NFL Quiz: 1) Who was the first QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a
season? 2) Who are the top 3 career leaders in “combined yards”
(rushing, receiving, punt and kickoff returns). Be careful!
Answers below.
Vice President Cheney, August 26
[Speech given to VFW Convention]
To this day, historians continue to analyze (World War II),
speculating on how we might have prevented Pearl Harbor and
asking what actions might have averted the tragedies that rate
among the worst in human history.
America in the year 2002 must ask careful questions, not merely
about our past, but also about our future. The elected leaders of
this country have a responsibility to consider all of the available
options, and we are doing so.
What we must not do in the face of a mortal threat is to give in to
wishful thinking or willful blindness. We will not simply look
away, hope for the best and leave the matter for some future
administration to resolve.
As President Bush has said, time is not on our side. Deliverable
weapons of mass destruction in the hands of a terror network, or
a murderous dictator, or the two working together, constitutes as
grave a threat as can be imagined. The risks of inaction are far
greater than the risk of action,
Now and in the future, the United States will work closely with a
global coalition to deny terrorists and their state sponsors the
materials, technology and expertise to make and deliver weapons
of mass destruction. We will develop and deploy effective
missile defenses to protect America and our allies from sudden
attack. And the entire world must know that we will take
whatever action is necessary to defend our freedom and our
security.
As former Secretary of State Kissinger recently stated, the
imminence of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the
huge dangers it involves, the rejection of a viable inspection
system and the demonstrated hostility of Saddam Hussein
combine to produce an imperative for preemptive action.
If the United States could have preempted 9/11, we would have;
no question. Should we be able to prevent another, much more
devastating attack, we will; no question. This nation will not live
at the mercy of terrorists or terror regimes.
I am familiar with the arguments against taking action in the case
of Saddam Hussein. Some concede that Saddam is evil, power
hungry and a menace, but that until he crosses the threshold of
actually possessing nuclear weapons we should rule out any
preemptive action.
That logic seems to me to be deeply flawed. The argument
comes down to this: Yes, Saddam is as dangerous as we say he
is, we just need to let him get stronger before we do anything
about it.
Yet if we did wait until that moment, Saddam would simply be
emboldened and it would become even harder for us to gather
friends and allies to oppose him. As one of those who worked to
assemble the Gulf War coalition, I can tell you that our job then
would have been infinitely more difficult in the face of a nuclear-
armed Saddam Hussein. And many of those who now argue that
we should act only if he gets a nuclear weapon would then turn
around and say that, “We cannot because he has a nuclear
weapon.”
At bottom, that argument counsels a course of inaction that itself
could have devastating consequences for many countries,
including our own.
Another argument holds that opposing Saddam Hussein would
cause even greater troubles in that part of the world and interfere
with the larger war against terror. I believe the opposite is true.
Regime change in Iraq would bring about a number of benefits to
the region. When the gravest of threats are eliminated, the
freedom-loving peoples of the region will have a chance to
promote the values that can bring lasting peace.
As for the reaction of the Arab street, the Middle East expert,
Professor Fouad Ajami, predicts that after liberation the streets in
Basra and Baghdad are sure to erupt in joy in the same way
throngs in Kabul greeted the Americans.
Extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of
jihad, moderates throughout the region would take heart and our
ability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be
enhanced just as it was following the liberation of Kuwait in
1991.
The reality is that these times bring not only dangers, but also
opportunities. In the Middle East, where so many have known
only poverty and oppression, terror and tyranny, we look to the
day when people can live in freedom and dignity, and the young
can grow up free of the conditions that breed despair, hatred and
violence.
In other times the world saw how the United States defeated
fierce enemies, then helped rebuild their countries, forming
strong bonds between our peoples and our governments.
Today in Afghanistan, the world has seen that America acts not
to conquer, but to liberate. It remains in friendship to help the
people build a future of stability, self-determination and peace.
We would act in that same spirit after a regime change in Iraq.
With our help, a liberated Iraq can be a great nation once again.
Iraq is rich in natural resources and human talent and has
unlimited potential for a peaceful, prosperous future.
Our goal would be an Iraq that has territorial integrity, a
government that is democratic and pluralistic, a nation where the
human rights of every ethnic and religious group are recognized
and protected. In that troubled land, all who seek justice and
dignity and the chance to live their own lives to know they have
a friend and ally in the United States of America.
Great decisions and challenges lie ahead of us, yet we can and
we will build a safer and better world beyond the war on terror.
Over the past year, millions here and abroad have been inspired
once again by the bravery and the selflessness of America’s
armed forces.
For my part, I have been reminded on a daily basis, as I was
during my years at the Pentagon, of what a privilege it is to work
with the people of our military.
In whatever branch, at whatever rank, these are men and women
who live by a code, who give America the best years of their
lives and they show the world the finest qualities in this country.
As veterans, each of you has a place in the long, unbroken line of
Americans who came to the defense of freedom. Having served
in foreign wars, you bore that duty in some of our nation’s most
difficult hours. And I know that when you come together, your
thoughts inevitably turn to those who never had the opportunity
to live to be called veterans.
In a book about his army years, Andy Rooney tells the story of
his childhood friend, O.B. Slingerland, a decent, good-hearted,
promising boy who was captain of the high school football team.
O.B. later went on to be quarterback at Amherst before entering
the Navy and becoming a pilot. Still a young man in his early
20s, he was killed while flying a combat mission off the carrier
Saratoga.
Andy Rooney writes: “I have wakened in the middle of the night
a thousand times and thought about the life I had that O.B. never
got to have.”
Many of you have known that experience. The entire nation
joins you in honoring the memories of your friends, and all of
those who have died for our freedom. And the American people
will always respect each one of you for your standing ready to
make that same sacrifice.
On the nation’s behalf and for myself, and President Bush, I
thank you for the service you gave to your fellow citizens, for the
loyalty you have shown to each other, and for the great honor
you’ve brought to your uniform, to our flag and to our country.
—–
Rookie Quarterbacks
I saw a piece discussing the prospects for 1st-year QB David Carr
of Houston (by way of Fresno State). The record for other big
names in their first year is mixed, as the following S&N research
will reveal. [In the case of Carr, his potential difficulties are
compounded by the fact the Houston franchise is an expansion
team.]
John Elway – 47.5 completion percentage, 7 TD – 14 INT
Dan Marino – 58.4, 20-6
Peyton Manning – 56.7, 26-28
Jim Kelly – 59.4, 22-17
Terry Bradshaw – 38.1 (yuck), 6-24 (yuck yuck)
Joe Namath – 48.2, 18-15
Troy Aikman – 52.9, 9-18
Fran Tarkenton – 56.1, 18-17
Johnny Unitas – 55.6, 9-10
*Joe Montana – 64.5, 15-9
*Brett Favre – 64.1, 18-13
*Kurt Warner – 65.1, 41-13
*All 3 threw less than 25 passes their rookie year. This is the
record for their second season when they each became starters.
Warner also had a full year of NFL Europe under his belt.
Fish Tales
–As noted in a piece on ESPN.com, a Florida man and his son
were fishing some 22 miles offshore, east of Fort Pierce, when
they found a human head. According to the report, the two used
a gaff to pull it out of the water, whereupon they placed it in a
garbage bag and kept right on fishing. The father said they had
just gotten out there and it was too early to go back in. They
docked five hours later, at which point they told authorities.
Turns out his son worked for a funeral home so it didn’t bother
him.
The two (along with a friend) were fishing for mahi mahi
(dolphin) when they saw the bald head. I’m thinking it’s one of
those hair club for men things gone bad.
–Some beaches were closed in Nova Scotia recently (the first
such closings in memory) because of unconfirmed shark
sightings. Dark, dorsal fins have been spotted. My guess is it’s
really Nessie, because the serpent that hails from Scotland was
tired of the constant evasive action she was forced to take due to
the scientific expeditions at Loch Ness.
–A Duquesne Light mine treatment plant has become a terrific
breeding ground for rainbow trout. The utility plant
(Carmichaels, PA south of Pittsburgh) treats acid drainage
from a coal mine. The mine was shut down in 2000 and has been
turned into Warwick Mountain Fisheries. The water is super
clean, after going through the treatment process, while the aqua
that comes from subsurface mines is about 40-65 degrees, a
temperature range that allows trout to thrive. In case you’re
wondering, Duquesne Light is obligated to treat the water from
the mine for years to come, but the hatchery covers up to 33% of
these costs. [Source: AP]
Tim Hortons
This popular Canadian-based fast-food chain founded by former
hockey great Tim Horton hasn’t made it to New Jersey yet, but,
geezuz, my mouth is watering after reading a piece in the New
York Times by Bernard Simon.
It also sounds like Starbucks should be scared big time as “Tims”
(as it’s best known among aficionados) moves into the U.S.
market (right now primarily the Great Lakes region, as well as
West Virginia and Kentucky). Service, aside from quality, is
what helps set Tims apart. They use toasters that can brown a
bagel in 15 seconds and “it has shrunk the time between cars (at
its drive-thrus) to an average of 20 seconds,” down from 35 a
few years ago.
Canadians, incidentally, eat about 7 Xs as many doughnuts per
capita as Americans. But Tims is expanding its menus to include
sandwiches and hot breakfast items.
And did you know that Tim Hortons accounted for 23% of
Wendy’s Q2 revenues? [Wendy’s acquired Tims in 1995.] Now
granted, the preceding isn’t your normal “Bar Chat” fare, but I’m
reading this and thinking, ‘short’ Starbucks maybe not today,
but when I see a Tim Hortons in New Jersey, I’m calling my
broker.
William Warfield, RIP
No relation to the great receiver Paul Warfield, William passed
away at the age of 82. Who was he? Quite possibly the greatest
singer of all time, especially of the bass-baritone variety. His
rendition of “Ol’ Man River” from the musical “Show Boat” was
the world’s best. Warfield, who was once married to opera
superstar Leontyne Price, taught music at Northwestern in his
latter years.
And Ol’ Man River
He just keeps rollin’ along.
Top 3 songs for the week of 8/28/71: #1 “How Can You Mend
A Broken Heart” (The Bee Gees) #2 “Take Me Home, Country
Roads” (John Denver schmaltz, but great) #3 “Signs” (Five
Man Electrical Bank)
–Thanks to Dave H. for passing along the important piece that
old-fashioned beer barrels are rapidly becoming a thing of the
past. It seems the microbrew craze of the 1980s had helped
revive the Hoff-Stevens keg, the dinged and dented staples of
college dorm rooms and frat houses. These could also be
purchased for $5 to $10 apiece, economical for small
microbrewers. But now the straight-sided Sankey keg is taking
up 95% of the market, according to Paul Gatza, director of the
Institute of Brewing Studies, due to the fact it’s sleeker and
easier to clean and transport. [Hey, what a great freakin’ job
Gatza has!! I want that!]
NFL Quiz Answers: 1) 1st 4,000-yard QB: Joe Namath, 1967
491-258, 52.5% 4,007 yards 26 TD, 28 INT (ah, yes, the
gunslinger) and all in 14 games. 2) All-time combined yards:
Walter Payton – 21,803 [16,726 rush, 4,538 rec, 539 KR]
Jerry Rice – 21,017 [625 rush, 20,386 rec, 6 KR]
Brian Mitchell – 20,263 [1,947 rush, 2,298 rec, 4,278 PR, 11,735
KR, 5 fumble recovery]
*The other day, I’m watching the closing bell at the New York
Stock Exchange and I see Jets owner Woody Johnson with
quarterback Vinny Testaverde. I really didn’t put two and two
together at the time, but here’s the story.
Turns out that Johnson told coach Herman Edwards that
Testaverde had to miss a full afternoon’s practice to accompany
him to the Exchange. The first regular season game is less than
two weeks away, so you can imagine that Edwards was none too
happy at this demand, but there was nothing he could do about it.
We, on the other hand, hereby select Woody Johnson as “Dirtball
of the Week.”
Next Bar Chat, Tuesday the 500th edition. [Actually, with the
holiday and all, I’ll try my best to scrape something together!]
