Boo to Kobe Bryant’s behavior on the court Wednesday. The larger-than-life basketball star decided he did not like one of the referee’s calls, so he decided to call him a homosexual slur. Kobe seems not only to excel at basketball, but also at offending people. The NBA fined him $100,000. Apparently NBA Commissioner David Stern understands something that Bryant doesn’t — that slur is an offensive word. Stern put a heavy price on the word, and Bryant offered a lukewarm apology. While we are offended by Bryant’s actions, we are glad that a swift and fitting punishment has been dealt.
Bravo to ASU’s placement in slot No. 3 on Playboy’s “Top 10 Party Schools” list this year. This means we are on track to regain our title as the school in America that parties the hardest, and there’s nothing saying we can’t work hard too. While we’ve moved up from last year’s No. 6, we are still an academic heavyweight — the country’s largest research university. A degree from ASU means that you majored in your chosen field and had fun doing it.
Boo to the state Senate for passing the “birther bill.” A measure passed by the state Senate this week would require a presidential candidate to show a long-form birth certificate or an equivalent document before he or she could appear on the Arizona ballot. This bill was prompted by the ridiculous accusations that President Barack Obama is not an American citizen. Despite clear evidence from Hawaii, where he was born, this crazy rhetoric persists. Can our state please stop with this time-wasting legislation and get back to creating jobs and funding education?
Bravo to ASU student Zach Jibben. At age 19, Jibben will be graduating with his bachelor’s degree in May. He has also started his PhD work this semester and is on track to get it by the time he is 22. We are honored to have this brilliant mind at ASU. If anyone has any doubt that ASU works as hard as it plays, look no further than this outstanding student.
Boo to Sheriff Joe Arpaio for allegedly misusing $99 million in taxpayer money. New estimates state Arpaio used this money from two different jail funds to pay for other law enforcement activities, including immigration raids that he is known for. It’s bad enough that the Justice Department has investigated him for racial profiling. Now this. Sheriff Joe can do no wrong in the eyes of many people of Maricopa County, who reelect him with very comfortable majorities.
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