Mark’s Musings – March 27, 2013

Mark Fortune

I’m not sure if it is spring or winter. Based on two inches of snow this morning (Monday) it seems more like a February day. Folks will tell you, though, that some of our area’s heaviest snowfalls have arrived in April. Hopefully this too, shall pass and this will be the last blow of March. I seem to recall that it came in like a . . . lion. And wouldn’t it be more appropriate if March went out like a lamb – with Easter the last day of the month?

How ‘bout them Buckeyes? Aaron Craft came on big in the Buckeyes hard fought victory over Iowa State. The Cyclones had no fear of playing the Big 10 tournament champion and forced the Buckeyes to the final seconds before Craft hit a key three pointer. With four teams in the Sweet 16, it will be a fun few days to be a Big 10 – or any – hoops fan.

Let’s turn our attention to the Ashland Eagles and River View hoops standout, Kari Daugherty. The Eagles play Gannon on Tuesday evening, March 26 at 9:30 p.m. in Texas in the women’s’ D-II Elite Eight tournament. Let’s hope when you read this that the Eagles have moved on to the next game which is Wednesday. The Eagles defeated Gannon earlier in the season, 70-59 in California. For more information on where to watch – or listen to the Eagles this week, go to their website at www.goashlandeagles.com. Go Ashland!

People are expressing their excitement about the upcoming Cleveland Indians season and their prospects for a good season. I hope that is not a jinx. Let’s hope so. The Indians launch the 2013 season against the Toronto Blue Jays next Tuesday then travel to Florida against the Rays – before being in Cleveland for the home opener against the dreaded Yankees on April 8. Then it’s the White Sox and Red Sox. This is a tough stretch that will perhaps give us a glimpse into how this year’s team will fare. Better than last year is not a very lofty expectation.

Just as an FYI on the federal budget, the Senate passed their first budget in four years last week. It passed 50-49 with four Democratic senators joining all Republican senators on the “nay” side of things. The House of Representatives passed their own version of a budget last week. Neither budget has much chance of being passed into law on its own – it will take some serious compromising to get a budget that the President will sign. This is, of course, a starting point.

Please remember that this is Holy Week and taking the time to reflect on the importance of this week’s events is critically important in our ever more stressful – and busy – lives. From Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, this needs to be a week in which we remember the sacrifice of Jesus.

Category: Mark's Musings