3/7/2022: Good-Bye Coach K

PLUS: Stolen Heads, Senator Suggests Assassination and Royal Vocabulary

Mar 07, 2022

Today is Monday, March 7, 2022.

It is the 66th day of the year.

299 days remain.

HIT LIST

The refugee corridor negotiated between Ukrainian and Russian officials late last week has already collapsed, as Russian forces continue to launch projectiles into those zones. The news comes as the United States has agreed to allow NATO to send fighter jets to Ukraine’s exhausted military.

WORTH NOTING: The jets sent to Ukraine may largely be from Poland’s fleet of Russian MiGs, which would then be replaced by American F-22s – all the recipe for a hot war by proxy between American and Russian interests.

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There’s a massive trucker convoy circling the Washington DC beltway, but it’s a lot less impactful than the Canadian truckers who ground Ottawa to a halt for nearly a month.

Depending on who you ask, it’s either composed of a couple hundred vehicles or stretches up to twenty miles long and includes semis and commuter cars and trucks. Rather than park in the District, the vehicles instead made two loops around the freeway that encircles Washington DC, totalling about 130 miles.

While many states and municipalities have dropped almost all covid mitigation efforts, the convoy participants say they’re still gathering in order to get rid of all restrictions and end the national state of emergency.

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The spent rocket segment on course to hit the moon did just that on Friday at 7:25 am Central time. It hit the far side, so there were no instruments to immediately observe the impact or what kind of damage it did to the lunar surface.

While all evidence points to it belonging to China’s space agency, they’re still not claiming it.

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Some Hawaiian farmers are submitting the taro root they discovered to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Taro plants usually weigh in at just a couple pounds – but this one is pushing 100. The root would be enough to feed 180 people, the farmers say.

The world record for taro root is a measly 7 pounds, grown in China in 2009.

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BBC News reports that investigators are looking into the premature death of a 29-year-old personal trainer who reportedly overdosed on a powdered caffeine supplement in 2021.

The victim consumed just 0.2 ounces of caffeine powder – but that’s the equivalent of 200 cups of coffee. Since the powder didn’t come with a scoop, he measured it on a scale at home, but that was miscalibrated.

At the time of death, he had 392 milligrams of caffeine per liter of blood – whereas a cup of coffee might produce up to 4 milligrams of caffeine per liter.

WORTH NOTING: The company that produces the caffeine powder says they now sell their product with a scoop.

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Anchorage International Airport recorded 10.5 inches of snow on Saturday. That more than doubles the previous record (4.4 inches) for March 5.

The total is also the 18th-highest snowfall recorded on a single day.

The airport started recording snowfall totals in the 1950s.

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A semi truck in California tipped on its side Saturday after maneuvering to get out of the way of a reckless driver – sending thousands of Coke cans all over the Interstate.

The accident closed four lanes of traffic.

The driver was trapped in the cab for over an hour, but only suffered minor injuries.

It took several hours to clean up the mess.

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WHAT’S IN THE BOX?!: Denver-area police are on the hunt for whoever stole a box from a freight truck parked in the downtown area – that contains a bunch of human heads.

It was reportedly labeled “Exempt Human Specimen” – and was in transit for medical research.

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CHARTS

Weekend Box Office

10. Scream: $570k (stayed at 10)

9. Gangubai Kathiawadi: $592k (new)

8. Cyrano: $683k (up from 9)

7. Jackass Forever: $1.3 million (down from 5)

6. Sing 2: $1.5 million (stayed at 6)

5. Death on the Nile: $2.7 million (down from 4)

4. Spider-Man: No Way Home: $4.4 million (down from 3)

3. Dog: $6 million (down from 2)

2. Uncharted: $11 million (down from 1)

1. The Batman: $128.5 million (new)

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DEATHS

JOHNNY BROWN has died.

The actor, who played housing project superintendent Nathan Bookman on “Good Times,” passed away Wednesday following a cardiac episode.

He was 84.

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TIM CONSIDINE has died.

The actor, known for his work on “The Hardy Boys” and “My Three Sons,” passed away Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. The cause of death is not yet known.

He was 81.

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JOHN STAHL has died.

The “Game of Thrones” star (he played Rickard Karstark) passed away on March 2, according to his agent. The cause of death is not known.

He was 68.

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JIM OWENS has died.

The country music entertainment creator and producer passed away Friday. No other details about his passing were shared.

He was 84.

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BILLY WATSON has died.

The child star, from the famed Watson Family, passed away February 17 of natural causes.

He was 98.

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MITCHELL RYAN has died.

The “Dark Shadows” actor passed away Friday. No other details were shared.

He was 88.

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BABY NEWS

MICHAEL CERA and his wife NADINE have welcomed their first child together.

The actor confirmed the news to Entertainment Tonight on Friday, but gave no further details on the newborn.

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BREAKUPS

Reality star JOSH FLAGG, 36, and his husband, model BOBBY BOYD, also 36, have split.

According to an Instagram post from Josh, the divorce is “amicable” and was not a “rash or impulsive decision.”

They were married for five years.

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DANICA PATRICK, 39, has split from her boyfriend, Freshly CIO CARTER COMSTOCK, 35.

The former NASCAR driver confirmed the news to PEOPLE, saying it happened a few months ago.

The pair dated for almost a year.

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RELATIONSHIPS

ROBERT KRAFT, 80, is engaged to his girlfriend Dr. DANA BLUMBERG, 47.

The news was announced at the inaugural amfAR Gala Palm Beach event by fashion designer TOMMY HILFIGER. The couple were in attendance.

Sources told Page Six the proposal happened a few weeks ago.

Kraft and Blumberg have been dating since 2019.

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WEDDINGS

DAVID BAKHTIARI, 30, is married!

The Green Bay Packers offensive lineman and his fiancee, entrepreneur and foodie FRANKIE SHEBBY, 26, tied the knot Saturday near Santa Barbara.

The ceremony was officiated by Packers QB AARON RODGERS.

WORTH NOTING: Rodgers’ rumored ex-fiancee, actress SHAILENE WOODLEY, was spotted at his side after the ceremony.

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RYAN SHECKLER, 32, is married.

The pro skateboarder tied the knot with registered nurse ABIGAIL BALOUN, 25, on Thursday night.

The ceremony took place at the Rancho Las Lomas botanical gardens in Orange County, California.

The nuptials came only 90 days after the engagement.

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THE SWAMP

GET A LOAD OF THIS: The Biden Administration has reportedly sent negotiators to Venezuela to discuss buying their oil instead of Russia’s, as part of the ongoing international effort to strangle Russia’s economy.

WORTH ASKING: What are the chances that oil drilling operations in Venezuela, Russia, or even the Middle East follow the same environmental regulations as American companies?

WORTH NOTING: By purchasing internationally, the government has zero oversight to ensure that the oil is drilled efficiently and cleanly. Moreover, Canada certainly has an expansive regulatory state and a robust oil production infrastructure; it even shares a border with the United States. But because the Biden administration shut down the Keystone XL pipeline on its first day in office, cleanly, safely, and affordably getting those resources from a geographic neighbor is now impossible.

ALSO WORTH NOTING: Venezuela is second-to-last on the Cato Institute’s Human Freedom Index, right above Syria – and 39 places WORSE than Russia. While it’s certainly worth taking a stand against a Soviet autocrat seeking to rebuild the Soviet Union, buying Venezuelan oil to spite Vladimir Putin is shortsighted, especially when such resources are abundantly available domestically and through allied partners.

MEANWHILE: Brent Crude surged over the weekend, from around $110 a barrel to $130, a massive 15% jump.

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Senator LINDSEY GRAHAM tweeted on Saturday that he supports regime change in Russia, a stark departure from the official State Department stance.

“It is clear to me the world would be a better place if there was regime change in Russia. Putin is a war criminal who needs to go - at the hands of the Russian people - by any means possible,” he wrote.

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LOTTERY

No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tuesday night’s drawing will be for a $126 million jackpot or an $86.1 million cash payout.

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No winner for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $90 million jackpot or a $61.7 million cash payout.

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SHOWBIZ NEWS

SHARON and OZZY OSBOURNE are moving back to the UK.

The rocker told The Mirror that taxes are just too high in the US — specifically California where they live.

The couple have lived in Beverly Hills for 25 years.

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DRAKE is seeking court-ordered protection from an alleged stalker.

The rapper’s lawyer filed for a temporary restraining order last week from the 29-year-old woman who continuously shows up at his home, wishing death upon him.

According to the legal doc, the woman has also threatened Drake’s family.

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HILARIA BALDWIN is taking a social media break amid her husband’s wrongful death suit.

The yoga instructor gave her followers a heads up Friday, alerting them to her social media hiatus.

As many know, Hilaria’s husband ALEC BALDWIN is currently at the center of a lawsuit stemming from the death of “Rust” cinematographer HAYLYNA HUTCHINS.

SPEAKING OF THE SUIT: Alec says those with “deep pockets” are being sued over the tragedy, rather than those directly responsible.

WORTH ASKING: How is the person holding the gun that went off not responsible? Could a few gun safety classes have prevented this tragic event?

ALSO: Baldwin is a producer on the film, doesn’t some blame fall on him for that fact alone?

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MILA KUNIS and her husband ASHTON KUTCHER have launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

In just under 24 hours over $9.3 million was raised. The goal is $30 million.

WORTH NOTING: Kunis was born in Ukraine and came to the US with her parents when she was a small child.

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TARON EGERTON passed out on stage during the inaugural performance of his new play at the Ambassadors Theatre in London on Saturday night.

Following his collapse, the show was stopped and a doctor in the audience assisted the actor. According to The Independent, castmate JOEL HARPER JACKSON took over for the final 15 minutes of the show.

On Sunday, Egerton addressed the incident, telling fans that he is “completely fine,” other than a “sore neck and bruised ego.”

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CASTING CALL

DAMSON IDRIS will play sports agent RICH PAUL in an upcoming biopic.

The “Snowfall” actor revealed the news in an interview on The Breakfast Club, but did not share any other details about the role.

Paul reps LEBRON JAMES and has recently made headlines for dating singer ADELE.

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WILL SMITH and MICHEAL B. JORDAN are teaming up for an “I Am Legend” sequel.

According to Deadline, the pair will star in and co-produce the flick.

Smith starred in the original, which brought in more than $585 million worldwide, according to the outlet.

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ANGELINA JOLIE has signed a multi-year deal with production company Fremantle.

The 46-year-old actress spoke about the deal Friday, saying she is excited to be able to “have the freedom to tell important stories” and on an international level.

According to a press release, under the agreement, Jolie will develop “sophisticated, powerful and internationally focused” documentaries, original series and feature films. She will act as director, producer and star in some of the projects.

Financial details of the deal were not shared.

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MILO VENTIMIGLIA will star in and executive produce “The Company You Keep,” a new drama for ABC.

The show, based on the Korean series “My Fellow Citizens,” follows con man Charlie and undercover CIA officer Emma.

MEANWHILE: Ventimiglia’s current show “This Is Us” is ending with its sixth season, which is airing now on NBC.

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SARAH HYLAND, JAMEELA JAMIL and LERA ABOVA have joined the cast of Peacock’s TV spinoff “Pitch Perfect.”

They join previously announced ADAM DEVINE, who will reprise his role as Bumper Allen from the films.

The series is executive produced by ELIZABETH BANKS, who starred in and produced the films.

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ALESSANDRO NIVOLA has joined the cast of Marvel flick “Kraven the Hunter.”

It is unknown who he will play, other than the role being a villain in the film.

The flick stars AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON in the titular role.

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FOX has canceled the ballet comedy-drama “Big Leap” after only one season.

The 11-episode freshman run ended in December. It starred SCOTT FOLEY and SIMONE RECASNER.

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NBC will not be renewing “Ordinary Joe” for a second season.

The news comes a little over a month after the Season 1 finale.

The show, which starred JIMMY WOLK, ranked as one of the network’s lowest-rated dramas.

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CRIB NOTES

The home featured in TIM BURTON’s 1990 cult classic “Edward Scissorhands” has hit the market.

Located in Lutz, Florida, the three-bedroom, two-bath home has been stocked with memorabilia from the JOHNNY DEPP flick. All artifacts are included with the purchase of the home.

The owner is asking $700,000 for the pad.

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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK

Phoenix Mercury star BRITTNEY GRINER has been arrested in Russia on drug charges.

The New York Times reports that the WNBA player was busted at the Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow after the Russian Federal Customs Service found hashish oil vape cartridges in her luggage.

According to Russian news agency Interfax, the arrest occurred in early February, just after Griner arrived in the country.

A statement released by the Customs Service says a criminal case has been opened into the “large-scale transportation of drugs.” In Russia, a conviction on such charges carries a 5-10 year prison sentence.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken told the outlet that there is an embassy team working on the case. The Mercury, Griner’s agent and the WNBA also released statements on the matter, saying they are “closely monitoring the situation.”

Griner has played in Russia during the offseason since 2015.

WORTH ASKING: Why did it take almost a month for this to be reported?

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Disgraced producer HARVEY WEINSTEN was busted with contraband behind bars.

According to Variety, officers found Milk Duds in the convicted sex offender’s possession following a meeting with his attorney in November. Weinstein claimed that the candy traveled with him during his move from a NY prison to Los Angeles this past summer.

However, jail authorities searched Weinstein when he arrived in L.A. and there were no chocolate covered candies in his possession.

After being called out, Weinstein apologized for the “misunderstanding.”

As for why the infraction is coming out now, the outlet reports that records detailing the incident were only recently viewed.

No word on whether there was any sort of punishment handed down for the contraband.

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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS

GENE SIMMONS thinks KANYE WEST needs to back off when it comes to KIM KARDASHIAN and PETE DAVIDSON.

The KISS rocker told TMZ photogs that Ye needs to “get a hobby” and stop “obsessing” over his ex. He also suggested that perhaps a good “b**ch slap” could help him to move on.

When asked about Ye’s new girl, CHANEY JONES, Gene said that he thinks it's pretty “childish” of him to be hanging out with Kim-look-alike.

SPEAKING OF: Kim-sources told Page Six that she is “furious” over the music video in which Ye is burying Pete.

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KANYE WEST has taken up poetry.

The rapper penned and posted a poem titled “Divorce” over the weekend — in what fans are calling his most “calm” and “healthy” reaction to his split from KIM KARDASHIAN.

Here’s a sample:

“Divorce feels like full blown Covid…like your doctor don’t know s**t…like your [sic] walking on glass…like you’re running through a glass wall…like you’re being bullied in a class hall.”

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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS

Former royal correspondent Peter Hunt has accused the Royal Family of not being “flexible enough” when it came to PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE’s wants and needs.

Hunt told the Irish Times that The Firm “failed to understand what an asset they lost” when the couple moved to California — specifically Meghan being a “woman of color.”

He also referred to the lack of wiggle room as “a level of cruelty” that would not be acceptable toward any other family member.

Buckingham Palace had no comment when asked about Hunt’s comments.

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The Royal Family has a list of words they choose not to use.

Kate Fox, anthropologist and author of “Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour,” has identified these words.

Instead of “pardon,” royals say “sorry?” or “what?”
Instead of “posh,” royals say “smart” when describing a high-class person.
Royals do not use “perfume.” They instead put on their favorite “scent.”
There is no “lounge” in a royal household. Instead they use words such as “sitting room” or “drawing room.”
The royals call a “couch,” a “sofa.”
Royals will never say “toilet.” Instead they say “loo” or “lavatory.”

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SPORTS

MIKE “Coach K” KRZYZEWSKI coached his final home game for the Duke University Blue Devils on Saturday night.

Unfortunately Duke lost to the University of North Carolina Tarheels 94-81.

During his 42 years as Duke’s head coach, Krzyzewski led the team to five NCAA Tournament wins and 12 Final Four appearances. He also coached the US Men’s National Team several times, including when the team won gold at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

Per ESPN, he is considered one of the best college basketball coaches of all time, along with the late JOHN WOODEN.

WORTH NOTING: Tickets to the game were on par with the Super Bowl. According to ESPN, tickets for some of the best seats were sold for more than $50,000 each. The cheapest seats ran between $4,000 and $5,000.

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DAY OF THE YEAR

National Be Heard Day

National Cereal Day

National Crown of Roast Pork Day

National Flapjack Day

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ON THIS DATE

1876 - Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone.

Using electricity and magnetism, sound waves were captured, processed and replayed from speaker-to-listener across a distance. It wasn't until 3 days after Bell filed for the patent that he transmitted the first famous message: "Mr. Watson, come here, I need you."

Watson was Thomas Watson, a machine shop worker, who helped Bell develop the prototype.

His patent was filed just hours before a very similar invention by Elisha Gray, who had been commissioned by Western Union.

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1923 - Robert Frost's famous poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is first published in The New Republic magazine.

Frost himself was a failed farmer, but his poetry covered rural and agricultural themes.

Though he never graduated from college, he was bestowed with 44 honorary degrees and lectured at Harvard and Dartmouth, among other schools.

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1936 - Hitler marches Nazi troops into the Rhineland, violating historical treaties and making a bold land grab for his empire.

That territory was off-limits to any military following World War I. He spent two years building up Germany's armed forces, and began his invasion of Poland from the Rhineland 3 years later.

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1950 - The Soviet Union denies any connection to Klaus Fuchs, who had recently been convicted of spying on American and British atomic weapon plans.

Fuchs' interrogations helped uncover an extensive network of spies. He even pointed to David Greenglass as an informant, who had given up information to Julius Rosenberg.

Throughout Fuchs' trial the Soviets never owned up to having connection to Fuchs.

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1965 - Alabama state troopers and 600 protestors clash in Selma during “Bloody Sunday.”

One of the injured protestors is civil rights leader and future congressman John Lewis.

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1981 - Eighteen-year-old Mel Yorba is fatally stabbed by James O’Driscoll, 28, at Disneyland.

The stabbing occurred during an altercation that started after Yorba allegedly pinched O’Driscoll’s girlfriend’s butt.

It was the first ever homicide at the park.

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2010 - At the 82nd Academy Awards, Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first woman to win the best director trophy.

It came for her movie "The Hurt Locker," which told the story of an American bomb squad in Iraq.

She was only the 4th woman ever to be nominated for Best Director.

The film also took home best picture and best screenplay that year.

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2016 - Peyton Manning announces his retirement from the NFL.

During his 18 seasons in the league, Manning played for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

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2021 - Oprah Winfrey sits down for an interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The royal couple drop multiple bombshells during the chat, including Meghan feeling suicidal after being subject to racist treatment by the Royal Family.

Viewers' reactions were a mix of sympathy and disgust.

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BIRTHDAYS

Amanda Gorman - poet - 24

Thomas Hayes - actor, “Skam” - 25

Haley Lu Richardson - actress, “Ravenswood” & “Split” - 27

Brandon T. Jackson - actor, “Tropic Thunder” & “Tooth Fairy” - 38

Laura Prepon - actress, “That 70s Show” & “Orange Is The New Black” - 42

Jenna Fischer - actres, “The Office” - 48

Jolie Jenkins - actress, “Body of Proof” - 48

Rachel Weisz - actress, “The Mummy” & “Dream House” - 52

Joy Tanner - actress, “Life With Derek” - 56

Wanda Sykes - comedian - 58

Bryan Cranston - actor, “Breaking Bad” - 66

Janet Guthrie - first woman to race in Indie & Daytona 500 - 84

Born On This Date

Rik Mayall - actor, “The Young Ones” & “Drop Dead Fred” - 1958 (d. 2014)

John Heard - actor, “Home Alone” - 1946 (d. 2017)

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