I Dream of J.D. With the Unpublished Books

Nattering Naybob: First, my apologies to Stephen Foster about the title of this post. The Red Ranger, I know you are not much of a reader (not that there’s anything wrong with that necessarily), but you may have heard about a new documentary and companion biography that are being released next week about the near-mythic author J.D. Salinger, whose “Catcher In the Rye” is considered by many to be the quintessential story of 20th century teen angst and disillusionment (other than your own real-life experiences in these areas, Red Ranger).

Salinger was probably as famous for his self-imposed withdrawal from public life in the mid-Sixties, as he was for his actual body of work. During this period of seclusion he did not publish any new material whatsoever, despite rumors that he still was in fact secretly writing, with the intention of this work being published only after his death.

He died in January 2010. In the 3-1/2 years since then there has been no indication whatsoever of any such “hidden treasure” of new material, and Salinger fans such as myself had pretty much given up hope that this would ever happen.

However a story in the New York Times (and other media outlets) over the weekend reports that the upcoming book and documentary will reveal that Salinger did indeed finish at least five major works during his seclusion and has left specific publication instructions for their gradual release, starting in 2015. Some of the books’ titles have even been leaked (one such title is purportedly “The Last and Best of the Peter Pans”.)

Just as last year I considered the Yankees’ re-signing of Ichiro Suzuki as the Christmas present you no longer had to buy for me, Red Ranger, consider this spine-tingling announcement as a similar reprieve from your having to purchase a gift for me this coming Christmas. That alone should turn you into a Salinger fan.

The Red Ranger: I am glad to hear that I do not need to buy you a holiday (I want to be PC in keeping with the paradigm of your ilk) present again this year.  My guess is these books will be published and then there will be some battle amongst his heirs for the proceeds.

I am anxiously awaiting the release of some as yet unfound writings of my favorite author, Dr. Seuss.

Nattering Naybob: Thank you, Red Ranger, I’ve always wanted to be part of an “ilk”.

 

Suzy out of Favor, apparently

Nattering Naybob: Red Ranger, I believe you may have heard that the former women’s distance running star Suzy Favor Hamilton was discovered this past December to have begun a new career as a $600 an hour escort in Las Vegas. Yesterday the Big Ten removed her name from their Athlete of the Year award for each of the three years Favor Hamilton won it (1988 thru 1990).

I find the Big Ten’s decision completely outrageous. Apparently the decision comes from people who are themselves beyond moral reproach in every respect. How in the world can they negate an athlete’s accomplishments that took place roughly 25 years ago because of what she is now doing with her life? Favor Hamilton stated that choosing this lifestyle was in part a coping mechanism in response to “depression and other personal issues”.

Red Ranger, I know that during the nearly one year our little blog has been on cyberspace, you have demonstrated what I would call a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who displays human weakness of any kind, whether involving drugs, unemployment, or the management of their personal finances. So I am interested in your reaction to this story. Maybe you’ll surprise me. May I remind you in advance that prostitution would not be necessary if (frequently, married) men did not find it acceptable to hand over money to engage in an activity that is best conducted free-of-charge between consenting adults in a mutually respectful relationship, whether that relationship lasts one evening or 50 years.

The Red Ranger: One point of clarification, I think the award was named for Suzy Favor and they took her name off of it not that they took the award away from her.  However, I could be reading the story wrong.

I do not think I have shown zero tolerance, however, I do like to hold those in public positions to a higher standard.  In this case, I really do not consider Suzy Favor to be a public figure though.  She had her fifteen minutes of fame and I would doubt that if you asked 1,000 people on the street if more than one knew who she was.

In regard to this case I really do not consider it to be a big deal.  What she was doing was between two consenting adults.  It is not like she was holding a gun to these men and forcing them to have sex with her.  The Big Ten has Probably overreacted here.  I wonder if the award was named for some football or basketball player who was later arrested for domestic violence or DUI if the outcome would have been the same.

Being a married man I would not have any inclination to visit a prostitute but if a vote came up in regard to legalizing it, much to your surprise, I would probably favor it.  If the two people involved were consenting adults I really do not see the big problem.  I know the morality, etc. but that is something the two people involved would have to deal with themselves.  In addition, these services could be taxed and raise money to help pay down part of the trillions in debt that has been run up in the past few years.

Nattering Naybob: Just as we will be celebrating our wonderful nation’s independence tomorrow (my wife and I will be watching the corny but strangely hypnotic movie “1776” as we do every Fourth of July), I will also be celebrating your take on this subject (except for the part about the debt “that has been run up in the past few years”… make that past 12+ years, all post-Bill Clinton.)

You are right, I misunderstood the relation of her name to the award. Even so, I still feel that they should have left the award in her name. It is not a situation like Lance Armstrong’s, where the athletic accomplishments themselves were tainted by cheating during the actual competition. I think in retrospect it was probably a dumb idea for the Big Ten to have named the award after a specific person anyway.

Plus, Favor Hamilton engaged in an essentially victimless “crime”, if that is even what is should be referred to as. I believe working as an escort is legal in Las Vegas. I do not say this with any direct knowledge since I have never been to Las Vegas and the closest I have come to an escort is when the elderly crossing guard Mr. Labriola escorted me across 91st Street on my way to school when I was in first grade. He was a nice man but so old that midway across the street I wound up having to shield him from an oncoming truck. Have a happy Fourth of July, Red Ranger.

The Red Ranger: Having been to Vegas a number of times I know that prostitution itself is illegal in Las Vegas, Clark County but is legal outside of Clark County.  However, the strip is usually inundated with hawkers handing out pamphlets for escort services. They even have those little trucks with mini-billboards travelling up and down the strip advertising escort services.

“Like a tremendous machine”

Nattering Naybob: At last I believe I have come up with a topic that we both can agree on, and I dare you to inject any snide reference to Obama, Democrats, Liberalism, etc.

This Saturday marks the nominal 40th anniversary of Secretariat’s historical 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes, which also completed his Triple Crown victory that included the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. It is widely considered the greatest individual performance by a racehorse in the history of the sport, and many (not all) observers think that Secretariat is also the greatest racehorse who ever lived. Some even believe the 1973 Belmont Stakes performance to be the greatest athletic feat of the 20th century, but that opens up the old debate about whether an animal can rightly be considered an athlete.

After his win in the Derby and Preakness, many skeptics thought that Secretariat would not be able to compete as well in the longer mile-and-a-half distance of the Belmont. But not only did Secretariat win this race, he annihilated the competition. It was such an overwhelming victory that newspapers reported the next day that longtime, grizzled horse track veterans who were at the race, unabashedly wept as Secretariat crossed the finish line. Ron Turcotte, Secretariat’s jockey for all three Triple Crown races, barely had to use the whip during any of the three races, such was Secretariat’s dominance.

Here is a YouTube of the actual CBS broadcast of the race. This is mandatory viewing for anyone who loves sports. The actual race starts at the 4:10 mark of the video, but the whole clip bears watching as it includes the pre-race build-up, loading of the horses into the gate, etc. And at about the 5:40 mark, track announcer Chic Anderson gave us one of the most famous calls in horse racing history as the race began to develop into a romp: “Secretariat is widening now… he is moving like a tremendous machine!” I love it.

Note also how as Secretariat finishes the race, the camera has to manually pull backwards quite far, to get the also-rans in frame. Usually the camera captures all the runners-up with the same camera shot/position. This pretty graphically demonstrates how far ahead he was that day.

Incidentally, the horse that Secretariat ran neck and neck with for the first half mile or so, Sham, faded to last place in this race, but had finished second to Secretariat in the Derby and Preakness. In any other year, it might have been poor Sham that was racing for the Triple Crown.

The Red Ranger: Yes, this was a great performance.  It is hard to believe that it has been some 35 years since the last Triple Crown winner (Affirmed, in 1978).  Over that time I believe that they have actually made it easier to win the Triple Crown by extending the time between the Preakness and Belmont from two weeks to three but still the Triple Crown remains elusive.  Horse racing in general seems to be fading from the public interest.  There are just too many other distractions for people now.  Obviously, there are many more casinos than there was years ago and the internet sucks people’s time from being able to wager on the ponies.

There is one TV station, TVG, which allows you to bet online.  I used to have this station when I subscribed to Comcast but I do not have it now that I have switched to Verizon.  The way it works is that you open an account with them and then are able to bet on the races and watch them on TV.  I know that they showed races from the Meadowlands.  Here is a link to Secretariat’s harness racing counterpart.  We were probably at this race.

I honestly enjoy Harness racing more than thoroughbred racing although I do not follow either much anymore. Maybe when I am retired I will be some place near a track and can spend time watching the ponies again.

Nattering Naybob: Ah yes, the old days of hanging out at the Meadowlands Racetrack when it was still the place to be, and getting all excited at splitting.. what was it?… a $78, 6-8 Exacta featuring the immortal Kistime and Counsellor N. I wonder if there is some kind of searchable database that has the results of all the races at the Meadowlands, I bet the exact date of that glorious night could be found. Probably the greatest night of my teenage years, which probably sheds a lot of light on my teenage years.

The Red Ranger: There probably is some database somewhere with this information but I will leave that to you to find.

Nattering Naybob: Your two boys will need something to do this summer, maybe that could be their project. They could run some algorithms and get back to me with the results before Labor Day.

More Yankee talk: The good old bad old days

Nattering Naybob: Well it looks like the bloom is off the Red Sox rose. Now that the shock of the immediate aftermath of the horrible Boston Marathon bombings have started to subside, I feel it is no longer in poor taste to start bashing the Red Sox again.

 
As you know, The Red Ranger, I have a what some might call a morbid fascination with the profoundly mediocre Yankee teams of the mid to late-sixties, and early seventies. So imagine my joy when I discovered a YouTube video recently that contains a snippet of an actual broadcast (sadly, from the Boston station) of a beanball war that broke out in a Yankees – Red Sox night game in 1967 at the old Yankee Stadium, resulting in a fairly interesting fight instigated primarily by Joe Pepitone. I like how some of New York City’s finest (policeman), actually jogged out on the field as if it were a garden-variety rumble in the South Bronx and they had to separate the “purpa-tratuhhhs”. You would never see that in a baseball fight today. The two Yankee pitchers referenced in the clip were the immortal Thad Tillotsen and Bill Monboquette. Mickey Mantle played first base and you will see him make a nice across-the diamond throw to third base to nab an over-eager Red Sox baserunner.Notice my man Carl Yastrzemski making a nifty back-handed catch near the left field foul line and getting an RBI single (as noted in a previous SGM post, even though he was on the Red Sox, Yaz was my favorite player growing up). At 3:26 of the video you catch a glimpse of a Yankee third baseman wearing number 6, that is none other than Charley Smith, who the Yankees received from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Roger Maris the previous December. And the clip ends with Yankee manager Ralph Houk getting thrown out arguing a close play at first base.According to baseballreference.com (a truly miraculous website), this game took place on Wednesday June 21st 1967, before 13,061 fans and the Yankees lost 8-1. Not seen in the clip were such notable events as future Yankee coach and manager Dick Howser making a pinch-hitting appearance (he got hit by a pitch too) and Dooley Womack, one of the great mid-sixties Yankee icons, doing mop-up work on the mound. Notice also that batting helmets were not mandatory back in 1967; Reggie Smith bats wearing his regular “fielding” cap. After seeing the beanballs fly in this game, maybe Mr. Smith (Reggie, not Charley) re-considered his head gear choices. 

Yankee talk

The Red Ranger: The Red Ranger Family  is heading out to California in early August . I have already ordered tickets to see the Angels vs. the Blue Jays on August 4th.  Got a deal 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 small sodas for only $81.95.   I think that would get you a bleacher seat at Yankee Stadium.  We may also try to take in a Dodgers game if the timing works out.

I wish I had time to work in a trip to NY for a Yankee game.

Nattering Naybob: It would probably get you the bleacher seat that has the blocked view. They probably call it “discounted partial view” seating. See below image. Gives new meaning to the phrase “half game out”.

The Red Ranger: Not an inspiring start to the season yesterday for the Yankees.  They have a pretty weak lineup.  Remember the days when we used to go to opening day.  At least the weather was warmer yesterday.  I would not want to be sitting outside today.

I was actually down in New Jersey for a quick trip this past weekend for my fantasy baseball draft on Saturday.  Somehow I ended up with a lot of Cleveland Indians on my team (Nick Swisher is one of them).

Nattering Naybob: I watched the game yesterday on my computer at work and as usual, CC Sabathia gave up 4 runs in the early innings of a big game. By the time it was over, I think there were less than 5,000 people left in the stands. In his post-game press conference, Joe Girardi was asked about that and he said, “Well, I can understand parents wanting to get home early because it is a school night”. Excuse me?! The game got over about 4:30.

While admitting it is difficult to gauge this while watching TV, there was not the same buzz as in past years for Opening Day. About the only excitement in the pre-game activities was when Mariano Rivera was introduced. Somehow the promotion of the Yankee “brand” has sucked a lot of the genuine, old-fashioned excitement out of watching the Yankees. I agree with you, it was more exciting when we used to attend games back in the 1980’s and early 90’s even though the teams were not that good.

The Red Ranger: I wonder if we are just getting older and less excitable.  I hope there are a bunch of late 20 year-old folks who have the same level of excitement and anticipation that you and I used to have for opening day.  However, I tend to doubt that since I don’t think the younger generation has the same affinity for their local teams as we had.  Too much national coverage of sports events.  Kids can basically watch any team at any time whereas we only had the local teams to watch.

Wishing the Mayans were right

The Red Ranger: 12/21/12 has come and gone and we are all still here.  Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing considering the mess we are in.  As the fiscal cliff nears both sides seem adamant in their positions and there seems like there is little hope of a meaningful agreement before we go over the cliff.  This has to be the worst batch of  elected officials ever assembled.  Their inability to compromise is frustrating but not unexpected given that many of them come from the extremes of both parties.

I know how much you love Obama but it is time for him to step up and be the leader he needs to be.  He needs to lay a deal on the table that takes from both sides (tax increases for those making over $250k, Congress to maintain ability to control debt ceiling, meaningful spending cuts even to the military, etc.) .  By the way whatever happened to the great influx of funds we were promised with the ending of the Iraq war.  It seems like whatever we saved in the war was just spent somewhere else.  Obama needs to stop thinking that any resistance to his proposal is because of him.  This just goes to reinforce the inflated opinion he has of himself.  The resistance is due to the chasm between the philosophies at play.

I wonder when we reach the point of no return in all of these battles.  I have to think we are pretty close at this point given the growing debt, shrinking labor force, increased global temperature, etc.  There may be no turning back now.

It was great to see you and your wonderful wife again.  She is a saint for putting up with you.

Nattering Naybob: I too enjoyed meeting, along with my wife, you and your wonderful wife and two boys on Sunday for lunch in one of the many New Jersey diners that The Red Ranger no doubt misses after heartlessly leaving in the dark of the night for Massachusetts about 10 years ago, I think (correct me if I am wrong about the chronology). Your departure for Massachusetts reminded me of Robert Irsay’s notorious exodus from Baltimore to Indianapolis with a bunch of loaded moving vans at 2:00 in the morning.

I was honored to have bequeathed most of my remaining circa 1974 baseball card collection to your two sons, who I am sure will give them the proper respect that I did not, having squirreled them away in a dank storage unit all these years. And if you think my wife is a saint (she is), your bride must certainly be… well, I don’t know what the next level is after saint, but whatever it is, that’s her. To hear the lengths that she went to learn how to play golf while withstanding your withering attacks and ridicule, was an inspiration to me. As misguided as The Red Ranger is on most political issues of the day, you are to be congratulated on your excellent matrimonial choice and the expert way in which you (and your wife) are raising your two terrific sons.

The comparatively upbeat mood you seemed to be in on Sunday has soured considerably, perhaps due to the harsh reality of having to go back to work after the Christmas holiday (I don’t blame you, if that is the case). Your plaintive plea for the Mayan end-of-days prediction contains a lot to “unpack”, as they say these days, so let me try and respond and close the year as I spent the previous 360 days, helping you understand how wrong you are.

President Obama HAS been compromising. In case you did not hear about this, he increased the threshold at which the higher tax rates kick in from $250,000 to $400,000. And his budgetary proposals HAVE made significant cuts to defense spending. Did you not hear Mitt Romney (remember him?) whine about how Obama was endangering our security by his proposed cuts to defense? Romney, by the way, had pledged to RAISE defense spending to a level higher than even our current defense planners were asking for.

The Republicans have to accept the fact that Obama won the election, quite comfortably in fact, and as such is entitled to benefit from the time-honored maxim that “elections have consequences”. Mitt Romney ran on a platform of continuing to slash taxes for the rich and destroying the social safety net, and that platform was soundly rejected by the American people, DESPITE four years of non-stop personal attacks on Obama by most all Republican office-holders and commentators (those who did not choose to engage in this personal character assassination quickly became persona non grata in the GOP… see “Crist, Charlie”, “Huntsman, Jon”.)

Call me a cockeyed optimist but I still think there will be a last-minute Franco Harris / Tom Dempsey-like miracle finish and we will avert the fiscal cliff scenario. However I do also think it will be yet another stop-gap measure that will lead us into another year of non-stop debt ceiling debates that may impede Obama’s second-term agenda, which I imagine you view as a good thing.

The Red Ranger: I think that my wife was as excited about the baseball cards as the boys were.  One of the boys had inadvertently left a card out of the box after looking at them last night and she was quick to scold him that they need to be appropriately stored at all times.  I think I need to purchase some of those plastic card protectors to ensure the longevity of the cards.

The Republicans won their elections to the house so that has consequences also.  Obama needs to grow a set of them and stop acting like every time someone disagrees with his policies it is a personal attack on him.  Look at all the withering attacks Bush had to put up with for eight years.  Did he constantly complain?  No, he went out and did his job.  How well is up for debate but at least he tried.

Yes, I do view control over the indiscriminate raising of the debt ceiling as a good thing.  When is the raising of the debt ceiling (which Obama called unpatriotic when he was in the Senate) going to stop.

Ichiro under the Christmas Tree

Nattering Naybob: Don’t worry about doing any last-minute shopping to get me a Christmas gift, Red Ranger. I got my gift this past week courtesy of Brian Cashman and the Bronx Family Steinbrenner when the Yankees broke their vow to sign free agents exclusively to 1-year contracts, and brought back Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees for a 2-year contract that, barring injury, will see Ichiro get his 3,000th major league hit as a Yankee. I admit that I was never much of an Ichiro fan previously, but my mind was changed when he came over to the Yankees last year in mid-season. His work ethic and professionalism really impressed me, and word is that he and Derek Jeter struck up a fast friendship. If you get the Derek Jeter stamp of approval, that’s good enough for me.

Here is the classy statement Ichiro put out after news that the final details had been worked out and he was officially back with the Yankees:

“The Yankees are the kind of team that I always envisioned being a part of. Everyone in the world of competition has a strong desire to win, but the Yankees also have an atmosphere where losing is not an option. These two observations may sound similar, but I believe it is a rarity to find both coexisting in the same organization. I believe the Yankees organization appreciates that there is a difference between a 39-year-old who has played relying only on talent, and a 39-year-old who has prepared, practiced, and thought thoroughly through many experiences for their craft. I am very thankful, and I will do my best to deliver on their expectations.”

Check out this You Tube video of a very young-looking Ichiro actually pitching the final inning of the 1996 Japan League All-Star Game. The man can do it all. And notice that our old friend Hideki Matsui makes a cameo appearance….

Baseball incompetence in the Bronx

Nattering Naybob: I have been a fan of the New York Yankees for about 40 years now, Red Ranger (roughly the same time as you have been, I’m sure). In all these 40 odd years, including the dark days of the early 90s / Oscar Azocar Era,  I do not think I have ever seen anything quite like the sickly offensive output that the Yankees have been putting on this post-season, in particular during the first two games of their current series with the Detroit Tigers. The four biggest culprits are, in order of least work to most worst, in my opinion: Nick Swisher, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, and starring Robinson Cano as the biggest perpetrator of hitting malfeasance. Cano set a major league record that is sure to stand for a long time, as longest hitless streak (26 at bats) without a base hit, in a single same-year post-season.

But at least Cano is making contact, albeit resulting in weak ground balls directly at infielders. Granderson, A-Rod, and to a lesser degree Swisher, seems to have literally lost the ability to make contact with a pitched baseball by means of swinging a bat. All throughout this season we were told by Joe Girardi and others that there was no need to worry about the Yankees’ season-long ineptitude at situational hitting, since they were able to pummel their opponents with home runs (they set a team record for home runs in fact). Now during the playoffs, when they run into better, smarter teams, and their hitters’ weaknesses are pre-scouted more thoroughly by their opponents, some observer’s fears are being realized. The ability to hit home runs to remedy a multitude of sins does not come into play as much during the playoffs.

Maybe the Yankees will shock me and the rest of their fans by somehow, some way beating Justin Verlander Tuesday night, in Detroit no less. But the way things are looking, I sense yet another whimpering Yankees exit in the playoffs at the hand of a younger, more resourceful and nimble team than themselves.

At least your Giants beat the 49ers on Sunday.

The Red Ranger:  Live by the sword, die by the sword.  It takes heart and not just the highest payroll to win the World Series.  Lately, I do not believe the Yankees have the heart needed to drive for the championship.  Look who won it for them in the first round.  Raul Ibanez, someone who has not been with the Yankees that long and who is still hungry for the championship and for whom it probably matters whether they win or lose.  Not having Rivera and Jeter on the field will certainly diminish the experience factor but may lead to some more hungry play on the field.  Although Derek Jeter has time and time again come up with some incredible plays in the playoffs.

Nattering Naybob: Now yesterday comes a story from the New York Post (whose credibility in some issues over the years has, admittedly, proven to be “fluid”) saying that during Game 1 of the Tiger series, A-Rod was sending mash notes via a transcribed baseball to two ladies in the field box seats behind the Yankees dugout. Historically I have been an A-Rod supporter, some might say “apologist”, but if this story is true, I have to say it should represent the point of no return for A-Rod’s tenure with the Yankees. Unless he redeems himself for whatever is left of the Yankees’ playoff run, I think they need to engage in some sort of buyout of the remainder of his contract, or if all else fails, simply release him, swallow the rest of his contract (thanks, Hank Steinbrenner), and find a new third baseman for next year and beyond. I said last season that they should have tried out Jesus Montero at third base. If Miguel Cabrera can play third base serviceably, Montero could have as well. Too late though, as Montero was traded to Seattle this past winter for pitcher Michael Pineda, who has missed all season with a potentially career-threatening injury.

UPDATE: The Yankees lost Game 3 last night, 2-1 in a typically pathetic display of offensive malpractice. On a night where Justin Verlander actually did not have his 100% “A” game, the Yankees still managed only 2 hits until the 9th inning (by Ichiro Suzuki,who I think must be retained by the Yankees next year). Now the Yankees have to win four straight games with their offense in a shambles, to proceed in the American League playoffs. Pretty sad.

Teddy Roosevelt and Minaj v. Carey

Nattering Naybob: Two “trending” topics this past week on opposite ends of the spectrum demonstrate the schizophrenic nature of our popular culture. First, is the sickening spectacle of Nicki Minaj (who the NY Daily News referred to as ” a wig-wearing wacko rap superstar”) and Mariah Carey insulting each other on the set of American Idol, a show which I never liked or watched to begin with and is now sinking in the ratings. Here is part of Minaj’s part of the exchange:

“Don’t lose your head. Don’t tell me I’m a gangster! So every time you patronize me, I’m-a take it back, and you’ve got a f***ing problem, handle it!”

Equally revolting is the spin put forth by American Idol host and Executive Producer Ryan Seacrest. Referring to the feud, he said: “We want that! We want them to be on this panel together. This is a good team, a great team… the feedback that they give is very good.” Pathetic. This is obviously American Idol’s “jump the shark” moment and it couldn’t come too soon for yours truly (I might add that in the same edition of the Daily News is the headline, “Chris Brown and Rihanna caught ‘kissing’, disappearing into bathroom at NYC club”. Brown, you may recall, viciously beat up Rihanna about two years ago, and ever since has been “wooing” her back via various social media venues, apparently successfully. Brown also has been noted for his pickup line to women he meets in clubs and wants to “hook up” with: “Don’t worry, I won’t beat you”. To quote Peter Cushing in Star Wars, “Charming to the last”.)

Then on the other side of the spectrum is a story that redeems my faith in the human spirit and helps me forget the ridiculous self-indulgent diva-like behavior of the trailer trash glitterati that seems to dominate our popular culture. This is uplifting report of the Washington Nationals’ mascot of Teddy Roosevelt finally winning a race around the Washington Nationals playing field. For those unfamiliar with the back story, here is a Washington Post story that explains it all.

The TR mascot’s previous long reign of futility had inspired Facebook pages and even a Twitter feed. Before his win on Tuesday, he had been growing extremely desperate, to the point that he was disqualified in one race for commandeering a golf cart from the Nationals ground crew and racing that to the finish line, Rosie Ruiz-style. As absurd as this story may seem, I think it has been a refreshing, good-clean-fun respite from the garbage that forms so much of our “entertainment” these days. Not to mention that it may have even inspired a couple young (and older) fans to learn a little more about the real Theodore Roosevelt. Great stuff.

The Red Ranger: I have never really been a fan of American Idol and have only watched it on occasion when my boys watched it.  I think the only year that we actually watched a fair amount of the season was the season with Adam Lambert.  That being said I have to wonder how much of all of this is just staged to drum up the aforementioned sagging ratings.  I wonder what criteria they used to pick the judges.  Nicki Minaj certainly seems only minimally qualified to be a judge.  However, I think every other celebrity is a judge on some sort of talent show so I guess she was the last one available.

As far as Teddy Roosevelt they never should have let him suffer the indignity of losing for so long.  I think that he was being bullied by the other contestants.  This type of behavior should not have never been tolerated in today’s PC world  However, coming from the “do as I say and not as I do” environment of Washington, DC it is not surprising.

 

Round 1

The Red Ranger:  Romney romps in Round 1.  Pretty much a unanimous decision.  Even your comrades on MSNBC  so say except for Rev. Al of course

Next week Ryan will annihilate Biden.

I hope you can get some sleep tonight.  You may be waking up with nightmares given Obama’s dreadful performane.

Nattering Naybob: How about those Yankees, huh? Despite all their injuries and runners left on base all year, they still wound up with the AL East, best record in the American League, and home field in the AL playoffs.

Romney did OK too I guess. Don’t get cocky, my Republican friend..

The Red Ranger: Yes, it was great to see both the Yankees and Romney win last night

Did you see Chris Matthew’s meltdown on MSNBC last night?  I hope he does not consider himself a journalist.

Nattering Naybob: I am surprised that you are questioning the journalistic viability of Chris Matthews because he actually was very complimentary of Mitt Romney last night. He said that Mittens was the more organized and cogent candidate and that he tried to “win” the debate, as he should have. If the scenario were reversed, and it was Obama who had the unexpectedly strong performance, Fox News would be saying that it was because the moderator (JIm “no, no, your time is up, ah, OK, go ahead) Lehrer, was to blame. That is the key difference between MSNBC and Fox News

I too thought that Romney was the more “organized” candidate. Obama looked tired and distracted. I believe he will do much better in the next two debates. The recent history of the modern debate (since 1976), tells us that an incumbent president seeking a second term, often turns in a lackluster debate performance in the first debate (Reagan 1984, Bush Sr. 1992, and Bush Jr. in 2004).

I first thought it might be a long night for Obama as early as the end of the first segment when both candidates were talking over each, and when Jim Lehrer said they were already going past their allotted time, Romney said “It’s fun, isn’t it?” That typified Romney’s level of comfort last night; he seemed to exude a much more positive energy. However. I expect that this will be the “high water” mark for the Romney campaign, especially since the “substance” of Romney’s performance is now being vetted by the fact checkers, and much of what Romney said, is being proven to be almost comically incorrect, especially in terms of what Romney said he believes is and does not believe in. What I want to know is what in the world was going on during Obama’s debate prep, it seemed like he had no plan and not prepared for some of the charges directed towards him by Romney. Hopefully this will be a wake-up call for Obama.