Jay GreesonWe all are aware of the doctor who got bloodied when he would not leave the United Airlines flight earlier this week.
It became international news after he was one of four passengers randomly selected to be removed from an overbooked flight to make room for four United crew members who needed to get from Chicago to Louisville.
First, the involuntary removal of passengers from overbooked flights happens more often than most people realize. There were 46,000 passengers removed from planes in 2015, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Transportation records.
That said, with the millions and millions of Americans flying, that's a very small fraction.
Second, United offered $800 to anyone willing to give up their seat on that flight. (Psssttt. United, here's a tip. Considering the millions you lost in P.R. and the potential billions at stake in your stock, do you really think $800 was the top price to offer? Think big picture. Double that price and we'd bet five people would have jumped off that plane, whether it was on the ground or in the air.)
Finally, though, and this made me laugh.
After the image nightmare and United's long week, former Baylor School star football player Jacques McClendon posted this to social media Thursday:
"I see this @united flight is full I'm on right now. I bet you all won't come after seat 6A though."
Yep, we concur with Jacques, who once owned the University of Tennessee bench press record before spending a few years on an offensive line in the NFL. We'd bet protocol could be changed, and the guards in the aisle would want to draw again.
Unsavory situation
Oh my. Here we go again.
A couple of student groups on the campus of Duquesne University are worried the proposed move to have a Chick-fil-A on campus will violate their safe space.
Again, oh my.
The student concerns are about the great chicken sandwich chain's view on traditional marriage.
Here's an idea. If you don't agree with a company, don't purchase its product.
Never mind the fact the university picked the popular chain at an overwhelming request of the student body.
Are they concerned that Chick-fil-A may be selling Hate Chicken? Are we in a place that a family-owned business can't embrace its version of family values?
Maybe so. And that's sad.
But amid all the hubbub, we know this: The only way anyone doesn't want a Chick-fil-A within driving distance is if you have never had a Chick-fil-A sandwich.
Yep, it's that good.
Budget, say what?
First and foremost, major congrats to TFP education reporter Kendi Rainwater, who in the last week was recognized as the journalist of the year by the Tennessee Associated Press.
She reported that at Thursday's finance committee meeting the Hamilton County Board of Education is on the cusp of approving a request for an extra $33.5 million in revenue, with a chunk of that going to giving teachers a 5 percent raise.
Say what?
Hey, we are going to have plenty of time to debate and discuss the budgets of the county commission and school board. But this seems silly.
Gang, testing scores aren't all that great. Hey, if we are going to have a certain amount to offer raises and bonuses to the truly excellent educators, great.
Reward the hundreds of teachers who truly deserve a raise rather than sprinkling a uniform, across-the-board reward to the entire group.
And if the union doesn't like that, well, that's another kettle of fish.
Saturday's star
Kudos, Keri Randolph.
For those of you who may have missed it, Randolph was one of 24 educators across the country picked to be a part of the prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Education Doctorate of Education Leadership program.
"I am both humbled and excited about the opportunity to work with some of the nation's best minds in education, public policy and business," Randolph said in a statement.
The only bad news here is that Randolph's noteworthy talents and skills will no longer be at Bonny Oaks.
Who knows, maybe in three years she could return and share what's she's learned. And maybe by then we can have leadership able to identify the really talented folks among us.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.