Big 10? 11? 12? The NCAA’s Magical Math

Missing from the college athletics equation: accounting and accountability

It’s no wonder that American students’ math skills aren’t up to par with many of their counterparts around the world. Our college presidents aren’t very good in math, either.Consider that the Big 10 conference actually has 11 teams. Make that 12. The University of Nebraska just opted to abandon the Big 12 for the Big 10.Or take the Pac 10. It actually has 11 teams: The University of Colorado just agreed to join, abandoning the Big 12.The Big 12 is actually now the Big 10 (not to be confused with the other Big 10 that should have been called the Big 11 once Penn State joined in 1990). Subtract Nebraska and Colorado from the Big 12—the conference from whence they came before jumping ship—and it adds up to 10, not 12.

Gun Control Debate Comes out of the closet in PA Politics

So where does Tom Corbett stand?

When two Western Pennsylvania politicians running for governor squabble over who has a better record on gun control, you don’t have to be a political scientist to know that change is in the air.But that’s what happened during the campaign when Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, touting his high score from CeaseFirePA, a statewide organization fighting for common sense gun safeguards, and State Auditor Jack Wagner tussled over who had the better record on banning assault weapons while serving on Pittsburgh City Council.Two and a half years ago, I actually visited Onorato, now the Democratic candidate, in his Pittsburgh office in my capacity as president of the board of CeaseFirePA to take his pulse on the gun issue. I walked away non-plussed by his lack of commitment, and his calling some of our suggestions “feel good” legislation.

Cleaning Up Philadelphia

The Job’s Never Been Easy

As you walk through the north portal of City Hall from north Broad Street headed south and look to your left, you will see a plaque inscribed with William Penn’s "Prayer for Philadelphia."Look directly to the right and you will see a plaque dedicated to Brigadier General Smedley Butler, director of public safety, 1924-25. I don’t know how many times I walked by that plaque and wondered who the hell Smedley Butler was that he warranted such special treatment. In fact, if you search the vast concrete walls of the City Hall facade you won't find another plaque dedicated to an individual except the one for good old Smedley. Ben Franklin doesn’t have one. Neither does William Penn. Not even the Philly Phanatic.

A free ride on SEPTA

Finding a silver lining in turning 65

It’s bad enough getting old; it’s worse being incessantly reminded about it.It started more than a decade or so ago when I started receiving mailings from AARP, the association geared to folks 50 years or older, urging me to join. But I just tossed them in the nearest wastebasket.AARP had such an old feel to it, and I certainly didn’t feel old, nor did I want to pull out my wallet with a membership card staring me in the face reminding me that I was no longer a spring chicken. A mirror was reminder enough.So I ignored AARP’s invitations as if that would keep me young.

The Silver Fox Still Casts A Long Shadow

Without George X. Schwartz’s fall from grace, the careers of everyone from John Street and Ed Rendell to Bob Brady might have been different

I assumed it was a mistake when I first read the George X. Schwartz obit in the Daily News two weeks ago. Not that he died. After all he was 95. What caught my eye was that only 90 people were at his service.“Was that a misprint? “ I emailed Kitty Caparella, the Daily News reporter who wrote the story. “He was such a powerful man in his day.”“I thought the same thing,” she replied. “It was a generous 90 people. I counted.”

The Madness of March

NCAA Sweet 16 member Kentucky graduates only 31 percent of its players. Washington? 30 percent. Maryland? 8 percent. The idea of the "student-athlete" is a total sham

Nothing is more maddening during March Madness, the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, than to hear commentators talk about student-athletes — while knowing how few graduate from their colleges. Thanks to Dr. Richard Lapchick, the director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports and the University of Central Florida, we now have a tally of how well the teams are doing in the classroom as well as on the basketball court. Lapchcik, whose father Joe was the legendary basketball St. Johns University, issues a report each year just after the 64-team field has been selected on both the men and women’s side. He does the same thing for football prior to the bowl games.

Who’s Really to Blame for the Trash Tax?

Point the finger at Penn and the rest of the city’s non-profits, who continually come up small when it comes to supporting the city’s coffers

Mayor Nutter has resorted to picking through the city’s trash to find a way to balance next year’s budget with its $150 million shortfall. Last week Nutter recommended to City Council a $300 annual trash fee for residents that would go a long way to help close the budget gap. Needless to say, many Philadelphians think the trash fee stinks.What stinks even more is how little the city’s major non-profits organizations, most notably our so-called Meds and Eds, are doing to help fill the city’s empty coffers with needed cash.