Gold Gloves: 1) What 3 shortstops have won at least 8 Gold
Gloves for their fielding? 2) Who are the two outfielders who
have won 12? Answers below.
Ronald Reagan…First Inaugural Address, 1/20/81
[The following excerpt has everything to do with Memorial Day]
“This is the first time in history that this ceremony has been held
on this West Front of the Capitol. Standing here, one faces a
magnificent vista, opening up on this city”s special beauty and
history. At the end of this open mall are those shrines to the
giants on whose shoulders we stand.
“Directly in front of me, the monument to a monumental man:
George Washington. Father of our country. A man of humility
who came to greatness reluctantly. He led America out of
revolutionary victory into infant nationhood. Off to one side, the
stately memorial to Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of
Independence flames with his eloquence.
“And then beyond the Reflecting Pool, the dignified columns of
the Lincoln Memorial. Whoever would understand in his heart
the meaning of America will find it in the life of Abraham
Lincoln.
“Beyond those monuments to heroism is the Potomac River, and
on the far shore the sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery
with its row on row of simple white markers bearing crosses or
Stars of David. They add up to only a tiny fraction of the price
that has been paid for our freedom.
“Each one of those markers is a monument to the kinds of hero I
spoke of earlier. Their lives ended in places called Belleau
Wood, The Argonne, Omaha Beach, Salerno and halfway around
the world on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Pork Chop Hill, the Chosin
Reservoir, and in a hundred rice paddies and jungles of a place
called Vietnam.
“Under one such marker lies a young man – Martin Treptow –
who left his job in a small town barber shop in 1917 to go to
France with the famed Rainbow Division. There, on the western
front, he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions
under heavy artillery fire.
“We are told that on his body was found a diary. On the flyleaf
under the heading, ”My Pledge,” he had written these words:
”America must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will save,
I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my
utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me
alone.”
“The crisis we are facing today does not require of us the kind of
sacrifice that Martin Treptow and so many thousands of others
were called upon to make. It does require, however, our best
effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe
in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together,
with God”s help, we can and will resolve the problems which
now confront us.
“And, after all, why shouldn”t we believe that? We are
Americans.”
The Rant
There is a new commercial for Molson Canadian beer called
“The Rant” that is sweeping the nation. [It is not being shown in
America, as far as I know.] In the ad, a twentysomething actor
(Jeff Douglas) walks onto a stage and begins calmly explaining
away the Canadian stereotypes. For many in this fair land, it has
become the center of a national dialogue. So here it is folks:
“I”m not a lumberjack or a fur trader. I don”t live in an igloo or
eat blubber or own a dog sled. And I don”t know Jimmy, Sally
or Suzie from Canada, although I”m certain they”re really, really
nice. I speak English and French, not American.
“I have a prime minister, not a president. And I pronounce it
”about,” not ”a-boot.” I believe in peacekeeping, not policing;
diversity, not assimilation. And that the beaver is a truly proud
and noble animal. [Here here!!]
“Canada is the second largest land mass, the first nation of
hockey and the best part of North America. My name is Joe and
I.AM.CANADIAN!”
Adam Bryant, writing in Newsweek, says, “The ad captures
bedrock Canadian feelings of pride and resentment of the U.S.,
but with humor, irony and a little humility. Others call it
jingoistic.” Regardless, the ad has moved a lot of beer as Molson
battles Labatt for #1 in Canada. Molson gained 2 points in
market share in the first 6 weeks the ad was running.
I checked on what the Canadian press was saying and, from the
National Post, a survey taken a few weeks ago showed that 81%
were in favor, 19% against the commercial.
Separately, there is a bigger issue. What Americans really think
of Canada. A recent survey conducted for the Canadian
Department of Foreign Affairs found that large numbers of
Americans think that most Canadians live in the wilderness and
are dependent on fur trapping, hockey and beer for their living.
Fur trading came in #4 on a list of Canada”s greatest trading
strengths, while lumber and paper were first.
The opening line of the report says, “Fundamentally, Americans
are not that interested in Canada.”
Columnist Chris Cobb writes, “(The findings of the survey) were
not all negative. The Americans know about Labatt, Molson,
Seagrams, and Moosehead. They also know that Air Canada is a
Canadian company.”
Well, gosh darn it, this is one American who will continue to
sing the praises of our good neighbor, when appropriate. On the
other hand, as for their current defense policy, it”s a travesty.
*Note: You can hear “The Rant” on Adcritic.com.
Top 3 songs for the week of 5/22/65: #1 “Ticket To Ride” (The
Beatles) #2 “Mrs. Brown You”ve Got A Lovely Daughter”
(Herman”s Hermits) #3 “Count Me In” (Gary Lewis & The
Playboys.underrated).
Winston Cup Standings: 1) Bobby Labonte 2) Ward Burton 3)
Mark Martin 4) Jeff Burton 5) Dale Earnhardt.
Indy 500: For the first time two female drivers made the field,
rookie Sarah Fisher and the veteran Lyn St. James. You go girls!
Update: Danny Biasone, the highlight of my 5/19 Bar Chat, was
selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Wednesday along
with Isiah Thomas and Bob McAdoo.
Ray Lewis Trial: Opened up with the revelation that a trail of
blood links the Baltimore Ravens” Lewis to the scene of the
double murder at an Atlanta nightspot (the evening of the Super
Bowl). The defense will argue that not one witness saw Lewis
with a knife in his hands. Lewis is alleged to have kicked and
punched the victims. The prosecution also said the knives were
used in a punching motion – not an overhand stab – making it
difficult for anyone to see the knives. Please don”t try this at
home.
Quiz Answers: 1) Shortstops with at least 8 Gold Gloves: Ozzie
Smith, 13; Luis Aparicio, 9; Mark Belanger, 8. 2) Outfielders
with 12: Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente. Ken Griffey Jr.
entered the 2000 season with 9 already.
Next Bar Chat, Monday…Memorial Day.
