TERRY MOSHER
TOP OF THE TOWN – There has been fierce debate for years over higher learning institutions making millions of dollars on the backs of young football players and the players themselves not getting anything other than a scholarship to attend school. It’s not fair, the argument went. Players on football scholarships were not allowed to work outside of school during the school year to make ends meet. But now it all has changed, and what does that do to the argument now? Yes, college athletes can now get paid. Especially impacted is college football players because that sport is so highly visible and at the highest levels (D-1) makes a ton of money. Now, through the passing of NIL (name, image and Likeness) college athletes can make money, too. It’s good on one level because athletes no longer have to exist on very little. But I see a big bug in this. Although NIL is not supposed to be an attraction that draws in recruits, it’s stupid to think it doesn’t. Some colleges have set up a system to help players (Washington has set up Boundless Futures program) with NIL and a player choosing between, say, Alabama and Washington is likely be persuaded by the benefits of NIL, and I would suggest Alabama’s The Familie would beat out Washington’s Boundless Futures. This would suggest to me that the rich (Alabama) will get richer and the spread between the haves and have nots will become greater. Bryce Young, quarterback for Alabama, reportedly was on track to make nearly $1 million from his NIL. If that is going to be the future of college football it’s not difficult to imagine the best players are going to go to the school where they can make the most NIL money. So if the number one prospect in college football has to choose between Alabama and Washington, where he might make a half-million less, where do you think he’ll go? His father might pistol whip him if he chooses Washington. Money is such a big part of society. I covered Washington Husky football for nearly 30 years for the Kitsap Sun and during my time there I rarely saw or heard the sport having a sponsor (the only thing I heard was the public announcer calling out first downs as being brought to you by So-and-so Company. A few years after I stopped covering Husky football I returned to Husky Stadium and was shocked by all the sponsor signage posted around the stadium. Money had intruded on Husky football…. You know, I’m still upset over the revelation that Russell Wilson forced his way out of Seattle. I’m a very loyal person, almost to the determent of my self-interest. So after listening to Wilson repeatedly say he loved Seattle and would like his career be with just one team it stunned me that behind the scenes he was maneuvering to be traded. Then only days after the trade to Denver he can be seen with a big smile and prancing about as if he had hit the lottery. Not long afterwards he put his house in Bellevue up for sale and a few days later I see the mansion he has purchased just outside of Denver. I don’t wish Wilson any ill-will; he is entitled to be happy and to play for a different team. I just don’t like it that he publically faked like he would play out his career with the Seahawks and all the time he was saying that he was planning on an escape. To me, it shows phoniness. And I don’t like phoniness from anybody. … I guess I’ve gotten too old and have collected a lot of knowledge about a lot of things and the more I collect the less I like what is happening not just in our country but around world. If you haven’t noticed, the world is turning right. Extremist on the far-right have risen to take control of nations or are seriously challenging for control. There are two very obvious ones. In France a runoff for the presidential race will be held Sunday. It’s a tight race between the current President, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, whom Macron defeated in the last election in 2017. Our Western Allies and indeed the current U.S. administration are holding their breaths. No French President has won reelection since 2002. Le Pen is a buddy of Putin and will likely tear France from the European Union and NATO and withdraw support for Ukraine. If French voters put her in charge, all bets are off in terms of holding off Putin. The second far-right challenge for governance is happening right here in the United States. Constitutional lawyer, and far-right extremist, John Eastman is with other 45 allies continuing a coup attempt in this country. They are hoping to decertify the 2020 election and have the House vote on the presidency. Since each state would get one vote and the Republicans control legislatures in 32 states as opposed to 18 controlled by Democrats, any voted would be won by Republicans and 45 would be installed as the President. This is not going to happen, yet Eastman and his group continue with their coup plot. What will likely happen is the Republicans regain control of the House and Senate with the midterm election, clearing a path for them to rig the 2024 presidential race and elect 45 as the next President. That would put far-right extremists in charge of our country, and that is not good for our freedoms and liberty. We may by January 20, 2025 be governed by a dictator and our 249-years of democracy will be ended. This is not a good note to end this on. I’m sorry. Try to stay safe and happy.
Be well pal.
Be careful out there.
Have a great day.
You are loved.
