The Nittany Turkey

Primarily about Penn State football, this is a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

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Was $100 Million Worth It?

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Monty Hundley in 1975
Monty Hundley in 1975

I met Monty Hundley (pictured at right) when I working as assistant controller at Loews Paradise Island Hotel and Villas in the Bahamas. Monty was a dynamic young guy, about the same age as I, who was at the time interviewing for the open position of Managing Director. Already a talented resort manager well before age 30, he began his working career as a CPA and later gained significant management experience in Nevada’s gaming resorts. Interviewing well, Monty easily won the managing director job at Paradise Island at the age of 29.

That was back in 1974. Hundley quickly gained the respect and admiration of the resort’s staff, the islanders, and Loews Corporation executives. He was a man on the way up. Some might have considered him brash, flamboyant, and cocksure, but they could never argue with his results. Personally, I enjoyed working with him and for him for two years. Yeah, we had our share of disagreements, including one that impelled him to offer to “take [me] down to the beach and kick [my] ass.” Whatever inspired that was fleeting, but probably justifed in view of my confrontational nature. We got over it. I never lost respect for Monty, his achievements, and his ability. Since last seeing Monty in 1976, I have had no further contact with him; nevertheless, I was certain that Monty would succeed in whatever he undertook—I knew that he would always be on top of the heap.

With that in mind, it was inconceivable to me that Monty’s life would ever turn sour. Accordingly, it was with shocked dismay that I learned of his indictment for bank fraud sometime in 2003. I followed his case as closely as I could from what I could piece together on the Web. Ultimately, I was further saddened to learn that in 2005, Monty was sentenced to eight years in prison for bank fraud and tax evasion. The heap he was on top of was a heap of trouble.

Alas, this is the story of a good life gone bad.
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Supreme Tomfoolery?

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I really don’t want to get all bent out of shape in advance of the debate over GWB’s Supreme Court nominations. I am hoping, perhaps beyond hope, that the process is an exemplary reflection of governmental process in our beloved constitutional republic. Wishful thinking aside, I want to make one comment about advance press coverage—an example of mainstream press bias that really pisses me off.

The July 11 issue of TIME is the source of my inflammation this time. (Even the Prednisone I had been taking for a short time did not reduce the swelling.) TIME seems to be trying to instigate a fight while polarizing its readership to adopt its viewpoint. On pages 24-25, TIME presents a photographic portrait of the assembled justices, with Sandra Day O’Connor’s image cut out. So far, so good. However, here’s where straight reporting takes a left turn. Each justice is labeled with a color-coded name tag, in which the color codes correspond to the political leanings of that particular justice. The categories are: Staunch Liberal, Moderate Liberal, Staunch Conservative, and Moderate Conservative. TIME rates the justices as follows:

Stephen G. Breyer: Moderate Liberal
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Moderate Liberal
Anthony Kennedy: Moderate Conservative
William H. Rehnquist: Staunch Conservative
Antonin Scalia: Staunch Conservative
David H. Souter: Moderate Liberal
John Paul Stevens: Moderate Liberal
Clarence Thomas: Staunch Conservative

Hmmm…I see no “Staunch Liberals.” I’d add another category, to the left of Staunch Liberal: Flaming Liberal Who Attempts to Legislate from the Bench. Once again, the labels are a nice, cool powder blue for the liberals and vivid red for the conservatives (all “staunch” except Anthony Kennedy). Looking at this photograph would lead one to think that there are no flamers on the court at all.

We all have the capability to read Supreme Court decisions—and their dissents—which are published on line at www.supremecourtus.gov and decide for ourselves. I encourage anyone interested in the forthcoming confirmation debates to read and digest some landmark decisions, then decide for himself or herself who lines up where. Be mindful along the way that the function of the Court is not to manage our lives by imposing judicial legislation, but to decide on constitutional compliance.

To reiterate, I am hoping that the confirmation process brings out the best—not the worst—in our system of government. The press needs to tone down its rebel rousing and do some fair, unbiased, straight reporting.

Dan Rather Clinging to a Lamp Post

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As Hurricane Dennis, a powerful Category 4 storm, approaches the Gulf Coast, we can expect more trite, gratuitous silliness from the news media. What purpose does it serve to display an intrepid reporter braving the elements? Is it that they think that the potential for the reporter to be blown away sells commercial time? Are they pandering to the same people who go to NASCAR races to see crashes? Exactly what service does such reportage provide that couldn’t be done in a drier location?

Last year, during Hurricane Charley, a local station’s reporter was broadcasting live from Sanford. He was demonstrating the effect of the wind by tossing a palm frond up and having his camera man follow it as it blew down the street. How idiotic! Things blow around in the wind. Duh! However, the funny part came when a car full of beer swilling good ol’ boys drove past. The following commentary ensued:

Reporter: These people shouldn’t be out here. It’s dangerous. I think they’re having a good time–wait, they’re turing around. They’ve seen us taping and maybe they’ll give us a comment. Here they are now.

(The passenger in the front seat rolls down his window. It is clear that all aboard are feeling no pain.)

Passenger: Heyyyyy! How ya doin?

Reporter: Do you know that it’s dangerous to be out here during a hurricane?

Passenger: We’re not the one who’s standing out there in the rain! (whoops and hollers, as they drive off)

My sentiments exactly.