inserted themselves into an issue they had no authority to police and one that was clearly being handled by the justice system.’’
The fact that the alleged actions of those involved in the tragic events at Penn State were criminal, and that no violation of NCAA rules had been identified, would not dissuade Mark Emmert, NCAA president, from seizing upon the international publicity to make a show of unprecedented and aggressive discipline.
The NCAA simply informed Penn State what the punishments would be, threatening that if Penn State did not waive its right to due process and accept the sanctions offered, the NCAA would impose the "death penalty" for four years, which would forbid the football team from all competition.
The type of "complete cooperation" Emmert advised Penn State was clear: Accept unprecedented sanctions and ignore the NCAA's flagrant disregard of its own procedures in issuing such sanctions or Penn State would wish it had.
Penn State had no practical alternative but to accept the sanctions, including releasing players from their commitment to play in State College.
The additional four-year ban on bowl games will result in a drastic reduction in scholarships for a football team consisting of coaches and players who had nothing to do with the criminal conduct.
“They wiped out the wins for football alumni – who proudly wore the Penn State uniform and represented the university well during their time in school,’’ Corbett added.
Penn State’s football program is more than just a success on the playing field, it perennially boasts one of the highest graduation rates among Division I football programs and has been a significant economic driver of the university, playing an important role in enabling the university to offer a variety of first-rate programs through resources other than student tuition.
In addition:
“These sanctions did not punish Sandusky for his despicable and criminal action. Nor did they punish the others who have been charged criminally. Rather, they punished the past, present and future students, current and former student athletes, faculty members, local businesses and the citizens of Pennsylvania who have come to cherish this great university.’’
To view the lawsuit, visit:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1309300/psulaw_pdf
“Penn State football has played a major role, not only as a focus of campus life, but as a generator of revenue for a proud university, a leading tourist attraction and a creator of jobs in the state,’’ Corbett said.
“In the wake of this terrible scandal, Penn State was left to heal and clean up this tragedy that was created by the few. The students, the alumni, the board, the administration and faculty all came together at that moment and began to rebuild.
“At that same time, while the healing was taking place, the NCAA piled on, choosing to levy, in their words, ‘unprecedented sanctions’ against Penn State and its football program,’’ Corbett said.
“While what occurred at Penn State was both criminal and heinous,’’ Corbett said, “the conduct for which Penn State was sanctioned consisted of alleged failures to report criminal activity on campus that did not impact fairness or integrity on the playing field.’’
“These punishments threaten to have a devastating, long-lasting and irreparable effect on the state, its citizens and its economy,’’ Corbett said.
The governor, on behalf of Pennsylvania’s citizens, asked the court to throw out all of the NCAA’s sanctions, including the $60 million fine, and asked that the court declare the consent agreement illegal.
After months of research and deliberation, as well as discussions with alumni, students, faculty, business owners and elected officials, Corbett said he has concluded that the NCAA’s sanctions were “overreaching and unlawful.’’
“The only logical conclusion is that the NCAA did it because they benefited from the penalties and because the leadership of the NCAA believed they could. And that’s wrong,’’ Corbett said.
“These sanctions are an attack on past, present and future students of Penn State, the citizens of our commonwealth and our economy. As governor of this commonwealth, I cannot and will not stand by and let it happen without a fight.’’
The lawsuit, to be filed today in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, also accuses the NCAA of forcing Penn State president Rodney Erickson into silent compliance with its sanctions by threatening to impose even more debilitating sanctions to the football program.
Corbett called NCAA's application of enforcement "arbitrary and capricious" with the intent of crippling Penn State football and harming the citizens of Pennsylvania who benefit from a successful football program at Penn State.
Such benefits, the governor added, range from a college student waitressing at a State College restaurant and local business owners, to its tremendous financial contribution to the university and the state.
The NCAA is a trade association whose major purpose is to set the rules for competition in intercollegiate athletics and exists by mutual consent of its members.
“However, the NCAA leadership can’t make up its own rules,’’ Corbett said. In this case, “a handful of top NCAA officials simply inserted themselves into an issue they had no authority to police and one that was clearly being handled by the justice system.’’
The fact that the alleged actions of those involved in the tragic events at Penn State were criminal, and that no violation of NCAA rules had been identified, would not dissuade Mark Emmert, NCAA president, from seizing upon the international publicity to make a show of unprecedented and aggressive discipline.
The NCAA simply informed Penn State what the punishments would be, threatening that if Penn State did not waive its right to due process and accept the sanctions offered, the NCAA would impose the "death penalty" for four years, which would forbid the football team from all competition.
The type of "complete cooperation" Emmert advised Penn State was clear: Accept unprecedented sanctions and ignore the NCAA's flagrant disregard of its own procedures in issuing such sanctions or Penn State would wish it had.
Penn State had no practical alternative but to accept the sanctions, including releasing players from their commitment to play in State College.
The additional four-year ban on bowl games will result in a drastic reduction in scholarships for a football team consisting of coaches and players who had nothing to do with the criminal conduct.
“They wiped out the wins for football alumni – who proudly wore the Penn State uniform and represented the university well during their time in school,’’ Corbett added.
Penn State’s football program is more than just a success on the playing field, it perennially boasts one of the highest graduation rates among Division I football programs and has been a significant economic driver of the university, playing an important role in enabling the university to offer a variety of first-rate programs through resources other than student tuition.
In addition:
- It was the second most profitable collegiate athletic program in the nation in 2010-11, earning more than $50 million, and was the most profitable program among its immediate competitors in the Big Ten Conference.
- It was the most valuable contributor to intercollegiate expenses for all student-athletes at the university, providing 37 percent of revenue for athletic programs in the 2011 fiscal year. At the same time, the football program amounted to only 15 percent of athletics expenses.
- “The university is an economic engine, creating jobs, not only university-related jobs, but jobs in the hotel, restaurant and tourism industry and generating hundreds of millions of dollars for businesses of all sizes in the commonwealth.’’
- Brings in an estimated 15 percent of visitors to Penn State football games from outside the state;
- Generated $161.5 million to business volume impact in 2009, with $90 million benefitting Centre County alone;
- Spent $16 million in Pennsylvania on goods and services with contractors and vendors in 2009 – essentially pumping money back into the state’s economy;
- Creates about 2,200 jobs - both direct jobs, such as box office and concession staff, and indirect jobs, such as shopkeepers to restaurant and hotel staff; and
- Generates more than $5 million in tax revenue and supports a number of community programs run through and in conjunction with football and student athletics.
“These sanctions did not punish Sandusky for his despicable and criminal action. Nor did they punish the others who have been charged criminally. Rather, they punished the past, present and future students, current and former student athletes, faculty members, local businesses and the citizens of Pennsylvania who have come to cherish this great university.’’
To view the lawsuit, visit:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1309300/psulaw_pdf
Patti Page: Remembering A Great Songstress
She was a hugely successful singer with strong country roots. But she topped all the charts at one time of another.
She made "Tennessee Waltz" one of the best-selling recordings ever and who can forget her wildly successful novelty song "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?"
Patti Page has died. She was 85.
She died yesterday in Encinitas, Calif., according to her manager.
She was one of the top-selling female singers in history with more than 100 million record sales.
In 1947, she created a distinctive sound for the music industry by overdubbing her own voice when she didn't have enough money to hire backup singers for the single, "Confess."
What a string of great hits she had! Patti Page had 24 records in the top 10, including four that reached No. 1. And did you know that she was also the first singer to have television programs on all three major networks, including "The Patti Page Show" on ABC?
Patti Page had a plesant, easy-going personality and a wonderful stage demeanor. People loved her and she never tired of singing all her great hits.
Patti Page was one of America’s true musical icons. In the course of her seven-decade recording career, she become a living legend and one of the biggest selling female recording artists in history.
Patti’s silky-smooth voice engulfed the airwaves during the ‘50s and ‘60s, providing her with a staggering 111 hits, 15 gold records and four gold albums. Patti became the first crossover artist to take country music out of the country and onto the pop charts with such million record sellers as “Mockin’ Bird Hill,” “I Went To Your Wedding,” “Mister & Mississippi,” and, of course, the legendary “Tennessee Waltz,” which was #1 concurrently on all three charts (Pop, Country, & R&B) and sold more than 20 million copies. She was also the first artist to use multiple voice techniques on records.
Her accomplishments remain unparalleled.
She continued to use her sweet, tranquil voice to touch the hearts of many generations, recording four new albums in the past six years, one of which received a Grammy.
Until recently, she enjoyed performing 50 select concerts throughout the year, sharing her incredible list of chart-topping classics with her fans.
Patti Page was one of America’s true musical icons. In the course of her seven-decade recording career, she become a living legend and one of the biggest selling female recording artists in history.
Patti’s silky-smooth voice engulfed the airwaves during the ‘50s and ‘60s, providing her with a staggering 111 hits, 15 gold records and four gold albums. Patti became the first crossover artist to take country music out of the country and onto the pop charts with such million record sellers as “Mockin’ Bird Hill,” “I Went To Your Wedding,” “Mister & Mississippi,” and, of course, the legendary “Tennessee Waltz,” which was #1 concurrently on all three charts (Pop, Country, & R&B) and sold more than 20 million copies. She was also the first artist to use multiple voice techniques on records.
Her accomplishments remain unparalleled.
She continued to use her sweet, tranquil voice to touch the hearts of many generations, recording four new albums in the past six years, one of which received a Grammy.
Until recently, she enjoyed performing 50 select concerts throughout the year, sharing her incredible list of chart-topping classics with her fans.
She will be missed!
Christie To Congress: Get Act Together NOW!
Delay in Action on Hurricane Disaster Relief Funding Unprecedented
Congressional Action By the Numbers
“I would hope that the people in Congress could get their act together for about fifteen minutes and help people who are suffering. …If the Congress can’t even help Americans who have had their homes and their lives destroyed by a natural disaster then they might as well just board the place up and close it down.”
-Governor Chris Christie, December 21, 2012
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Hurricane Sandy made landfall on October 29, 2012
39 days later…
21 days later…
66 days later…
The House of Representatives “Fails to Take Up Sandy Aid Bill” (Andrew Grossman, “House Fails to Take Up Sandy Aid Bill, Wall Street Journal, 1/2/13)
From landfall to signing of a relief package: Still Waiting
Unprecedented Refusal to Act in Comparison to Other Severe and Devastating Disasters
Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005
4 days later…
Congress approves and President Bush signs $10.5 billion in emergency relief. (The Associated Press, 9/2/05; HR 3645)
5 days later…
1 day later…
Congress passes and President Bush signs $51.8 billion relief package. (The Associated Press, 9/8/05; HR 3673)
From landfall to signing of a relief package: 10 days
Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008 and Hurricane Ike 12 days later
11 days later…
The House of Representatives passes H.R.2638 (Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009) which includes over $20 billion in Hurricane Gustav and Ike relief funding.(www.govtrack.us, Accessed: December 31, 2012)
3 days later…
3 days later…
President Bush signs the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009" which includes over $20 billion in relief funding. (Press Release, “Statement by the President on H.R. 2638, the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009", The White House, September 30, 2008, Accessed: December 31, 2012
From landfall to signing of an initial relief package: 17 days
Hurricane Andrew made landfall on August 24, 1992
25 days later…
A federal aid package was approved by both the House and Senate (Congressional Record, Daily Digest, Accessed: January 2, 2013)
5 days later…
The aid package was signed by President George H. W. Bush (www.govtrack.us, Accessed: January 2, 2013)
From landfall to signing of an initial relief package: 31 days
Christie Blasts Boehner, House On Sandy Relief $$$
Watch live streaming video from governorchrischristie at livestream.com
Christie, Cuomo Decry Delay On Hurricane Relief $$$
Joint Statement of Governors Christie and Cuomo on Congressional Failure to Pass Hurricane Sandy Relief Package
With all that New York and New Jersey and our millions of residents and small businesses have suffered and endured, this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable. It has now been 66 days since Hurricane Sandy hit and 27 days since President Obama put forth a responsible aid proposal that passed with a bipartisan vote in the Senate while the House has failed to even bring it to the floor. This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented. The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty. When American citizens are in need we come to their aid. That tradition was abandoned in the House last night.
The people of our states can no long afford to wait while politicians in Washington play games.
With all that New York and New Jersey and our millions of residents and small businesses have suffered and endured, this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable. It has now been 66 days since Hurricane Sandy hit and 27 days since President Obama put forth a responsible aid proposal that passed with a bipartisan vote in the Senate while the House has failed to even bring it to the floor. This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented. The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty. When American citizens are in need we come to their aid. That tradition was abandoned in the House last night.
The people of our states can no long afford to wait while politicians in Washington play games.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Mummers: Complete List Of Winner Announced!
Here is the complete list of winners from today's Philadelphia Mummers Parade:
String Band Division
1 Fralinger
2 Quaker City
3 Woodland
4 So. Philadelphia
5 Ferko
6- TIE Hegerman
6- TIE Avalon
8 Aqua
9 Polish American
10 Uptown
11 Pennsport
12 Duffy
13 Broomall
14 Durning
15 Greater Kensington
16 Greater Overbrook
17 Trilby
Comics Division
1 Murray
2 Goodtimers
3 Landi
Fancy Division
1 Hog Island
2. Golden Sunrise
Fancy Brigades
1 South Philly Vikings
2 Downtowners
3 Saturnalian
4 Avenuers
5 Shooting Stars
6 Jokers
7 Golden Crown
8 Satin Slipper
9 Clevemore
10 2nd St. Shooters
String Band Division
1 Fralinger
2 Quaker City
3 Woodland
4 So. Philadelphia
5 Ferko
6- TIE Hegerman
6- TIE Avalon
8 Aqua
9 Polish American
10 Uptown
11 Pennsport
12 Duffy
13 Broomall
14 Durning
15 Greater Kensington
16 Greater Overbrook
17 Trilby
Comics Division
1 Murray
2 Goodtimers
3 Landi
Fancy Division
1 Hog Island
2. Golden Sunrise
Fancy Brigades
1 South Philly Vikings
2 Downtowners
3 Saturnalian
4 Avenuers
5 Shooting Stars
6 Jokers
7 Golden Crown
8 Satin Slipper
9 Clevemore
10 2nd St. Shooters
Movie Review: Anthony Hopkins As 'Hitchcock'
We wondered: Would they get it right?
How could they possibly bring such a unique personality to life?
How could they recreate Hitchcock's mannerisms, his voice, his tone, his dry sense of humor and his seemingly dour but nonetheless compelling view of life -- and death?
Hitch (he slyly told friends to "omit the cock") was an artistic genius and a complex personality. Always conscience of his corpulent presence, he harbored a self-hatred and was said to be sexually repressed. Throughout his career he nurtured an obsession with cool blondes, felt rejected by Hollywood big shots, disarmed stars and stuntmen alike with practical jokes and remained a devout Catholic. And then there was his mainly platonic relationship with his wife and story editor, Alma who was in no small way responsible for his success.
How could they encompass all this in one story largely limited to the making of his most famous film, Psycho?
Well, they could. And they did.
And the final product starring starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitchcock and Helen Mirren as Alma is not only faithful to the director, his life and his films but it's also a truly fine movie in its own right.
Based on the book Alfred Hitchcock and The Making Of Psycho, this film is a snapshot of a moment in Hollywood history and everything in it rings true: the time, the place, the setting, the characters -- everything.
The time is 1959. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma, are at the top of their creative game as filmmakers amid disquieting insinuations about it being time to retire.
But Hitchcock isn't about to retire. He knows no other life. And he longs for the joy of creativity that marked his early years and his first collaborations with Alma.
So, Hitch decides to take a high-stakes gamble. For his next film he will adapt the lurid horror novel, Psycho, over everyone's misgivings.
Unfortunately, as he self-finances and labors on this film, it appears that Alma is losing patience with his roving eye and controlling habits with his actresses -- not to mention the fact that she feels hopelessly neglected and taken for granted. When an ambitious friend lures her to collaborate on a work of their own, the resulting marital tension colors Hitchcock's work even as the novel's inspiration haunts his dreams.
Hopkins nails the Hitchcock persona in every detail. He's great. Mirren gives as Oscar-worthy performance as Alma. As Janet Leigh, Scarlett Johansson is scrumptious and Jessica Biel is prefect as Vera Miles.
Hollywood is finally learning how to make movies about Hollywood. Hitchcock is right up there with My Week With Marilyn as one of the best flicks about tinseltown ever made.
See it!
13 People Who Should Disappear In 2013
Some are loud and disgusting.
Some are too "in your face."
Some have egos that take all the oxygen out of the atmosphere.
And some are just hopelessly overexposed.
But whatever the reason, here are 13 people (in no particular order) who need to disappear in 2013:
1. Achmadinejad, Castro, al-Assad, Kim Jong Un and Chavez - We count these five dictator-scoundrels as one. Be gone, all of you!
2. Eric Holder - Defiant, arrogant, intractable.
3. Kathy Griffin. Vulgar and disgusting would be a kind description of this humorless loudmouth.
4. Jim Carney - This dour apologist-in-chief makes us long for the days of classy Tony Snow, or even Dee Dee Myers.
5. Boehner and McConnell - Time to step aside for new, younger leadership, fellas.
6. Debbie Wasserman Schultz - Buzz off, and take your curls with you.
7. Kenny Chesney - Get the hell off the beach.
8. Alec Baldwin - You promised to leave once, now deliver.
9. Kim Kardashian - Don't let the door hit you in the . . . .
10. Chris Matthews - Yap, yap, yap! ZAP, ZAP, ZAP!
11. Taylor Swift - If this is country music, God help us.
12. Joy Behar - Ear plugs aren't enough. We need a blindofld as well.
13. Sandra Fluke. Oh, we forgot: She served her purpose and already HAS disappeared; hopefully never to be heard from again.
Happy New Year, everybody!
Some are too "in your face."
Some have egos that take all the oxygen out of the atmosphere.
And some are just hopelessly overexposed.
But whatever the reason, here are 13 people (in no particular order) who need to disappear in 2013:
1. Achmadinejad, Castro, al-Assad, Kim Jong Un and Chavez - We count these five dictator-scoundrels as one. Be gone, all of you!
2. Eric Holder - Defiant, arrogant, intractable.
3. Kathy Griffin. Vulgar and disgusting would be a kind description of this humorless loudmouth.
4. Jim Carney - This dour apologist-in-chief makes us long for the days of classy Tony Snow, or even Dee Dee Myers.
5. Boehner and McConnell - Time to step aside for new, younger leadership, fellas.
6. Debbie Wasserman Schultz - Buzz off, and take your curls with you.
7. Kenny Chesney - Get the hell off the beach.
8. Alec Baldwin - You promised to leave once, now deliver.
9. Kim Kardashian - Don't let the door hit you in the . . . .
10. Chris Matthews - Yap, yap, yap! ZAP, ZAP, ZAP!
11. Taylor Swift - If this is country music, God help us.
12. Joy Behar - Ear plugs aren't enough. We need a blindofld as well.
13. Sandra Fluke. Oh, we forgot: She served her purpose and already HAS disappeared; hopefully never to be heard from again.
Happy New Year, everybody!
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