RSS Feed

Are you all fired up and into March madness? It’s my favorite sports time of year.
Now, I understand you may disagree, but I’ll take the college basketball tournament over any other sporting event, even the Super Bowl.
The college basketball playoffs run through the month of March culminating in the championship game on April 8 in Glendale, Arizona. 
There are 67 total games in the tournament, and I’ll be watching a good number of them.
No, I don’t follow college basketball as a diehard fan from a neutral point of view.
The all-time winningest basketball coach, who won two national championships, was a guy named Dean Smith, who coached the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Would you believe that the first guy Coach Smith ever offered a scholarship to was me? That’s right! I
did not amount to that much of a college player, but I did have the irrefutable honor of being Coach Smith’s first recruit.
Now I realize that college basketball plays second fiddle to football here in Louisiana and throughout the entire South.
But basketball has made giant leaps in popularity and in basketball competitiveness in recent years.
LSU’s legendary coach Dale Brown brought basketball into the mainstream here in the Bayou state, where he won numerous Southeast Conference championships, and took the Fighten’ Tigers to the final four on two different occasions.
LSU did not make the tournament during the past two years under new coach Matt McMahon.
They had unceremoniously fired their previous coach, Will Wade, who currently is one of the hottest college coaches in America.
Wade was dismissed by LSU under questionable circumstances many believe. I’m one of them.
Wade was caught on tape saying that he had made a “strong ass offer” to a recruit, but still was turned down.
The NCAA, the governing body, for college basketball, assumed it was a financial payoff.  So just what does a “strong ass offer” mean?
When I was recruited to come to North Carolina, I was offered a scholarship referred to as a full ride.
It included my college tuition, along with room and board at the college dormitory.  But I asked for more.  Instead of living in the dormitory, I wanted a monthly check to cover an off-campus apartment as well as meal money.
I also asked for a laundry allowance as well as unlimited purchases at the campus bookstore. 
I suppose I was asking for a “strong ass offer,” and I got it.
And this is legal under the rules both then are now. So what Coach Wade said about “a strong ass offer” is open to interpretation.
Even if there were charges of unscrupulous recruiting by Wade, everything the NCAA and other investigators alleged is perfectly legal today.
College athletes are pulling in big bucks, with a number of players pulling in over a million dollars a season. There’s no loyalty to a recruit’s alma mater. It’s all about pulling down the big bucks. 
After being ceremoniously fired by LSU, without hearing of the full story, Wade took a job at McNeese University in Lake Charles.
The year before he was hired, McNeese had lost 23 games. In his introductory press conference, he said he would reverse this number, and win 23 games in his current year.
He did not win 23 games. He won 30.
Wade has become a real sports hero in Lake Charles. People high-five him wherever he goes. When he comes on the basketball court before a home game, the loudspeakers blare Johnny Cash’s song “God’s Gonna Cut You Down."
LSU did not make the NCAA tournament this year. Will Wade’s team did, making it the first time since 2002.
There are lots of stories like this from colleges playing in this NCAA tournament. It’s one of the reasons why post season basketball has become the leading cash cow for the NCAA, earning over one billion dollars a year.
Major college sports have become farm teams for the pros. A number of players end up as many as three different colleges in their athletic careers.
I don’t like it, and I yearn for the good old days. But that’s life in the new college sports world we are living in today.
Peace and Justice
Jim Brown
Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownusa.com. You can also listen to his weekly podcast at www.datelinelouisiana.com.

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

St. Mary deputies reported Monday arrests on domestic abuse and stalking charges.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 38 complaints and made these reports:

--Tyrek Jamal Colbert, 21, Centerville, was arrested at 6:16 a.m. Monday on charges of domestic abuse battery, obstruction of justice (tampering) and simple kidnapping. Bail was set at $50,000.

--Brandy Broussard, 46, Erath, was arrested at 6:16 a.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Jaquan Montaque Verrett, 25, New Iberia, was arrested at 5:29 p.m. Monday on charges of cyberstalking, possession of firearm by a felon and stalking. Verrett also held a warrant for failure to appear on charges of carrying concealed weapon by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids; illegal use, possession, or control of weapons in a crime of violence; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bail has not been set at this time.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to six complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Sara Bella, 38, Pacific Street, Berwick, was arrested at 11:50 a.m. Monday on a warrant dated Oct. 27 alleging for theft, bank fraud and criminal conspiracy.

Bella was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Garrett Stone, 41, Ida Street, Franklin, was arrested at 4:26 p.m. Monday on a warrant dated March 21 alleging stalking. Stone was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.

DEAR ABBY: We recently moved to a new neighborhood. My 8-year-old son, “Joey,” has become best friends with a classmate, “Paul,” who lives on our street. We know from research we did when we bought our house that Paul’s stepfather, with whom he lives, is a sex offender who committed crimes against children and served time in prison.
Paul has been coming to our house most days, which is fine. However, both Paul and Joey have started asking whether Joey can go play at Paul’s house. I will never allow my son to play there. At some point, the boys will want an explanation, but I don’t think Paul knows about his stepfather’s past, and I don’t think Paul’s mother knows that I know.
If I tell Joey an age-appropriate version of the truth, I am sure he will tell Paul. I don’t think this is how Paul should hear about his stepfather’s past, plus I am concerned it might cause Paul’s mother to get upset and cut off the kids’ friendship. Do you have any advice?
CONFLICTED IN THE WEST

DEAR CONFLICTED: Are you absolutely certain that you have the story right and Paul’s stepdad is a registered sex offender? I ask because I’m surprised that he would be allowed to live in a household with a minor child.
Your concern that Joey might tell Paul about his stepfather is laudable. A way to handle it would be to continue insisting that the boys play only at your house. I do think you should discuss this with Paul’s mother so you know for sure this is what you are dealing with. If it is true, for the next few years use the old, “Because I’m your mother and I said so!” when Joey asks to visit Paul. Eventually, the truth is going to come out, but Paul should hear it from his mother.

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married for eight years. I love my wife with my heart and soul. The problem is, although I’m in love with her, I still love my ex-wife. I never actually expressed these feelings toward my ex until recently. I write to her and call her, hoping she will answer. I don’t want to leave my wife because she’s a good woman. But so was my ex. What can I do?
Every time my wife and I have a disagreement, I start thinking about my ex and what life would’ve been like if I had stayed with her. I find myself thinking about her more and more often each day. I know my ex still loves me, although she won’t come out and say it. Is it OK to be in love with one and still love the other?
LOTS OF LOVE IN FLORIDA

DEAR LOTS: May I inject a sliver of reality into your fantasy? You say you “know” your ex-wife still loves you although she won’t come out and say it, nor does she answer your passionate letters. I’d say her refusal to communicate sends a pretty strong message that she doesn’t feel the way you do.
I don’t know what is wrong in your current marriage, but if you don’t stop pining over the wife you dumped, you are going to lose this one, too. Counseling may help you accomplish this, and it is what I strongly recommend. Start now.
***
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

The Port of Morgan City will receive $2.3 million from the federal government for upgrades to the Emergency Operations Center, U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins announced Monday.

The money comes from community project funding through House Resolution 1102.

Another $2 million is head to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for development of a biomedical innovation center.

Higgins, R-Lafayette, said he opposed the resolution because of the total level of overall spending and the removal of what he characterized as conservative policy riders in the Senate.

“However, I dedicated months of effort to get our community funding language included in the 12 appropriations bills that were passed through the House,” Higgins said in a press release.

“My office worked very closely with our local government entities and district stakeholders for the better part of 2023 to secure Louisiana 3rd District funding in the legislation.

“These projects are critical for South Louisiana’s economic prosperity and financial growth.”