The Daily Dose/March 20, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
THERE HE GOES A-READIN’ AGAIN: As sometimes happens, the headline caught our eye:
Bettman: Time Will Tell If Russia In 2028 World Cup
Translated, this means NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he wasn’t sure if Russia would compete in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, which is put on by the NHL and scheduled for February 2028 in both Canada and Czechia.
Dry, Technical Matter: Russian athletic teams have faced a variety of sanctions since their invasion of Ukraine, including at the recent Winter Olympics, where they competed under an independent athlete banner.
Fly In The Ointment: If Russia is sanctioned and not allowed to compete or host international athletic events, then how come the US is being allowed to host – along with Canada and Mexico – the World Cup later this year? It’s a valid question: our war with Iran is as useless, tragic, and illegal as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is (or Israel’s genocide in Gaza is, for that matter). Why should the US get off scott-free here?
Duh: Because a lot of money is at stake, that’s why. Because moving games would cause logistical headaches some would not want to tolerate. Because, as we’ve done since time immemorial, we humans will do what’s in our best interest: it is in a lot of people’s interest to see the World Cup go off as scheduled, the bombing of schoolgirls be damned.
The Bottom Line: Russian athletes can’t compete under their country’s flag, but the US can invade Iran and bomb schoolgirls and still host the World Cup this year. This makes no sense. If the sports world is serious about sanctioning countries who start useless and immoral wars, the US will have the World Cup taken away from them.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow, talking about a baby, gets off a pretty good line. Today’s Diary.
– “Any early signs of genius yet???”
Allie, who’s sitting on the other side of Molly, laffs, the type of laff that had she been drinking something would’ve resulted in a mess.
– “That’s a pretty good line Sparrow…No, tho…No early signs of genius.”
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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 2003 – The invasion of Iraq begins, with US, British, Polish, and Australian forces entering Iraq from Kuwait. The force met little resistance, with the capital of Baghdad taken on April 9. Though the purpose of the war was to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, none were ever found. The war was declared over on May 1, and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13 and executed in December 2006.
In 1968 – Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers becomes the first center in NBA history to lead the league in assists in a 137-119 win over the Baltimore Bullets. Chamberlain had twelve assists to finish the year with 702. Chamberlain also led the NBA in minutes played (3,836), field goal percentage (59.5%), free throws attempted (932), and rebounds (1,952).
In 1976 – Tom T Hall is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the only week with Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet). It was the 16th of 21 Top 10 country hits for Hall and his seventh and final #1. The song also went #2 country in Canada and was Billboard’s 13th-biggest country song of the year.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
But let no person say what they would or would not do, since we are not judges for ourselves until circumstances call us to act.
Abigail Adams
Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.
Municipal Arena in Kansas City has hosted the most NCAA Division I national championship games with seven.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What was Tom T Hall’s biggest hit on Billboard’s Hot 100? – Answer next time!
