NAIA
KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this tournament’s title tilt the 2 seeds – the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS – took the court against the top seeded OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Moundbuilders were chasing the Eagles 36-34 at Halftime but outscored them 44-39 after the break for a 78-75 Upset. Cameron Hunt led Southwestern College with his Double Double of 29 points and 12 rebounds. * THE MOUNDBUILDERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE KCAC TOURNAMENT *
NCCAA
MIDEAST REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 4th seeded JOHNSON UNIVERSITY (TN) ROYALS (formerly the Preachers) played the 2 seeds – the GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE LAKERS. The Lakers were on top 40-32 at the break but from there the Royals came storming back to win the game 84-78. Coby Jones’ 19 points led Johnson University. * THE ROYALS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT *
NORTH REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This was a battle of chalk versus a Cinderella. The top seeds – the MARANATHA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SABERCATS – did battle with the 6th seeded MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE ARCHERS. The Archers, hoping for one more Upset, were hanging around, trailing the Sabercats by just 40-35 at Halftime. After the break Maranatha Baptist University put more and more separation between themselves and Moody Bible Institute for a 72-58 triumph. Jonathan Book’s Double Double of 19 points and 11 rebounds led the victors. * THE SABERCATS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * Continue reading
THE MANIPULATORS (1970) – The words “gritty” and “streetwise” seem never to be used when describing vintage television programs from Canada but they certainly apply to The Manipulators (Originally the title was to be The Clients). 
NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3 seeds – the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS – played the 2nd seeded BELLEVUE (NE) BRUINS. The 1st Half ended with the Comets leading the Bruins by a score of 33-26. After the break Mayville State completed the Upset, offing Bellevue 66-55. Daniel Lindgren tossed in 18 points to lead the Comets. * THE COMETS ARE NSAA CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS * 
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 3rd seeded VOORHEES COLLEGE TIGERS squared off against the 4 seeds – the COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS BOBCATS – for the AII title. The Tigers were on top 44-36 at Halftime but the Bobcats pulled off a 72-72 tie to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime wound up in an 82-82 deadlock but in the 2nd Voorhees College slashed their way to a 91-89 win led by Alex Brooks’ 24 points. * THE TIGERS ARE AII CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS *
DISTRICT 303: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Familiar rivals clashed in this District Tournament title tilt: The top seeds – the RICHLAND COLLEGE THUNDERDUCKS – and the 3rd seeded EASTFIELD COLLEGE HARVESTERS. The Thunderducks had eked out a 42-41 edge by the break then mustered 1 more point of separation from the Harvesters for an 82-80 victory. Caleb Williams led the way for Richland College with THIRTY-FOUR points. * THE THUNDERDUCKS ARE CHAMPIONS OF DISTRICT 303 * 
TOM HANKS – I was reminded of Hanks’ line “stupid is as stupid does” when Democrats stated that their beloved royalty aka illegal immigrants should even enjoy exemptions from gun-control laws. For one thing if an illegal immigrant – even one previously deported and/or with previous offenses – tries to illegally buy a gun the Democrats feel that “Illegal Alien Privilege” should apply and the delicate little darling should not be held. After all, being held increases the possibility that the illegal might get caught by or turned over to ICE. CLICK 
ROBERT DE NIRO – De Niro’s performance in Raging Bull at times made me think about brain-damaged people. His “old man yells at cloud” behavior in recent years ALWAYS makes me think about brain-damaged people. Someone who is definitely NOT brain-damaged is Allum Bokhari, a journalist and technology correspondent who examined the abuses inflicted by the Techno-Fascists of Silicon Valley 
SAMUEL L JACKSON – Jackson’s real-life portrayal of a racist hatemonger towers over any other performances he’s ever given. Samuel and the other privileged one percenters above STILL refuse to give away all but 2 million dollars of their unneeded fortunes to the poor. Selfish prick Jackson’s behavior reminded me of THIS article about how the public money spent on roadside noise-barriers for rich suburbanites could more than pay for a border wall. CLICK 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS took the court against the team in the 2 spot – the MONTREAT COLLEGE CAVALIERS. The Bulldogs were on top 33-29 at Halftime but the Cavaliers came roaring back to force Overtime with a 79-79 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session Union College outscored Montreat 16-6 for a 95-85 triumph. K.J. Duronslett led UC with a Double Double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. * THE BULLDOGS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE AAC TOURNAMENT * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 8 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS – completed their incredible run through the CCAC tourney yesterday against the 3rd seeded GOVERNORS STATE JAGUARS. The Fighting Saints were chasing the Jaguars 28-27 at the break but came from behind for a 59-54 victory in this defense-heavy affair. Terrion Howard’s 18 points led USF. * THE FIGHTING SAINTS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CCAC TOURNAMANT * 
Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of the Justice Society’s World War Two-era stories continues. FOR PART ONE CLICK 
ALL STAR COMICS #23 (Winter 1944) 
Synopsis: The Courier newspaper has been covering the crime-spree of a supervillain calling himself the Psycho-Pirate because of his power over emotions. The Psycho-Pirate contacts the Courier to issue a challenge to the Justice Society of America to try to stop his crimes. 
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The top seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST REDHAWKS – got a wake-up call from the 8th seeded LINCOLN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RED LIONS. The Redhawks seemed to have everything under control and led 57-40 come Halftime. After the break the Red Lions came storming back, with IUN holding on by their fingernails for a 96-91 win. Rashad Richardson’s 22 points led the Redhawks. 
ROUND ONE, GAME TWO – In this contest the 2nd ranked WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY SHOCK likewise got almost more than they could handle from the 7 seeds – the GREEN MOUNTAIN COLLEGE EAGLES (Should be the Verdant Eagles). The Shock were on top 37-30 at the midpoint but barely eked out a 75-74 victory in the face of a furious Green Mountain College rally. Desmond Stanback led the Shock with 19 points. 
Yesterday a White House reception for Black History Month saw woman of color Catherine Toney, the first person freed under President Trump’s criminal justice reforms, speaking. She joined assorted other African-American leaders in praising the Trump administration’s many successes for the black community. 
Some of those African-American leaders added praise for President Trump’s activities on behalf of the poor and working class of ALL colors. (Note from Balladeer: As always, Trump is the new FDR) 
Civil rights activist Clarence Henderson of THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS FOUNDATION added praise for the president’s border wall stand to his remarks, saying “You know Nehemiah was told by God to build a wall and that’s what you’re doing. Amen.” (Yes, I’m a non-believer but I’m quoting him. Pretend he said someone was told by “Allah” instead of “God” if you’re a hypersensitive Democrat.) 
Civil Rights leader Bob Woodson thanked President Trump for taking on the political establishment: “I just want to thank God and President Trump for knocking over the tables in the temples and attacking the status quo that is hostile to the interests of poor people.” (Trump is the new FDR) 
Monkees member Peter Tork is dead. Not since the infamous Day The Music Died has the rock world suffered such a loss. I’m kidding! Still, though, here’s a Balladeer’s Blog goodbye to the one and only member of the Monkees whose name always puts me in mind of the measure of a force’s tendency to produce torsion equal to the product of the force vector and the radius vector from the axis of rotation to the point of application of the force. 
The New Monkees are remembered as the most pointless re-launch of a band in history AND as one of the worst television shows in history. I’ve never listened to their one and only album so I can’t say if they make it a Hat Trick with one of the worst albums in history, too. 
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