David Vs Goliath: Porn, B-Ball, Nike, Extortion and Bank Fraud In The Age of Madness

Apparently, Nike has been cooperating with an NCAA investigation into illegal payments made to college basketball players.  Or, if you believe Stormy Daniel's ex-lawyer Michael Avenatti, they have not been cooperationg with the investigation.

The nicest thing about him is his suit.

Either way, now there are multiple indictments against Avenatti concerning extortion of the company to the tune of $25M, as caught on tape by the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner!  Avenatti also has separate indictments in CA for bank and wire fraud charges.  In a still separate case, he faces charges of domestic abuse.

My money is on Nike and President Mark Parker.

Spott Moskowitz Is Relaxed

The first round of the NCAA Basketball tourney is over, and Spott Moskowitz, my mutt of a Jack Russell is probably ahead of you in the standings. 

Spott "Nostradamus" Moskowitz

He seems relaxed and confident with his picks, and stands in 11th place out of the record 207 entrants into Ken Cooper's elaborate pool.
                                                

1	Venne, Lisa Anne		13	15	28
2	Arosemena, Che		16	12	28
3	Stoffel, Connor		16	12	28
4	Stewart, Kerry		15	13	28
5	Hamer, Allison G		14	13	27
6	Gross, Michael		14	13	27
7	Johnson, Keyshawn		15	12	27
8	Storm, Hannah		15	12	27
9	Liddell, Chuck		12	15	27
10	Cole, Braden		14	13	27
11	Moskowitz, Spott		14	12	26
12	Walter, Anne		14	12	26
13	Hoover, Douglas		14	12	26
14	Snake		14	12	26
15	Miller, Keith		13	13	26
16	Crescenzi, Noah		12	14	26
17	Rupe, Avery		15	11	26
18	Munro, Scott		12	14	26
19	Dewberry, Amelia		12	14	26
20	O'Brien, Kevin Kelly		14	12	26
21	Cecchini, Evan		14	12	26
22	Greenberg, Mike		15	11	26

It Is About Time To Get Ready For The Reunion And Golf Tourney!

First, you must enter the tourney or get your bona fides for the Reunion by sending in the required monies to Harry Smith.

DO THAT NOW!

Now that you have that completed, it is time to think about the proper attire.  And there isn't anyone more in tune with what is required on the Golf Course (or Board Room) than Bill Murray.  So head on in to his web site and grab yourself some swag including Bucket Hats and even Bill Bottoms!

William Murray Golf  

I personally will be sporting a pair of his greatest Bill Bottoms for the tourney.  these have a very tasteful pattern inspired by his mom.  I have actually invited Bill to our tourney for years. He will take us on eventually, I'm sure.

 

Can You Beat Spott Moskowitz?

It's that special time of year when all thoughts wander to Ken Cooper's NCAA Bracket Pool for PSU Track Alumni (and just about anyone else!).  The 25th Annual!

Spott, my dog, has a rather good record in the tourney prognostication.  He has been at the top of the Dog Division numerous times and I trust all of my own picks to him.  Let's see if you can beat him this year.  I will add that he is not a fan of Duke.

1.       MAIN POOL - Everyone is in the Main Pool.  It is free and pride only.  Last year we had 201 people.  This is great for kids.  Last year, we had 43 kids in 8^th grade or under and they had 4 of the top 20 overall placers.  You are encouraged to include kids and pass along to other friends. 

Enter Here!

Coach Of The Year, Athletes Of The Year, And Another 800M Champion!

First up, Artie "Knute" Gilkes became the PIAA Boys Indoor Coach of the Year with his Little Lions victory at the State Meet.  Artie excels at coaching the jumps, of all things, but Nick K. tells us he gives a very good "Gipper" speech as well!  Congrats Artie.  And don't forget to golf this year!

While there is no video, I had the pleasure of hearing Artie’s pre-meet speech.  He comprehensively laid out the scoring possibilities so the team could see for themselves what had to be done in a way that empowered them to take control of the outcome.  No emotional BS.  

(Steve) Shisler’s mission was to re-establish, in his words, “a culture of achievement.”  Gilkes is extending and deepening that ethos.  As an SC alumnus, I am really grateful the young athletes again have outstanding coaches - including the event coaches, who genuinely care about guiding kids to steeper life trajectories through track and field.  During that championship Sunday, one could literally see guys mature and take a big step forward as they competed - not everything went as planned - and then put their hands on the prize.  Inspiring!     -Nick K.

State College Shows Off Depth

Not to be outdone by Penn State Track and Field Alumni, two present team members garnered awards for the season as well.  

Maddie Holmberg continued her great career and won the Mid-Atlantic Field Athlete of the Year.  She then set a PR at the NCAA Championships to place 9th in the Pentathlon. 

 Last, but not least, Danae Rivers backed up her Mid Atlantic Track Athlete of the Year award by winning the 800M at the NCAA Championships!

Danae used the tried and true tactic used by Dave Wottle in 1972, even splits, which took her from the middle of the pack to the victory in dramatic fashion.  Thus accentuating PSU is 800U! 

 Danae wins the 800M

Onward To Nationals!

Six Nittany Lions made it to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.  Remember, only the top sixteen individuals and the top 12 Relays can make it.  That's one of the hardest "makes" in all of track and field.

Women:

• Alexis Holmes   400M   
• Danae Rivers      800M
• Maddie Holmberg     Pentathlon

Men:

• Domenic Perretta     800M
• Morgan Shigo          Weight Throw
• David Lucas             Weight Throw 

Indoor USATF Lion Notables

No one could have ever predicted that the Indoor Championships of the entire country would happen in Staten Island.  But it really just happened.

And some Lions were there to perform well.

• Rachel Fatherly was 5th in the Shot Put with 58' 10 3/4"
• Brannon Kidder placed 3rd in the 1000M with 2:21.23
• Malik Moffett jumped 25' 2 3/4" to place 2nd
• Joe Kovacs returned to the indoor stage to place 2nd with 70' 2 1/2"

Another Big Loss

It is with much sadness that we have all learned about the passing of Dan Jordan, son of Coach Teri Jordan last week.  My condolences go out to his family and friends, many of them in our Track Alumni Group.

Dan Jordan

PSU Is 800U: Keep On Truckin'

The Middle Distance Nittany Lions kept the tradition going strong at the 2019 Big Ten Indoor Championships in Ann Arbor. 

In the Womens event,  Danae Rivers made it three in a row of 800M indoor triumphs with a record run of 2:03.45.

“We asked her to run the 800 and both relays this weekend; she was really aggressive today and got the meet record." -Coach John Gondak.

In the Mens event, Dom Perretta sorta kinda took the baton from Isaiah Harris in a figurative sense (three time repeat winner), stood tall, and finished in a fine 1:48.24 in a very strong field.  That made 4 in a row and 10 of the last 12 800M titles for PSU!

From one champion to another!

It Is Time To Sign Up For The 2019 Penn State Track And Field Alumni Reunion And The Coach Groves Golf Tourney

We Just Lost A Former Middle Distance Star

Teammate Mark Haywood brings us the news of the passing of Bruce McLanahan in Camp Hill. Bruce was a middle distance star for Coach Groves in his early years.

"Bruce became a good friend of mine over the years. He lived two blocks away from me and we would often share walks around the neighborhood and talk about track, XC, and all things Penn State. He was one of Coach Groves’ runners too although he pre-dated us. Served as mayor of Camp Hill for a while and was very active in the community. Anyone who knew Bruce knew how quick he was with a smile, a laugh, or an amusing anecdote. He made your day better just being in it. This is a very sad time and a great loss for Camp Hill but I am grateful to have known Bruce as a good friend..."

A Pioneer Has Passed

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Patricia Nell Warren earlier in the week.  Patricia was a pioneer in many different ways, and her absence will be profound in many circles.

"How did you pick Penn State as the school (where) the protagonist coached
at before leaving under mysterious reasons?" 

"At the time (1972-1974), to be a track coach at Penn State put you at the top of
the heap.  Penn State was a big power in track, and had been for some
time.  Harlan Brown had to have that kind of positioning and prestige
and experience to think about pointing a protege runner at the
Olympics."  - Patricia Nell Warren.

Patricia was among the first women to brave the stereotype of women being too fragile to run the marathon.  She was in those early Boston Marathons when those in charge were trying to stop her in 1969.

She soon wrote a groundbreaking novel involving running and same-sex relationships, The Front Runner, which became a NYT best seller, and slowly ushered in an era of inclusion in the staid running world.  The large running community called The Frontrunners continues to grow. Her protagonist was the head track coach at Penn State until false allegations of sexual misconduct got him fired.

I was introduced to the book by a high school English teacher who noticed my "running career" had taken off and asked me, "Are you a Front Runner?"  I don't remember my answer, but I do remember the full-throated laughter afterward!  In those days, it was not "a quick google" away to find answers, but I dug in to find out about the book.  I didn't actually read it until my brother checked it out for me from Patee Library. There was no way Dover Area High School would have had the book in those days.

Reading the book opened my eyes to a world I had never even thought about.  And it connected me with a group of people who I seemingly had nothing in common with.  It helped cement a better world view my rural upbringing could not have established on its own.

In recent years, I befriended Patricia on Facebook and had the opportunity to ask her many questions.  I found her to be a delightful, thoughtful and patient friend.  RIP

An earlier post where Patricia answers 8 questions!