The Pathetic State of the Memphis Grizzlies

Just so we're clear, sports is nothing but an enjoyable break from the misery of the real world right now.
That said, our beloved Grizzlies aren't much of an enjoyable break right now. The front office made the conscious decision to bring in a bright young coach in the summer before the 2016-2017 season. David Fizdale was fresh off the Miami Heat bench, having served as Eric Spoelstra's Associate Head Coach during the whole LeBron James/Championship era in Miami. Under Fizdale's leadership, we were going to become a modern NBA team. We would play fast. We would shoot threes.
To that end, the front office decided to let Zach Randolph and Tony Allen leave through free agency last summer. Those two men were the grit and the grind in the Grizzlies' grit and grind.
Prior to last season, in addition to the NBA maximum contracts given to Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies signed Chandler Parsons to a third max contract. Parsons was the three point shooter who would loosen up the middle with his marksmanship from the arc. Only he was broken into pieces, and never made any contribution last year whatsoever.
Now, Conley is out, again, with his Achilles tendon. He has missed major portions due to injury three of the last four seasons. Gasol is making 41% of his shots this year, and either cannot or will not rebound or defend. He is 33 years old, ancient in the NBA. He won't get better than he is right now.
And Sunday night, as Gasol had shot 6 of 17 with 5 rebounds through three quarters against the hapless Nets, already seven games into a losing streak, Fizdale sat Gasol for the fourth quarter.
Gasol pitched a fit after the game. He talked to every media member he could find. He said he wouldn't put up with being benched. He said that it was only done to hurt him and make him look bad. He is, in a word, delusional. He does not deserve to be playing right now. 
Oddly, he never mentioned his on-going poor performance.
But yesterday afternoon, the front office heard their prima donna's hurt feelings, got the message, followed his directions, and fired the offending, offensive coach.
Gasol has spent every minute since making sure everyone knows that he didn't demand Fizdale's firing. He didn't have to. After his post-game performance, it was clear he wanted a different coach. NOW! 
He got what he wanted. 
Mike Conley was here before Zach Randolph arrived. Marc Gasol was here before Zach Randolph arrived. The Grizzlies made the playoffs three times prior to Randolph's arrival.
But they were swept each time.
The Memphis Grizzlies never won even one playoff game until Zach Randolph came to Memphis, much less any playoff series. Now, with him gone, and Conley incapacitated, and Gasol more effective at running the front office than playing, they likely will not even make the playoffs again for many years to come.
Not much of an enjoyable break from the real world right now. None, after Tiger football ends with their bowl game in a few weeks.
Never said that before!

Abusing women is unacceptable. Do we really have to tell guys this? Al Franken version.

Al Franken became a hero of mine through his association with Saturday Night Live, at first with his old comedy partner, Tom Davis, and, later, on his own. I was thrilled when he became part of Air America, in the effort to counter the massive right-wing media (Fox News, Limbaugh, etc.) with a liberal presence. His friendship with Paul Wellstone solidified Franken's interest in politics, and my desire to support him. I couldn't have been happier when he was elected, and re-elected, and his service in the US Senate has been exemplary. I can't imagine any US Senator with whom I would be in more complete agreement on issues. I have been hoping that he would run for President in 2020. I fully intended to vote for him.
But today, Leeann Tweeden told her story.
She told her story, and shared a photograph from a 2006 USO tour. Al Franken is 66 years old now, which makes him 55 in 2006. No 55 year old man can possibly think that it is acceptable to pose for that photograph. Ms. Tweeden is clearly asleep in the photo. Franken does not appear to be touching her in the photograph, but his hands are positioned in places where a decent man would not and cannot position his hands. And her story goes well beyond a photograph.
Roy Moore should not be in the US Senate because of his behavior with girls and young women while he was in his 30s. Al Franken should not be in the US Senate because of his behavior with a young woman while he was in his mid-50s. Franken should resign, and should resign immediately.
This behavior is not acceptable. It cannot be made acceptable. It must, invariably, be made public, and the appropriate consequences must be borne by the perpetrators of this behavior. Harvey Weinstein lost his company. Kevin Spacey and Louis CK have lost their careers. Roy Moore should not get a Senate seat, and Al Franken should lose his.
And I would simply ask, again, why is Donald Trump, a constant and unrepentant sexual predator, still allowed to be in the White House?