Oakland / Philadelphia / K.C. Athletics Quiz (1901-2001): 1)
What manager is #2 in wins to Connie Mack? 2) Who is the
single season RBI leader? 3) Who threw a no-hitter in 1983 but
was 9-13 for his career? 4) Career HR leader? 5) Career wins?
[Hint: This guy threw early, like in the early 1900s] 6) Who is
the career leader in hits? If you get this, you know your A’s.
Answers below.
Slovenia
So here I am, 12 hours on the ground in Ljubljana, the capital of
this relatively new nation of just 1.9 million, 325,000 of which
live here. First off, once you get past the incredibly drab
entrance to the town, what with all of the ugly high-rise
apartment blocks left over from the communist days of Tito, the
center is quaint and vibrant. Actually, it’s pretty damn cool.
Plus, Ljubljana is a university town, with at least 20,000 college
students; so ask me if I now wish I was 20 years younger and
could speak Slovene?! I’ve already parked myself for a few
Staropramen lagers, with the river running through the middle of
“Old Town”, the cafes lined up on both sides, the weather
gorgeous…it just doesn’t get any better than this.
But I’m going to force a little Slovenian history down your
throats. If you followed the Winter Olympics, you should recall
that Slovenia had quite a performer, capturing mega medals (but
I’ll be damned if I remember his name), the point being this is a
little paradise with Alps and rolling hills.
Following World War II, Tito formed a communist federal
republic, including the province of Slovenia. Now Slovenia had
other thoughts, but its rights to self-determination and autonomy
were not to be.
For his part, Tito was at least able to distance himself from
Stalin and the Soviet Union, as early as 1948, and, while risking
invasion, he created his own communist state, with the usual
arrests and show trials, but at least no borscht.
Isolated from the Soviet bloc, though, Tito was forced to look to
the West, and he introduced some facets of a market economy,
while Slovenia was reforming its own even more so, along with
relaxed police and border controls.
But by 1971-72, Tito began to think things were going too far
and he purged the reformists in government, while at the same
time a new constitution gave the Yugoslav republics more
autonomy, including in 1974 the ethnic Albanian province of
Kosovo.
At the time of Tito’s death in 1980, Slovenia was the most
advanced of the republics and by the late 1980s, a reform
movement began to press its demands. The Slovenian communist
leader didn’t oppose them and the central government in Belgrade,
now headed up by that dirtball of the late 20th century, Slobodan
Milosevic, was none too pleased.
In 1988 Milosevic put three Slovenian journalists on trial and the
people erupted with mass demonstrations. By the fall of that
year, Milosevic also scrapped the autonomy of Kosovo, so now
Slovenes feared the same would happen to them.
Then in the spring of 1989, the reformers demanded a sovereign
state based on democracy and respect for human rights.
Milosevic threatened to hold a “meeting of truth” in Ljubljana to
find out Slovenia’s true intentions. Slovenia said, “Yoh, Slobo,
up yours!” and banned the conference.
Well, you can imagine Slobo wasn’t a happy camper, so all the
other republics, except Croatia, announced an economic boycott
against Slovenia. Then in April 1990, the little republic that
could held an election and shed 45 years of communist rule. The
former popular head of the Communist Party was chosen to be
president of a new Party of Democratic Renewal.
On December 23, 1990, the next step was taken as 88% of
Slovenes voted for total independence. Slobo raided the
Yugoslav treasury and misappropriated all of Slovenia’s funds
(as you’d expect), but, Slovenia was more than prepared, having
begun to stockpile weapons.
On June 25, 1991, they pulled out of the federation for good.
President Kucan told the crowd in Ljubljana, “This evening
dreams are allowed. Tomorrow is a new day.” [Not to be corny
about it, folks, but in America we take this stuff for granted.]
Two days later the Yugoslav army began marching on Slovenia
but met fierce resistance. This was Slobo’s first of many
disastrous moves. Slovenia beat back the far superior Yugoslav
army in just ten days. Belgrade was shocked at the resistance
thrown off by the Slovenes (these guys are tough, I can see that
after being here just a few hours). The European Community
then brokered a truce between the two sides as Slovenia asserted
its formal independence. Only 66 people lost their lives in the
war, as Belgrade announced it would withdraw its forces from
Slovenian soil. Suck it up, Slobo. [Of course, duly pissed, the
dirtball then went on to Bosnia and Kosovo, where he lost again.]
And now you know way more than you ever wanted to about
Slovenia. But, heck, it’s an amazing story. These folks are
going places…and they even made the World Cup.
The Language
Yeah, right about now you’re thinking, hey, editor, this is
Bar Chat? Oh, if you only knew the computer problems I had
the other day, you’d forgive me.
OK. Let’s learn Slovene together.
“Hello” – Dober Dan. [This is the polite form. After I’ve had 7
beers, I’m switching to the less formal “Zivijo.”]
“I’m from Kazakhstan” – Sem iz Kazakhstan.
“I want to go to Bled” – No, no…don’t worry. That’s Bled, not
bed. I really am going in a few days to the town of Bled. – Rad
bi sel v Bled.
“Where does the bus leave from?” – Od kje pelje avtobusa.
“I just missed my bus!” – @#$#% $%#@ #$%@sa.
“I’d like to hire a horse” – Rad bi najel konja. [Of course I’m
deathly afraid of horses and would never do this, especially
taking one over the Alps.]
“Where is the toilet?” – Kje je stranisce? [After 9 beers.]
“I want to change church’s” – Rad bi zamenjal cerkev. [Just a
little church humor here.]
Beer is ‘pivo’. The big brew in town is Union, which I’m trying
as soon as I wrap this up, if you don’t mind.
Lastly, the top phrase for the week, “I’m thirsty” – Zejen sem.
Stuff
–Claudia Schiffer was all over the society pages the other day
because the German supermodel was booed when she emerged
for her English country wedding in Shimpley (a small village in
eastern England) covered in blankets to prevent the media and
onlookers (300 villagers) from seeing her bridal gown. What a
(fill in the blank). Previously she was engaged to David
Copperfield, but she fell for the new guy, film producer Matthew
Vaughn, when he presented her with a tortoise. Clearly, this has
been my problem. I present women with yaks.
–So I was thinking about how beautiful Turkish women are
when I arrived back in Istanbul for my second go ‘round following
a few days in Ankara. I stayed at a spectacular place (a treat
to myself), the Ciragan Palace Kempinski (where JFK Jr. had his
honeymoon), when my room bell rings. It’s Miss Turkey (well,
she could have been), presenting me with my personal stationary!
I don’t know about you, but normally I’m at Motel Six and they
don’t have personal stationary. By the way, ironically, the Miss
Turkey 2002 pageant was on TV that very evening. I stayed up
until 12:00, trying to figure out the judging, but passed out
long before it was over.
–Now I realize this was a big story back in the States, but the
Turkish paper’s headline read: “New Wonder Drug Cialis Beats
Viagra’s Erection Record By 24 Hours.” Huh. Eli Lilly,
the manufacturer, tested 348 men, 59% of whom reported
positive effects in their ability to have sex after 36 hours.
Goodness, gracious.
–When Turkish troops landed in South Korea to fight in the
Korean War, they refused to eat U.S. military rations, most of
which included pork – forbidden in Islam. They also didn’t like
dog meat, I guess. So, taking no chances for the World Cup, and
having their matches in South Korea, Turkey transported 1,100
lbs. of food with them, including “374 lbs. of feta cheese and
cheddar”…just in case you were wondering.
First Top Ten Song Quiz Answers:
From last Tuesday. The following represents the first Billboard
Top Ten for each group:
Abba – Waterloo (peaked at #6, 6/74)
Aerosmith – Dream On (#6, 2/76)
America – A Horse With No Name (#1, 3/2)
The Association – Along Comes Mary (#7, 6/66)
The Beach Boys – Surfin’ USA (#3, 4/63)
The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand (#1, 1/64)
Bee Gees – I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You (#8, 9/68)
Bread – Make It With You (7/70, #1)
Carpenters – (They Long To Be) Close To You (#1, 6/70)
Chicago – Make Me Smile (#9, 4/70)
Dave Clark Five – Glad All Over (#6, 3/64)
Petula Clark – Downtown (#1, 1/65)
Commodores – Sweet Love (#5, 2/76)
John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads (#2, 6/71)
Neil Diamond – Cherry, Cherry (#6, 9/66)
Dion – A Teenager In Love (#5, 4/59)
The Drifters – There Goes My Baby (#2, 6/59)
Eagles – Witchy Woman (#9, 9/72)
Earth Wind & Fire – (#1, 3/75)
Top 3 songs for the week of 6/1/68: #1 “Mrs. Robinson” (Simon
& Garfunkel) #2 “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” (Hugo
Montenegro…wahh wahh wahhhh) #3 “A Beautiful Morning”
(The Rascals)
Oakland A’s Quiz Answers: 1) #2 in wins, managing, is Tony
LaRussa, 798-673 (1986-95). 2) Single season RBI: Jimmie
Foxx, 169 (1932). 3) Mike Warren threw a no-hitter in 1983,
otherwise, he sucked. 4) Career HR: Mark McGwire, 363; Foxx,
302; Reggie Jackson, 269. 5) Career wins: Eddie Plank, 284
(1901-1917). For his overall career he was 325-193. 6) Career
hits: Bert Campaneris – 1,882; Al Simmons – 1,827; Rickey
Henderson – 1,768. [If you got this one, I’m buying.]
Next Bar Chat, Tuesday. That is, if I make it, because I think my
cholesterol on this trip has ballooned up to 605.
