Rep. Jordan as former OSU coach was oblivious to sexual assaults
Rep. Jim Jordan, former Ohio State wrestling coach, accused of ignoring sexual abuse
Jim Jordan, U.S. congressman from Ohio, is having to explain how as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University for eight years he failed to take action against a physician who nine wrestlers (some anonymously) have accused of molestation. Shawn Dailey told NBC that he was groped six times by Dr. Richard Strauss in the mid-1990s and that Jordan “took part in conversations” about similar inappropriate behavior. Dunyasha Yetts said he told Jordan that Strauss tried to pull his pants down while treating a thumb injury. Jordan, a founder of the Freedom Caucus, suggested a possible “deep state conspiracy” and insisted he was unaware of misconduct by Strauss, who committed suicide in 2005. NBC News estimated that while working for OSU, Strauss molested more than 1,500 young men. Jordan’s ignorance is challenged by another former OSU wrestler, Mike DiSabato, who Jordan accuses of bullying him with angry e-mails to his office. Another ex-wrestler, Reid Delman, said: “There was so much talk, I can’t imagine how someone could have made it through, being around everyone, and not know.” He’s disappointed that Jordan has no regret. “It’s easy enough to say, ‘Looking back, we should have done something.’” There is a dissenting view from George Pardos, who said Strauss “was weird” but never touched him inappropriately, and he doubts the victimization claims of his teammates. Pardos said the pedophilia that cost Michigan State $500 million is inspiring imaginations in the Big Ten. He told The Hill: “After Larry Nasser, everyone is seeing dollar signs.”
Dear George: NBC reports that Dr. Strauss committed five times more sex offenses than Dr. Nasser. You should not assume that because the bad doctor was not attracted to you , he left everyone else alone. There’s reason for his new nickname, “Gym” Jordan.
Arizona Cardinals owner Bidwell uses team website to promote Supreme Court nominee
The NFL owners forbid players from kneeling when the national anthem plays, because they don’t want to allow something that turns people away from football. They didn’t like Tebowing much more than they liked Kaepernicking. But now comes Michael Bidwell, CEO of the Arizona Cardinals, promoting his former Georgetown Prep classmate, Brett Kavanaugh, 53, for a lifetime term as Supreme Court justice, which pays $250,000 per year, guaranteed against injury. To those who might have influence in his hiring, including the Senate Judiciary Committee, Bidwell distributed unsolicited letters of reference, one of which was posted on the team’s official website. Players saw this as hypocritical: owners speak their mind about justice, players can’t. USA Today saw it as devisive, “giving the team’s endorsement to a Supreme Court candidate who . . . is being viewed by many with suspicion and fear.” Bidwell’s endorsement was printed under the team’s letterhead, and as an owner should do, Bidwell is taking ownership. On Radio KFYI 550 he said: “People are saying stick to sports? We ask our players to 20 days a year – game days – to restrict their statements. The rest of the days we want our players to get engaged in the community.” Woody Paige on Around the Horn (ESPN) recalled Bidwell emerging from the owners’ meetings in Atlanta urging, “Let’s concentrate in 2018 on getting back to football.” But now Bidwell Paige observes, “is the first one to bring up something that has nothing to do with football.”
Between the Lines: A paper that covers NASCAR with the zeal of USA Today cannot be dismissed as “liberal media.” It may be the one printed newspaper that’s read by hundreds of The Base. Bidwell has angered women who don’t want their football team supporting the wrong side of Roe v. Wade. They’re nervous enough about concussion, don’t need this. Which, one way or Wade or other, is good for Donald J. Trump Inc.
Indians manager and bullpen miscommunicate on pitching change
Terry Francona waved to the Cleveland Indians bullpen for the lefthander, Oliver Perez, who the manager calls “OP.” But the pitcher who came in to pitch was “OT,” Dan Otero. So Francona got exactly the opposite of the matchup he wanted. A confused Otero blew the lead. But ESPN’s PTI pointed out that “there’s a phone. Call and say, ‘Oliver Perez.’ . . . Or ‘Press one for righty, two for lefty.’”
Dear Tito: Perez and Otero are not difficult names to pronounce or confuse. You’re making this too complicated.
LeBron tweets about LA pizza appearance but doesn’t show up
When LeBron James, already relocated to Southern California, tweeted that there would be “a pizza party” the next day at Blaze Pizza in Culver City, an estimated 2,000 of his followers showed up thinking the King himself would be present. When that did not happen, there was disappointment, although there was happiness with three hours of free pizza distributed to celebrate the signing by the Los Angeles Lakers of basketball’s greatest player. James failed to clarify his plans, even to his client. A manager of Blaze had to tell people who called, “We don’t know if it’s happening or if it’s not.”
Dear Bron: True, you didn’t promise to show up, but you did raise the possibility, so now you’ve made a bad first impression on your new fan base.