Day 652

• I know that there will probably be certain people who will dunk on me for doing this -- including at least one reader of this blog -- for what happened, with this person a great deal involved.  But I do feel it my duty:  A woman who I enjoyed the occasional crossing of swords with, former Debbie manager and always her mother, Diane Gibson, passed away last Sunday, the 23rd.  Deborah can say it better than I can.  Diane was 76.  A couple of years ago, Deborah asked her fans to keep a then-recent Diane health scare quiet during her Mixtape Tour with NKOTB, Tiffany, and others -- so it was clear Diane was not in good health the last several years.  Diane's obituary notes she passed of natural causes, however -- which, given our COVID-ravaged society, is far better than some ways to go.  
• In an article I'm shocked ESPN let see print, much less made it it's top-page article on it's website this afternoon:  Former major-leaguer Doug Glanville with an opinion piece on the players who lost jobs to steroid freaks like Barry Bonds, and why Bonds should never be in the Hall of Fame "for having a better pharmacist".
• Mason Greenwood of Manchester United was arrested and is in jail over rape and assault charges of a 20 year old who posted her injuries to her Instagram.  Police want more time to question him.  Both the team and his Nike sponsorship have suspended him, pending the legal action.
• And let the groaning from Michigan continue -- it appears Jim Harbaugh has a legitimate interest in being the next head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.  Didn't he say -- yes, I know it means nothing -- he wanted to stay at Michigan after the CFP loss??   
• The University of Nebraska has slightly changed it's mascot.  It's used the "OK" symbol which has been co-opted by White Right groups into a "WP" symbol.
• February 14th will be a public mass memorial for John Madden at the old Oakland Coliseum.  Tickets will go on sale soon, and all proceeds to benefit the John Madden Foundation.
• Over 100 truckers at the US-Canadian border in Alberta are protesting Canadian vaccine mandates by blockading that border-crossing completely to all traffic.  Sounds like some of you "freedom"-loving COVIDiots wanna go.  Be careful what you fucking wish for, jackasses.   
• It's official in that everyone jumped the gun:  Tom Brady himself announced today no decision has been made on retirement, that he's still going through the process of the decision.
• Spurred by all the abuse problems within the NWSL, the players and owners of the NWSL have ratified the first-ever women's professional soccer collective bargaining agreement.