Perspectives
The Rose Affair
January 2000
Pete Rose was banned from Baseball for life. For Life? How can they ban for life one of the greatest living ball players? Can you imagine them banning Babe Ruth for life? The greatest Icon of the game Babe Ruth wasn't an innocent babe. Ruth was a drunkard and philanderer. He probably bet on baseball too but that would have been overlooked as was everything else by Baseball. 
Ruth was a draw. He filled the stadiums like no other single player has before or since. They wouldn't have touched the great Babe with a ten foot pole. And that's it. Money. Babe Ruth over-indulged but was tolerated because he brought in money. Babe died shortly after his last season. If he would have lived, and been healthy, I wonder how long his 'Sainthood' would have lasted. 
Rose on the other hand was 'busted' while he was a manager in the Major Leagues. Long after  his playing days, and long after he could fill stadiums with his antics on the field. I think this and Pete's surly attitude are the reasons Pistol Pete is sitting out the ride. 
I think it's high time somebody talked to the Commissioner and to Pete. Rose has to come clean no matter how much egg he gets on his face. For the Good of the Game.
Franko
The OJ Affair
July 2000
I find it incredible to find people that still believe O.J. Simpson innocent of the murders of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman. These people, many of them black, still firmly believe in O.J.. 
People must have selective memories. I recall, quite vividly, that during the time Simpson was incarcerated he had admitted guilt. The news reported that O.J. had admitted to Rosie Greer quite loudly during a jail visit; "I killed her, oh god, I did it!." This was heard by several jail deputies and other detainees in the Los Angeles County Jail. This evidence was not allowed in court, like O.J.'s past history of spousal abuse, because of something to do with the Client Attorney privilege. 
Let's put this whole thing into perspective. O.J. Simpson was found Not Guilty not because he was innocent, but because he was wealthy. Money talks, bullshit walks.
Franko
The Stadium Affair
July 2000
Everything about this deal seems to smack of collusion. Where would fans park? Insiders are going to make a bundle. They seem to be circumventing the law and have the judges and courts in their pockets, or so it seems.  And  the Chargers want a similar deal. 
I think there is more to this than is on Bruce Henderson's mind. Having both sport teams with large sporting complexes downtown by the waterfront would centralize San Diego like nothing else would. With the Gas Lamp Quarter and new hotels San Diego would really become metropolitan. The Mayor and City council see the 'big' picture. I hope they allow for transportation. They haven't done a too good a job with our infrastructure. We don't need more freeways, we need roads to be finished as designed. More surface streets and more Trolley lines.
And the next logical step would be a massive expansion of the Trolley Line. We will need a line running to the beaches and to the Zoo. Connect the Airport, Sea World and The Wild Animal Park as well as Oceanside and Escondido and we got a city! 
Franko
The Clinton Affair
May 2001
Democrats cry foul every time a Republican brings up a shady deal Bill Clinton was involved in before, during and after his Presidency. The Republicans are 'mean-spirited' or are just plain picking on him, they would say and the media went right along with them. "Bill Clinton was the most popular President since Ronald Reagan" was heard on almost every television station from coast to coast. Hail the conquering hero!
What a crock!  Bill Clinton put on the best show this country has ever seen. He fan-dangled, hornswoggled and charmed the Press, Hollywood and the American People. 'Slick Willie', as the Republicans called him, was able to pull off the consummate scam; he charmed his was into the White House and got his wife elected to the Senate. And even though he consorted with known Drug King-pins and other undesirables, he was able to dodge each and every bullet his enemies fired at him. 
He didn't get any meaningful legislation through during his tenure, spending most of his time  fighting against the incredible number of accusations aimed at him or his wife. It wasn't until he passed the vast array of laws, just as he about to leave office, that anything got done during the Clinton Presidency. Many of these Pardons and Presidential decrees are under review. 
His secret was his personality. The Press and the Hollywood genre enjoyed their unprecedented access to the White House and it's coool occupant. Everybody, and I mean everybody, got to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom. 
When he was attacked by his enemies, which seemed every week, he continually pleaded ignorance or harassment while the only people that really knew the truth died in various accidents and incidents. Most of these 'incidents' were blown off by the press to the chagrin of the Republicans. It was never pointed out in the press that Bill Clinton's popularity polls were carried out in the Black Neighborhoods and the campus of Georgetown University, both predominately liberal domains. I was suprised the numbers were not higher. 
Bill Clinton, though, is just the tip of an iceberg. The unmitigated corruption of our Public Officials is what's really at stake here. The Democrats proved how low they would stoop with their support of Slick Willie and with the election of 2000. The truths are just starting to come out proving that the Republicans were indeed right, though it may be the first time. 
Franko
 An open letter to Usama bin Laden Islamists 
January 2002
Your name will go down in history along will Adolph Hitler, as you will be remembered as the man that brought the Great Suffering to the Muslim World. You claim that you fight for the Palestinians by trying to change American policy with your Terror Attacks.  Your ignorance of Western Culture may be the reason for your stupidity.  You have made a grave mistake.  If you would have struck the Statue of Liberty or the Washington Monument maybe Americans would have noticed you and your cause.  But not now.  America is rising and will destroy you and all that stand in our way to achieve justice.  All that stand in our way, including China, Russia or even  Israel.  This is serious.
You have attempted to bring war to India and Pakistan, but cooler heads are prevailing.  Your Terror network seems to be falling apart.  Using losers like Richard Reid shows how desperate you truly are.  You thought that the Muslim World would rally to your cry screaming Jihad-Jihad, but no.  The Muslims World probably doesn't believe in world conquest anymore than the Christian World.  I believe that most rational Muslims, Christians or Jews really don't want to fight each other.  Only what are called the lunatic fringe of each of these beliefs still want to carry on the age-old war.  We must root out and destroy these fanatics where ever we find them, no matter what religion they espouse.
You must understand that the United States is a true Superpower, not just a Third World Nation with missiles.  Our power is based not on nuclear weapons but on resources and know-how.  Our seeming dependence on Arab oil is only because of our environmentalist.  We have reserves that would be sufficient if used.  Why use ours when we can buy it cheaper?  When the Middle East runs out of oil you will find out how unimportant you will become.  The Region will go back to become as influential as, say Chad or Somalia. 
Franko
P.S. I think bin Laden is dead... 7-13-02
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