It's probably time for another multi-subject column since there's no one thing that 's firing me up this week. I'll start with the fun and games department.
As I write this, the “Maech Madness” that is the NCAA basketball tournament has just begun. As a matter of fact, the “First Four” games have just been completed and the “Big Dance” is starting. The three-week, single elimination tournament seems to grab the attention of even those who are the least interested in college basketball for the majority of the year. Maybe it's those innumerable bracket pools that create this interest. Even the total non-fan can be convinced to fill one out in hopes of winning a, usually small, cash prize. Just as a reminder, these pools are illegal but are ignored unless the prizes advertised get too large. In any case, the interest created by the tournament rivals that of the Super Bowl and lasts for the three-week competition. For me it's a welcome break from the “hard news” for a while. Fill out those brackets, if just for your own satisfaction, like I do.
Spring has arrived, but not yet sprung. Orioles baseball returns in just about three days. The Birds look to be a bit less than competitive, but I think that with all of the young players, they could be interesting to watch.
If the weather cooperates, for a change, our high school teams might finally get out on the diamonds, tracks and lacrosse fields – some turf fields would be nice, but that's another column – and athletic directors won't have to scramble to schedule make-up dates for rained out games.
Now to the “real” news and comment. The curious goings on with the Board Of Directors of the University of Maryland Medical System makes one wonder. How can so many very successful, intelligent, and mostly quite wealthy people, who seem to have an altruistic bent, be so oblivious to the appearance of conflicts of interest in their business dealings with the very institution that they oversee?
A business owner who does business with any entity, be it a for profit corporation or a non-profit organization, like a hospital, should never be on the board of directors of that entity. Duh!
Our president has recently restarted a tweet war, this time with a dead man. He continues to attack the late Senator John McCain over votes that were cast before his death. What good does that do? The man is dead. Let it go.
He has also gone on the offensive – via his favorite medium – against George Conway, the husband of White House councilor Kellyanne Conway, calling him a “total loser.” Mr Conway, a conservative lawyer, has been a critic of the President's policies and actions. He also has questioned Trump's mental state. To that I must say that I think Trump is losing it, as they say. I am not a mental health professional, but with his rambling and changing subjects during his speeches, his rapid changes of mood, and often irrational behavior, it seems to me that our leader is exhibiting symptoms of the early stages of dementia. It does cause one to wonder, and I wouldn't wish that condition on even my worst enemy.
I must make mention on the passing of former Maryland governor, Harry Hughes. After the Agnew and Mandel corruption scandals, Hughes was a breath of fresh air. Although he wasn't particularly outgoing, at least to me, he was a steady, and steadfastly honest, hand on our little ship of state. His calm demeanor and penchant for doing the right thing, although it may not have been the popular thing, won over even his detractors. He was also the spearhead for cleaning up the bay, a cause that every governor since has taken to heart.