The NCAA is decaying institution.  Now that the TV executives have taken over college football, because the NCAA was unwilling or unable to do so.  I’m not even sure what they do anymore.  They put on a basketball tournament that generates 1.1 billion per year. Any group of competent high school AD’s could pull off the same thing, and probably not have a venue every year that has a clock problem.

The NCAA decided to go after Michigan and Harbaugh as the last gasp to prove its relevancy.  Michigan and Harbaugh is a perfect target.  These violations never would arise to anything more than a wrist slap.  The NCAA has no interest in going after programs that are the backbone of the NCAA.  UNC players don’t go to real classes, making a mockery of the NCAA’s most sacred student-athlete moniker.

Kansas not even getting a shrug when the FBI sets Kansas up on a platter.  Nothing to see here.  Meanwhile, whenever Roy Williams, Coach K , or Bill Self are shown on tv, the announcers go out of their way to describe them as outstanding leaders of men who are above reproach.

     This was 1 day after announced investigation.

NCAA lost the PR battle to Michigan almost immediately, which Is saying something from the program that brought you 2 cokes, and Shane Morris fiasco.  The original violations are improper meal purchases, using analysts as assistant coaching, overlooking workouts, and some improper recruiting contacts in a dead period.  None of these arise to anything more than a normal Tuesday in SEC country.

Whenever a governing body cannot embarrass or punish enough for the violations their target is proven guilty, they shift to well the target lied, deceived us, which shockingly is somehow more offensive than the original violation.  In 1998 the republican house, could not impeach President Clinton for being an Urban Meyer with an intern, but for perjuring himself.  They eventually lost the media battle, and ended up censuring him. 

Meanwhile, the national media from ESPN, to Harbaugh hater Finebaum to the local Free Press shrugs, try to explain what is going on and realize its not worth the clicks or airtime.  The only valuable way to spin in into clicks is to talk about this being the straw that gets Harbaugh’s back in the NFL. 

I personally think if Harbaugh goes it’s because of how the entirety of the NCAA has changed, and his brother’s Super Bowl ring.  I can’t believe Harbaugh would allow some spin doctors to allow to say that the NCAA chased him out of Michigan.

  Pic Isiah Hole:  In related note the Bears have traded all their picks for next two years to draft him.

Harbaugh has 2 more weeks of this self-imposed, down from the 4 weeks the NCAA agreed upon previously.  As a competitor, I’m sure it’s killing him, and yes having a camera on him as he watches the game would be premium live event worthy. 

I would say lean into even more.  Make it a charity event for Mott.  Watch the game with Harbaugh, hamburgers for meals, catered by the Brown Jug.  What is the NCAA going to do come out against sick kids?

Unfortunately, Michigan Football will just have to channel their inner Billie Joe. 

The Rat Pack Manhattan

I can’t say I really enjoyed my trips to Vegas.  Seems like I spent a ton of money on adult Disneyland.  Look at the pools, the rides, the fake Eiffel Tower.  Since it’s biggest draw was gambling, something I can drive 20 minutes to do, or sit on my couch on my phone, it’s lost its allure. I’m old.

I’m sure the stories and mystique of “Old Vegas” with Elvis and the Rat Pack was largely the work of Mad Men like advertising executives.  I recently read many of the Hollywood star vacation photos were staged.   But it sure looks like the Rat Pack were having fun when the Mafia controlled Vegas instead of corporations. 

The Rat Pack’s group drink of choice was the Rusty Nail.  1.5 oz scotch 1.5 oz Drambuie. The Rat Pack brought the drink that was never in vogue to huge popularity. 

 Sinatra’s drink of choice was Jack Daniels over ice with a splash of Poland Springs water.  Dean Martin was a scotch fan over bourbon, even though he even had a bourbon brand, Dino’s.  However, he preferred his old fashioned with scotch.  Sammy Davis was a fan of highballs made with Suntory Japanese whiskey.

So as a nod to them. 

A riff on the perfect Manhattan, Wayne Collins of London designed the drink with 5 ingredients for the five members of the Rat Pack.  The Grand Mariner representing Sammy Davis as the wild card.

Ingredients

1/12 oz Grand Mariner as a rinse
1.5 oz bourbon
.75 oz sweet vermouth
.75 oz dry vermouth
3 dashes angostura bitters

Chill a martini glass by placing in the freezer,  or filling with club soda and ice.  In your mixing glass, place the bourbon, both vermouths and the bitters  add ice and stir.  When your glass is chilled add the grand mariner to your martini glass.  Swirl around to coat the glass and then discard the Grand Mariner.  Strain your drink into your prepared glass.  Garnish with a orange peel and cherry.

MgoSalut!