[Next chat, Monday]
NCAA Football Quiz: [Again, in each case the player went on to
the NFL, however briefly it may have been.] 1) Who is Illinois’
all-time passing leader? [post-1970] 2) Who is Indiana’s all-
time rusher? [Not even close] 3) Who am I? I was one of
Indiana’s top QBs, initials T.G. 4) Who is Iowa’s all-time QB?
[post-1970] 5) Who am I? I am Iowa’s career receiver in terms
of yards, initials T.D. Answers below.
The Constitution
OK, sports fans, every now and then I have to force a little
history and culture on you, as I’m experiencing same, and so
yesterday I was at the National Constitution Center, a really
terrific museum, and I’m full of it…full of the Bill of Rights and
stuff like that, I mean.
Well, I came across a presidential proclamation from a past
Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, with the original
document having been signed on Sept. 17, 1787, and I thought
I’d print it out. Maybe you can pass it on to your kids.
I’d tell you which president issued it, but I am 100% certain he
had nothing to do with the language, plus they all use the same
proclamation every year anyway. Suffice it to say, some Peggy
Noonan-type stand-in was first responsible, I imagine.
“As the delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia began working on what would become the United
States Constitution, they grasped that a great democracy must be
built on the twin foundations of national consent to a Federal
Government and respect for individual rights. After more than
two centuries of continual cultural, legal, and economic change,
our unique experiment in self-government has borne successful
witness to the prescient genius and timeless wisdom of our
Founding Fathers. Throughout America’s history, in times of
turmoil and peace, liberty and oppression, our faith in the
Constitution’s promise of freedom and democracy has been a
steadfast rock of national stability against the raging seas of
political change. Today, more than ever, we must call upon the
Constitutional principles that make our country great.
“In creating our Nation’s Constitutional framework, the
Convention’s delegates recognized the dangers inherent in
concentrating too much power in one person, branch, or
institution. They wisely crafted a Government that balanced the
functions and authority of a Federal system among three separate
but equal branches: the Executive, the Legislative, and the
Judicial. As a further check on central power, the Framers
granted citizens the right to vote, giving them the power to
express their political preferences peacefully and thereby to
effect change in the Government.
“The Convention delegates ratified the Constitution on
September 17, 1787, and submitted it to the States for approval.
After much deliberation and discussion at the State level, the
following two concerns emerged from among those who feared
the Constitution’s proposed centralization of Federal power: (1)
the threat of tyranny; and (2) the loss of local control. To
address these fears, our Founders amended the Constitution by
adding a Bill of Rights. These ten amendments provided a series
of clear limits on Federal power and a litany of protective rights
to citizens. This development underscored the important and
enduring Constitutional principle of enumerated powers, and it
set our national course on a route that would eventually enhance
and expand individual rights and liberties.
“Today, our Nation celebrates not only the longest-lived written
Constitution in world history, but also the enduring commitment
of our forebears who upheld the Constitution’s core principles
through the travails of American history. They pursued a more
perfect Union as abolitionists, as suffragists, or as civil rights
activists, successfully seeking Constitutional amendment that
have strengthened the protections provided to all Americans
under law. In so doing, they rendered the moral resolve of our
Nation stronger and clearer.
“Our Republic would surely founder but for the faith and
confidence that we collectively place in our Constitution. And it
could not prosper without our diligent commitment to upholding
the Constitution’s original words and implementing its founding
principles. From the noble efforts of public servants to the civic
acts of local people, our continuous Constitutional engagement
has proved to be an exceptional feature of our Nation’s
prosperous development.
“To continue this legacy, each of us must recognize that we bear
a solemn responsibility to promote the ideals of freedom and
opportunity throughout our land. We each should serve our
Nation by actively supporting and shaping our Government’s
institutions, by working together to build strong communities,
and by loving our neighbors. Doing this will ensure that the
American dream will become real for every willing citizen; and,
in fulfilling this call together, we will honor the spirit of our
powerful and enduring Constitution.”
In other words, for starters, vote…unless you’re an idiot.
[Speaking of which, I’ll have some comments on this in my next
“Week in Review” because New Jersey has a ballot item on the
use of ‘idiot’…really.]
Renoir
I went to the Philadelphia Art Museum to see a first of its kind
exhibit of Renoir’s landscapes and it was also terrific, if you’re
a fan of Impressionism; recognizing I have three, maybe four,
readers who care.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born in 1841, the 6th of seven
children to a tailor and dressmaker in Limoges, France. By
1865, he was studying in Paris with my favs, Al Sisley and
Monet, and then later on with Camille Pissarro. I’m tellin’ ya,
folks, when you’re talking Impressionism, these are the four that
matter. [Van Gogh’s overrated…I thought we settled that long
ago….but I can already hear the rumblings.]
Anyway, from a business standpoint I was interested in just how
Philadelphia was able to put such a spectacular show together.
So I’m guessing I was the only one there jotting down where
each work came from. Here it goes:
Detroit, Paris, Milwaukee, Toronto, Tokyo, Boston, Chicago,
New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, Sao Paulo, Dallas,
Washington, D.C., Portland, Or., Williamstown, Ma.,
Providence, Pittsburgh, Hartford, Toledo, Memphis, Cincinnati,
MGM Mirage, and Zurich.
Now that’s a lot of work. In addition you had a slew from
‘private collectors’ and another who had no problem stating his
name…Steve Wynn. I just can’t imagine having a truly great
work of art in one’s living room. But I do have signed albums of
the Rolling Stones with Brian Jones, and the Dave Clark Five,
plus some Civil War prints, the latter a real turn-on for the ladies
…NOT!
Meanwhile, in exploring the rest of this superb museum, I realize
I need to put Dutchman Jacob von Ruisdael in my all-time top
ten, but as I was writing some notes a female security guard
comes up to me and says, “We don’t allow pens!”
Well, I’ve been to as many art museums as anyone in the world, I
imagine, and I have never, ever been told I couldn’t jot down
notes with a pen. You’ll be pleased to know, though, that all I
did was shoot her a look and take her pencil. No one got hurt
and museum operations were not impacted in any fashion.
Lastly, the museum had a good spread of Winslow Homer
paintings. He is not to be confused, as you should be aware, with
tight end Kellen Winslow (Sr. or Jr.) or former New York Giants
wide receiver Homer Jones.
Stuff
–The great Joey Chestnut added to his world hot dog-eating title
by devouring 103 Krystal burgers in 8 minutes on Sunday, each
being 2 ½ inches square. Once again, it was Takeru Kobayashi’s
record that Chestnut smashed, Kobayashi having done 97 just
last year. Chestnut won $10,000, while Takeru sat it out with a
sore jaw following a tooth extraction. I could eat at least 50
White Castle burgers, the microwavable variety, a staple at my
home……….or did I just reveal too much….
–Harry Truman: “The president has the power to keep the
country from going to hell.” Or vice versa, Harry.
–I want to thank Mark R. for recommending the City Tavern in
Philly for good schnitzel and grog. On Monday, I joined Mark,
Stan N., and John G., all friends from way back during my days
in the financial services industry, for a good feed at Downey’s….
I was drinking Flying Fish beer, in case you were wondering.
And, again, no one got hurt!
–My home state named its first 15 inductees for the New Jersey
Hall of Fame, to be built somewhere in the next five years,
assuming they can raise the money. It’s an eclectic group.
Historical: Albert Einstein, Clara Barton, and Thomas Edison
Sports: Yogi Berra, Bill Bradley, Vince Lombardi
Arts & Entertainment: Frank Sinatra, Meryl Streep, Bruce
Springsteen…….Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!
General: Harriet Tubman, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Toni
Morrison (eh)
Enterprise: Buzz Aldrin, Malcolm Forbes, Robert Wood Johnson
II [of Johnson & Johnson fame]
Left out thus far were the likes of Woodrow Wilson, Jerry Lewis,
Larry Doby, Justice William Brennan, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and,
for crying out loud, Fankie Valli!
–And now….your EXCLUSIVE “Picks to Click,” as your editor
puts his gaudy 12-8 record on the line.
Take UConn, giving 2 ½ to Rutgers
Take Oregon, giving 7 to Arizona State
Take Michigan, giving 4 to Michigan State
Take Troy and 16 ½ vs. Georgia
[These are Wednesday’s lines from USA Today]
Children under 12 are limited to $3,500 per game this week. I’m
not quite as comfortable this go around.
–I was glancing at the latest Sagarin computer rankings for both
Division I-A and I-AA, of which there are a total of 242 schools
eligible, and the top three are Kansas, Ohio State and Arizona
State. No. 242, though, is LaSalle…truly embarrassing.
But as far as I can see, the worst I-A team is Rice at No. 172.
And get this…the best I-AA teams are No. 44 Northern Iowa,
No. 48 North Dakota State and No. 60 UMass. Syracuse, on the
other hand, is No. 118….yikes!
–Smith Center High School [Smith Center, Ks.], took advantage
of Plainville’s six turnovers to score 72 points in the opening
quarter of their football game, in what is believed to be a national
record. The final score was 86-0, so at least the coach wasn’t
trying to run up the score. If Smith Center was led by Bill
Belichick, well you just know the final would have been 198-0.
Smith Center, incidentally, the defending state champions, have
outscored their opponents 640-0 this year. As Ronald Reagan
would have said…not bad, not bad at all.
–As I go to post, Joe Torre is going to sign a three-year, $14.5
million contract with Los Angeles. Bad, bad move on his part.
Why not go out on top? [Despite the playoff losses of the past
few years.] He’s got more money than he knows what to do
with. Ah, but ego is a funny thing.
–The Washington Post’s Ellen McCarthy, 28, took a trip to
Morgantown, W. Va., to find out if the school’s ranking as #1
party school, according to the Princeton Review, is warranted.
[WVU had been in 1997 and just regained the top slot.]
It’s a Thursday night and Ms. McCarthy and her friend, Sara,
first hit a Fiji party, where they are told “if you’re here to get
[lucky], you should go across the street.”
So they head to Bent Willey’s, where they meet a guy, Russell
Hall, a senior business major, who about now is wishing he had
never met Ellen and Sara, because they proceed to quote him in
Wednesday’s paper. How would you sum up the WVU party
phenomenon, Russell?
“We don’t study. Drinks are cheap. Our football team is
amazing, and these women are beautiful.”
I’m sure Russell’s parents are thrilled. But at least Russell gives
the girls some good advice…stay out until midnight when all the
bars play “Country Roads.”
–At the National Constitution Center here in Philly they had a
First Ladies exhibit, which was similar to one I saw at the
Smithsonian years ago. Now in looking at their portraits, though,
Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were a bit dowdy, you’d
have to admit. On the flip side, Jackie obviously stands out for
her stunning beauty, but check out Frances Cleveland! Goodness
gracious, she was just 22. Jane Pierce was scary looking, by the
way. And her husband was as bad a president as we’ve ever had.
Actually, I kind of liked Helen Taft.
–We note the passing of Robert Goulet, 73. My Aunt Rose in
Greensburg, Pa., had only one record, the original cast recording
of “Camelot,” and every time we went ‘home’ that’s the only
music we heard. Not a bad deal, mind you, since “Camelot” is
simply the best stuff ever written, particularly as sung by Mr.
Goulet. In fact since I saw Goulet died, I can’t get the songs out
of my head, like the way he sang “If Ever I Would Leave You.”
This isn’t such a bad thing, mind you, especially when compared
to some of the crap being churned out today.
–Speaking of which, I’m reading in Rolling Stone that Will.i.am
of Black Eyed Peas is mad he’s not getting more respect. Yoh,
maybe if you’d give yourself a real name, some of us would start
respecting you!
Then again, Will.i.am is also upset his song “My Humps” isn’t
thought of more positively. [“They say I’m really sexy/The
boys, they want to sex me…”] Oh brother. Will.i.am is not
exactly Lerner & Lowe, know what I’m sayin’?
Top 3 songs for week 11/4/78: #1 “You Needed Me” (Anne
Murray) #2 “MacArthur Park” (Donna Summer) #3
“Reminiscing” (Little River Band)…and…#4 “Double Vision”
(Foreigner) #5 “Whenever I Call You ‘Friend’” (Kenny
Loggins) #6 “Hot Child In The City” (Nick Gilder) #7 “Kiss
You All Over” (Exile) #8 “How Much I Feel” (Ambrosia) #9
“Beast Of Burden” (The Rolling Stones) #10 “Get Off” (Foxy)
NCAA Football Quiz Answers: 1) Jack Trudeau (1981-85) is the
Illini’s all-time passer with 8,725 yards. [If you were thinking
Tony Eason, he is #4 with 7,031.] 2) Anthony Thompson is
Indiana’s all-time rusher with a whopping 5,299. But he played
sparingly in the NFL and accumulated only 831 in the pros. 3)
Trent Green quarterbacked the Hoosiers from 1989-92, throwing
for 5,400 yards. 4) Chuck Long (1981-85) is Iowa’s all-time
passer with 10,461. [Long and Trudeau were a nice pair for the
Big Ten.] 5) Tim Dwight (1994-97) is Iowa’s all-time receiver
with 2,271 yards on 139 catches. [Kevin Kasper (1997-00) had
157 receptions.]
Next Bar Chat, Monday pm.
