Of Paul, Al, and 1,300 Others

Which was bigger news this week, Al Jefferson coming to Utah, or the release of a list of people who allegedly came to Utah illegally?

Ahh, though we might like to think there is more interest in public affairs than sports, 'tis not so. Even with all we have going on with health care reform, stimulus spending, and Arizona's immigration law, sports remains with the upper hand. Al Jefferson was a bigger story than the List.

But an entertainment story topped them both.


PAUL TOPS BIG NEWS WEEK

Never did the Beatles play in Utah, and never did Paul McCartney perform here, either, until in his advanced years he swung into town, playing at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, which happens to be in Utah Legislative District 41, to which I target my blogs, as I am running for that legislative position.


JEFFERSON JOINS JAZZ ALMOST TOP STORY

So, then, Al Jefferson's landing in Utah via a trade would be our top story if not for McCartney's concert. Al quickly won the hearts of the fans, or at least of the media.

The Jazz had suffered one-two punches in losing Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver (and Wesley Matthews was on the ropes, he having received an offer from Portland), but Utah general manager Kevin O'Connor struck back with a one-two series of his own, first bringing in Jefferson, then encoring by signing free agent Raja Bell. Whether Raja is too old is yet to be seen, but if he is the same Raja who last played here, he will prove a significant addition.


THE LIST TOP NEWS-SIDE STORY

Another case of racial profiling? With the nation already ablaze and abuzz over Arizona's law, now comes a list that may have been put together in part by selecting names that were Hispanic.

This quick-developing story opened with someone giving the news media and law enforcement agencies a list of about 1,300 people who purportedly are undocumented residents, demanding that they be deported immediately.

Governor Gary Herbert, in turn, demanded an investigation. And, about that quick, at least two state workers were escorted off their jobs at the Department of Workforce Services for compromising state data bases to compile the list. They will surely be charged with crimes more serious than that of being here in the country without license to be in the country.


BEDTIME TRUMPS REST OF NEWS

Alas. I thought to give you a more complete recap of the week's news. But it is late and I am tired. No review of the bank bill that was in Congress, no summation of Bob Bennett's staff workers being accused of taking influence-seeking loans from Countrywide Financial, no discussion of EnergySolutions dropping plans to bring in nuclear waste, no attempt to explain what the UTOPIA debate is all about, no attempt to get myself to understand the iPhone controversy, no dealing with how Harvey Unga (BYU running back) was drafted after the draft was over, and no explanation as why I didn't play the capping of the BP oil spill as the lead story.