Mariners Star Shows Us The Ingrate That He Can Be
You bandwagon climbers of 1995 might recall Ken Griffey Jr.’s dramatic race around the bases to score the winning run in Seattle’s playoff win over the New York Yankees. Well, that was then. Now, Junior’s pouting because M’s management scheduled an exhibition game against some minor league all-stars on a day off. Quoth the unhappy star: “That’s the … Mariner way. (sniff!) It’s the same stuff every year. (sniff!) Instead of becoming a first-class organization, which we could be, we’re stuck in the … ‘70s seeing how many things we can do for other people.” (honk!) This, from an oft-injured player who has made a bazillion bucks playing in Seattle (and who hasn’t helped his first-place club much during the past month). If I were king of the universe, spoilsports like Griffey would spend the off-season pulling green chain. Or fixing cars. Or busing tables. Then, they’d know how the other half lives the half that buys the tickets, programs and overpriced hot dogs that pay for their enormous salaries. Then, they wouldn’t mind a trip or two to the boondocks.
Black against white still equals hate crime
Hmmm. It’s late Wednesday now. And I still haven’t heard any outcry from human rights groups about the 29-year-old Coeur d’Alene man who was attacked after being mistaken for a skinhead. At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, two men - one white and one black - accosted Robert DePaulis while he was walking along the 700 block of Fourth Street. One of the brutes demanded that DePaulis “fess up” to being a skinhead. DePaulis has a shaved head - as many men do today. But he’s no neo-Nazi. And he told his assailants so. It appears a hate crime was committed here, although it wasn’t the typical whites against a minority member that we hear so much about today. To be consistent, human rights activists should demand that this case be pursued aggressively, too.
Feds strong-arm Idahoans again
Time will tell if the Federal Emergency Management Agency had a reason to raid the Clearwater County Flood Control command center at Orofino, Idaho. A grand jury investigation is under way, looking into Clearwater County’s handling of FEMA money. But the way the feds conducted the raid certainly was over the top. It was a reminder of the heavy-handed measures used at Ruby Ridge and Waco and during the Silver Valley gambling raid. On Friday, federal agents wearing bulletproof vests seized three vehicles full of local government documents. Fortunately, the feds didn’t shoot anyone or burn any children to death this time.
, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125 or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.