February 19, 2023 News and Notes

• After months and months of planning and lack of news on the event, the government of the state of Victoria has finally scheduled the state funeral (more, Celebration of Life concert) for Olivia Newton-John -- it will take place one week from today (AUS time, Saturday night USA time) at 4 PM in Melbourne (which would be midnight Sunday Eastern USA, 9 PM Saturday night Pacific USA).  All free tickets for the event, including a performance from the woman who played Olivia in a celebrated biopic on Australian television (Delta Goodrem), were quickly snapped up.
• But the Victorian government has made it clear that all of her fans would be able to see the event streamed on the government website.  Link is yet to be determined.
• TAFKA Sasha Banks, now known as Mercedes Mone, is the new IWGP Women's World Champion, victory over the inaugural champion, KAIRI, at the "Battle in the Valley" in San Jose, CA Saturday night.
• IWGP World Champion Kazuchka Okada defended his belt successfully against (Former) Ace Hiroshi Tanahashi.  Though Tanahashi is known as the Ace, it's clear who the Ace of New Japan is  and has been several years now -- Okada!   
• Next up for Okada, the winner of the single-elimination New Japan Cup.
• It appears the NFL is finally going to take notice of the people pushing the quarterback on short-yardage "sneak" plays.  It's a practice which is already illegal, but no one enforces it.  Articles on the subject say it's a rule change -- I see it more as a Point of Emphasis.
• The XFL has started it's third version with two games on Saturday and two more today.  Eight teams, will play in their cities, and, as owner Dwayne Johnson said before the first game, the X now stands for the intersection of the players' dreams and the league giving them the opportunity for a showcase so that, by the April end of the season, an NFL team might come calling.  
• The USFL starts it's second season of the current iteration about the time the XFL season ends.
• We now have a date as to the announcement of the next expansion for Final Fantasy XIV -- US Fan Festival last weekend of this July in Las Vegas.
• Today, the NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500.
• Today begins the major winter speed-running marathon in Europe -- the European Speedrunners Association with their biennial event.
• Indiana University has won it's first Big Ten championship in men's basketball since the Bobby Knight years.
• Johnathan Toews of the Blackhawks has Long COVID.