*I wasn’t going to do a chat until Sunday but had a little time to clear the table on some matters, and before the power goes out (it went out Monday for 4 ½ hours here in northern New Jersey).
Baseball Quiz: Roy Halladay pitched his 7th complete game of the season on Monday for the Phillies, the most in baseball. In 2008 and 2009, he had a majors-leading 9 for Toronto. 1) Who was the last hurler in either league to have double figures in complete games? [Hint: 1999] 2) Who was the last to throw 20 complete games? [Hint: National League] 3) Who was the last to have 30 in a single season? [Hint: 1975] Answers below.
Ranking the Presidents
Every eight years, the Siena College Research Institute’s Survey of U.S. presidents is released after polling 238 participating presidential scholars, and I know I’m not the only one who eats this stuff up. So here we go.
[Ranked on attributes such as background (family, education), party leadership, communication ability, relationship with Congress, court appointments, handling of U.S. economy, luck, ability to compromise, willing to take risks, executive appointments, overall ability, imagination, integrity, etc.]
1. FDR
2. T.R.
3. Lincoln
4. Washington
5. Jefferson
6. Madison
7. Monroe
8. Wilson…I’ve never understood his high ranking…guess I need to go back to school
9. Truman…Should be No. 6
10. Eisenhower…We love Ike!
11. JFK…No problem with this
12. Polk…My man!
13. Clinton…Huh? Should be between 24 and 28
14. Jackson
15. Obama…Nooooo! [But fret not, my fellow elephants. There’s an explanation below.]
16. LBJ
17. John Adams
18. Reagan…Should be No. 11…I have a big-time problem with Monroe and his recent ascent
19. John Quincy Adams
20. Cleveland
21. McKinley
22. G.H. Bush
23. Van Buren
24. Taft
25. Arthur…I know incredibly little about both Arthur and Van Buren
26. Grant…Don’t worry, Ulysses…before I’m dead I’ll get you to No. 20!
27. Garfield
28. Ford
29. Coolidge…should be a bit higher
30. Nixon…Pssst…he should be higher, too
31. Hayes
32. Carter…Outrageous he’s even this high
33. Taylor
34. B. Harrison
35. W. Harrison…William Safire once famously mixed up these two, as will I until I breathe my last breath [Death watch…another free feature of Bar Chat]
36. Hoover
37. Tyler
38. Fillmore
39. G.W. Bush
40. Pierce
41. Harding
42. Buchanan…Truly, truly sucked
43. Andrew Johnson
Back in 1982, the same survey had the following top ten:
1. FDR
2. Jefferson
3. Lincoln
4. Washington
5. T.R.
6. Wilson
7. Truman
8. Kennedy
9. Madison
10. J. Adams
Eisenhower entered the top ten in 1994 at No. 8. But as an esteemed colleague and friend, Ken P., said, he just has a problem with any survey that doesn’t have Lincoln No. 1. I agree. Lincoln, FDR, and Washington…that’s my top three and I’m sticking to it. I just wonder if our young people these days give a damn about any of this.
As for Obama, I just don’t believe you should be able to rank a president before at least half his term is over and if by yearend the economy hasn’t improved, Obama deserves to be ranked in the 30s, along with George W., who, by the way, in 2002, just one year into office, entered the survey at No. 23, so if you don’t like the current occupant of the White House, don’t lose sleep over his initial high ranking.
OK, this is more political than Bar Chat is intended to be, but a few other tidbits.
On the issue of “Communication Ability,” the top five are:
1. FDR
2. Lincoln
3. T.R.
4. JFK
5. Reagan
1. Lincoln
2. Washington
3. John Adams
4. J.Q. Adams…need to bone up on him
5. Madison
41. Clinton
43. Nixon
1. FDR
2. Monroe
3. Washington
1. Jefferson
2. Madison
3. Lincoln
4. Wilson
5. J.Q. Adams
41. A. Johnson
42. G.W. Bush…Doh!
43. Harding
Reagan gets an 8 for “Leadership Ability,” but a 36 for “Intelligence;” just further proof on how divided the scholars are on him.
LBJ, by the way, is No. 1 in the “Relationship with Congress” category. Yeah, as in if he wasn’t getting his way, he jacked them up against the wall! Whatever it takes, I always say. [Actually, I don’t know when I last said this.] LBJ also gets a high No. 5 for his “Court Appointments.”
So during the All-Star break, take the above to your favorite tavern and discuss it with the bartender. Then again, if the kid is younger than 25, you’d get a blank stare, as you would if you brought this up with a Hooters waitress, but I digress….
World Cup…Netherlands into the Final
Congratulations to Holland and their phenomenally gorgeous girlfriends and spouses of the Dutch team members as they rolled to an exciting 3-2 win over Uruguay. After a very dull start, the World Cup has really picked it up and any sports fan had to like the majority of the games. But depending on my flight and long drive from New Orleans to Orange Beach, Alabama on Wednesday, I may miss the other semi between Germany and Spain.
[Warning…the following is not for children under 13…kids need to go outside and play for a minute or two.]
Guys, did you see Anna Kournikova at Wimbledon as she played in some kind of celebrity deal? My, it was great seeing her again, the Laura Baugh of tennis (neither of whom won anything but were very pleasing to the eye).
“Russian spy babe’s hot affair: Anna Chapman was kinky and ‘great in bed,’ says ex husband Alex”
“She may have been a true Cold Warrior, but Anna Chapman is red-hot in the sheets.
“The flame-haired Russian hottie accused of being a deep-cover mole in the U.S. was a wild woman in the sack, her ex-hubby says.”
Where else can you see a serious discussion of the presidents and sex chat in the same column? Bar Chat continuuuuessss….
“ ‘Anya was great in bed and she knew exactly what to do,’ said Alex Chapman, who married the then-Anya Kuschenko [Ed. God I love that name] in 2002. ‘The sex was great and she had this incredible body.’”
So like these two met at a rave in England in 2001 and immediately fell in love.
“They began a torrid affair, which Alex Chapman says quickly veered into kinky territory.
“The randy Russian had a penchant for whips [Ed. Kids, get back outside!] and nipple clamps [Good gawd!] and once joined him in a mile-high sex romp aboard a Moscow-bound flight, he said. [Ed. Never happened to me on a Moscow-bound flight…I’m just sayin’.]
“ ‘I found her Russian accent such a turn-on,’ said the 30-year-old psychologist trainee. ‘We were having so much fun. We also experimented with [Ed. I can’t go here without losing my International Web Site Association license. Remember…always look for the IWSA label for your assurance of Web site quality.]”
Chapman admitted that her father was a senior KGB agent.
“ ‘Her dad was scary. He was very concerned about which direction my life was going, how I was going to ‘earn my money,’’ Chapman told London’s Daily Telegraph.”
[Ed. Girls ask me all the time how I’m going to ‘earn my money.’ To which I reply…magic tricks. I like magic.]
“Spy vixen’s kinky sex secrets exposed”
“Ravishing redhead ‘spy’ Anna Chapman is a sizzling Russian undressing in stunning topless photos shot by her ex-hubby. [Ed. You have to find them on your own.]
“Alex Chapman, who was married to the undercover – and uncovered – spy for four years, says she loved to pose nude and had a libido worthy of a James Bond femme fatale….
“ ‘She knew exactly what to do. She was awesome,’ he said of his ex… ‘For the first few months, we met for sex about five days a week. We loved it.’”
Geezuz. I….well, that’s all for now, folks. You can unlock the door and let the kids back into the house. It’s hot after all. Guys, you can go take a….
Sporting News’ Preseason College Football Poll
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Boise State
4. Miami
5. Florida
6. TCU
7. Nebraska
8. Wisconsin
9. Texas
10. Oklahoma
11. Oregon…they will be fascinating to follow after all their post-season problems
16. USC
19. Pitt
23. North Carolina
28. UConn
29. Notre Dame
32. Penn State
34. Boston College
37. Navy
44. Rutgers
54. North Carolina State
70. Duke
79. Army
84. Florida International
86. Wake Forest…..Noooooooo!!!!
89. Maryland
117. North Texas
118. Eastern Michigan
119. Western Kentucky
120. Tulane…who cares…go down and have a blast
But what a long, long season it is going to be for us Deacon fans.
Knicks Nab Amare
Never have we been so brainwashed to give a [hoot] about the NBA, even during the season, as we have with this year’s free agent crop. The Knicks got a solid power forward in Amare (yeah, he spells it Amar’e, which is just stupid, kind of like Dwyane, so I refuse to go along) Stoudemire. Stoudemire has averaged 21 points and 9 rebounds, and is an All-Star, so it helps the Knicks hold on to a few of their fans, maybe 45. But he’s getting $99.7 million for five years! It’s just sick. And it’s not as if Stoudemire hasn’t had injury issues in the past.
But will Stoudemire’s arrival lead to King James joining him in Gotham? Initially, LeBron was going to make his decision on July 5, but as I go to post, Tuesday evening, it appears it’s Wednesday.
Custer’s Last Stand
“Lt. Col. George Custer and the men of his 7th Cavalry Regiment went into the Battle of the Little Bighorn with flags flying, but they were wiped out [Ed. 210 dead white folk], and nearly all their military artifacts were carried away by the victorious Lakota Sioux warriors.
“A single swallowtail flag was found days later under the body of a fallen soldier. [Ed. Never knew this, even though I’ve been here a bunch of times.]
“Since 1895, the silk American flag, called a guidon, has been the property of the Detroit Institute of Arts, which has decided to sell it and use the proceeds to build its collection.
“The guidon, discovered by Sgt. Ferdinand Culbertson while on a burial detail at the battlefield, has been valued at $2 million to $5 million and will be sold at auction in October, Sotheby’s auction house announced June 25, the 134th anniversary of the battle….
“The guidon measures 32 ½ inches by 26 ½ inches. One star and a patch of the white and red stripes are missing, cut from it as souvenirs – a common 19th-century practice, Sotheby’s said.
“ ‘It means the flag was considered a sacred relic,’ said David Redden, Sotheby’s vice chairman.
“The 7th Cavalry had five guidons and one regiment flag. Three of the guidons have vanished, and the fourth, known as the Keogh guidon, is in very poor condition, eaten by moths, Redden said.
“Company guidons at Little Bighorn were abbreviated versions of the American flag, said John Doerner, historian at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency.
“He called the guidon Culbertson found a ‘national treasure.’
“ ‘It would be nice to have that guidon returned to the Little Bighorn Battlefield Monument. It could be enjoyed by the public coming to this very hallowed ground.’”
Gonzalez Arrested!
My brother, Harry, is editor of The Item of Millburn and Short Hills, which first broke this story:
“Former Seton Hall University basketball coach Bobby Gonzalez was arrested by Millburn police yesterday and charged with shoplifting.
“The arrest of the former head coach came about following an investigation into damaged property at the Polo Ralph Lauren store at The Mall at Short Hills.”
It’s complicated, but a week after the incident (June 29), Gonzalez responded to police headquarters on July 5, “where he was arrested and charged with shoplifting (merchandise valued at $1,395) and criminal mischief.”
Arizona Diamondbacks
Local resident Shu pointed out that the D’Backs are fanning at an alarming rate. Get this.
Thru Monday’s action, Arizona batters have struck out 773 times. Next on the list, in the entire majors? Florida with 657. Eegads! Shu, your boys have to do better than that! Then again, you do have that pool in the outfield and some really fine [kids…get back outside…]
Tiger’s 79
Yes, it was only a pro-am, but on Monday, Tiger Woods, probably a bit jet lagged, shot a 79 at Adare Manor Golf Resort in Ireland; Tiger having finished tied for 46th at the AT&T on Sunday. The British Open, which starts on July 15 from St. Andrews, will be fascinating.
[Tiger had a 69 in Tuesday’s round…then high-tailed it back to Florida instead of staying in Ireland or Scotland to prepare for the Open.]
Bob Probert, RIP
The former NHL enforcer, who racked up 3,300 penalty minutes over a 16-year career with Chicago and Detroit, was just 45 when he developed severe chest pains while boating with his wife, children and in-laws on Lake St. Clair, Ontario. The Blackhawks had honored him in Feb. 2009 with a night.
JaMarcus Russell, Idiot
Some of us have been wondering why the New York Jets would be interested in the former Raiders quarterback to backup Mark Sanchez; as in some of us think the team is nuts, but we don’t have to worry about that anymore, I’m guessin’, because Russell was charged with possession of a controlled substance – codeine syrup – after being arrested at his home in Alabama as part of an undercover narcotics investigation.
Russell is one of the all-time NFL draft busts. The No. 1 pick in 2007, his three years with Oakland were a disaster and the Raiders paid him $36 million over that time!!! Since the start of the common draft in 1967, only one other No. 1 pick was released this quickly in their career, according to Yahoo Sports, that being Steve Emtman of Indianapolis after three years, though with him it was more because of injuries than anything else.
Box Jellyfish
So I was talking to one of my fraternity brothers, Dr. Norm, the other day about Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, which he’s been to and I hope to visit later this year, and he says, “You know what kills more people than anything at the Reef?” Understand Stormin’ Normin’ is a casual reader and hadn’t perused my recent chat so he didn’t realize I was about to ace the quiz. “The box jellyfish!” Ding ding ding! Yup. It’s true. Norm is 42 times the outdoorsman I am (he parasails all over the world, plus he just played in a rugby tournament in Berlin) though said he’s scared to death to go into the water at the Great Barrier Reef because of the thumbnail size box jelly, along with the other deadly creatures in the water there. So we agreed I should just drink premium from the comfort of a boat, which I have to admit I’m quite good at.
“A youth was gored to death during a running of the bulls at a festival in a small north-central Spanish town over the weekend, Spain’s Interior Ministry says.”
A 19-year-old “died instantly on Saturday after being gored in the chest [yikes] in the town of Fuentesauco during a pre-dawn bull run held as part of the town’s annual festival.”
Of course the running of the bulls in Pamplona was today, Tuesday, and 13 were injured, though none killed. [14 have died since they started keeping an official tally in 1924. To be accurate, though, an Irish soldier died today near the site but it was unrelated to the festival.]
Prejean Ties the Knot
Former Miss California Carrie Prejean took her fake boobs to the altar, marrying Oakland QB Kyle Boller. But this is what got me.
“Among the guests were Gateway computer founder Ted Waitt (the guy with the goofy pony tail…only the Najarian brothers can pull it off), Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Matt Nordgren.”
Matt Nordgren? Who the hell is Matt Nordgren? I mean I know enough to be dangerous on everything from James Polk to former Met Danny Napoleon, but Matt Nordgren? I can’t keep up with everything.
So I went to pro-footballreference.com and this guy never threw a pass in the NFL. So why is he then called a former Eagles quarterback? I’m sorry, maybe you were on a roster, but just as in baseball, until you throw one pitch or have one at bat, or throw one pass, you ain’t no pro football quarterback worthy of mention in the historic Prejean/Boller hookup.
[Just had to vent. I hope Mr. and Mrs. Boller enjoyed the reception and Mr. Nordgren’s presence.]
You know if I had to pick my favorite musical acts, since I’m a 60s fan I go with the usual; Beatles, Beach Boys, Dave Clark Five, Four Seasons…but in a class by themselves, from any era, is Earth, Wind & Fire. So I loved this review in USA TODAY of EWF’s appearance at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.
“Even after four decades in the business, Earth, Wind & Fire probably has never confronted a challenge quite like the one that presented itself on Sunday, the closing night of the 16th Essence Music Festival. At every previous fest, closing rights went to Frankie Beverly & Maze, and several rituals, from a mass electric slide to fans dressing in solid white, had developed around the beloved R&B veteran’s set. This year, fest organizers didn’t invite Beverly and company, and the coveted slot was given to Rock and Roll Hall of Famers EW&F.
“If there was any trepidation among the capacity audience in the Superdome it was quickly dispelled as soon as the group, now numbering 12, including longtime members Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson, took the stage just before midnight and created a vintage Boogie Wonderland stoked with a Serpentine Fire. After all these years, the elements mesh perfectly and effortlessly – sweet harmonies, stratospheric falsettos, punchy horns, wailing guitars, uplifting and quasi-mystical messages, and stage moves that are coordinated but still leave room for free expression. Mostly, the group just dazzles non-stop for more than an hour.”
For those of us who have seen them (me while at Wake Forest), this description just makes you smile. Heck, I have to see them again. I mean Verdine is my man! [Not as much as James Polk or Ike, but I’m mixing apples and oranges.]
And girls, I really do a great Can’t Hide Love. It’s true…I won over $100 at a black club in Richmond singing it about 15 years ago. [Note to my PIMCO friends…Bill L. can vouch for this. But there is no better dancer at PIMCO than Glen Z.]
Top 3 songs of 7/7/79: #1 “Ring My Bell” (Anita Ward…ughh) #2 “Bad Girls” (Donna Summer…disco setting in…Jimmy Carter president…need I say more) #3 “Hot Stuff” (Donna Summer)…and…#4 “Chuck E.’s In Love” (Rickie Lee Jones…music was so bad this year, we actually thought this was a good song) #5 “She Believes In Me” (Kenny Rogers…just kill me) #6 “The Logical Song” (Supertramp…I mean, c’mon…this was like popular!) #7 “Boogie Wonderland” (Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions…even this was far from their best) #8 “We Are Family” (Sister Sledge…hated this song…until I won major bucks on the Pirates that fall…as did Johnny Mac…that Series seemed to be all about the sac fly) #9 “Makin’ It” (David Naughton) #10 “I Want You To Want Me” (Cheap Trick…I’m sorry…just a very depressing time for yours truly…I was in summer school…trying to get credits so I could graduate in four years…and I did! I really did!!!)
Baseball Quiz Answers: 1) Randy Johnson threw 12 complete games in 1999 for Arizona, the last to hit double figures. 2) Fernando Valenzuela had 20 for the Dodgers in 1986. 3) Catfish Hunter completed 30 of 39 starts for the Yankees in 1975.
Next Bar Chat, Sunday, from Orange Beach.
