There's nothing I can tell you about myself that you can't learn by perusing the archives.
I've written over 700 posts, though, so you'd better get crackin'. Might take awhile.
Contact One More Dying Quail
If you have something to say and no one to say it to, drop me a line.
Only one Reverse Survivor contender in action this weekend: Southern Methodist, which followed up an off week with a 28-12 loss at home to Southern Miss. The Mustangs finish the season a disappointing 1-11, but remain in position to claim the Reverse Survivor trophy should Washington knock off California next week.
Also in action next Saturday will be Western Kentucky, still in the running despite two wins on the season (both came against FCS opponents). The 2-9 Hilltoppers will attempt to get in the FBS win column against 2006 co-champion Florida International.
Winless Teams Washington (Pac-10, 0-11)
Sat, Dec 6 - @ California
Eligible One-Win Teams Southern Methodist (CUSA West, 1-11) – lost to Southern Miss, 28-12 Western Kentucky (Independents, 2-9) – did not play
My wife and I always joke that our son is so cute that he can't possibly belong to us. (Actually, we were both adorable until we were about three, then I don't know what happened. Poor kid has no clue that his Cute Clock is ticking. Two more years, max, and all those "Awwwwws!" from random people at the store will start to dwindle, and aside from family, the only attention he'll get will be from middle-aged women who insist on pinching his chubby little cheeks, no matter how much it hurts. If you're reading this, Mrs. Buchawiecki, I implore you: please don't pinch my son's cheeks.)
Anyway, long tangent over. The point is, my wife and I will never win any beauty contests, yet we created a little person who, according to my friend Trish, should be writing his own ticket as a baby model.
I kinda feel like this is what happened when Washington and Washington State played last week. The Huskies were winless, hadn't been competitive since September, and playing for a lame duck coach. With a road matchup against California looming two weeks in the distance, this was the last real chance for a victory in 2008. The Cougars had beaten nobody except a lousy FCS team, become the first team in Pac-10 history to give up 500 points in a season, and been shut out three times in four games. This should have been the ugliest game ever.
Only, according to the game recap, it was actually pretty decent, with Washington State pulling off an improbable 16-13 "upset" (yeah, that word was actually used - how a winless team gets "upset" is beyond me). The star? Kicker Nico Grasu, who pounded three huge, albeit short, field goals with the game on the line.
Picture it: Washington up, 10-7. Time ticking down. The celebration beginning. And then...a couple of big completions, and State is well within field goal range. Two seconds left on the clock, here comes Grasu to attempt a 28-yarder...
Boom. Outta here. Overtime.
He started OT with a 19-yarder and was matched by Washington's Ryan Perkins. Then, after Perkins missed a short kick in the second overtime and the Cougars failed to gain a first down, it was up to the 20-year-old sophomore from Encino to win it. And of course, he did.
I am impressed by the resiliency of the Cougars. There are still a couple weeks left in the season, another game to be played (at Hawaii - must be tough), but this had the feel of do-or-die for both teams. Washington State did; Washington, in all likelihood, died.
Teams trailing Washington in the Reverse Survivor race at this point are Southern Methodist and Western Kentucky. SMU finishes up this season against Southern Miss, while Western Kentucky has another week off before it's finale against Florida International on December 6. If Washington beats Cal, one of them might sneak in and steal the championship away from the Huskies. Washington isn't beating Cal.
Finally, in FCS action, three teams finished the year tied for that level's Reverse Survivor award: Dartmouth (0-10), Indiana State (0-12), and St. Francis (PA) (0-11). Idaho State just missed, beating Sacramento State in overtime for it's first win in the last game of the season.
(And just because I happen to be using ESPN and they have standings for Divisions II and III, here are the Reverse Survivor winners for those divisions:
Division II West Georgia (Gulf South Conference, 0-10) Cheyney (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, 0-11) Concord University (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, 0-11)
Division III McMurry (American Southwest Conference, 0-10) Cornell College (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, 0-10) Mass Maritime (New England Football Conference, 0-10) Colorado College (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, 0-9) Principia (St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, 0-10)
My wife and I spent most of our honeymoon in one of the resorts located in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. While driving there from our first stop in Cooperstown, New York, we noticed three things about Pennsylvania's highways:
1) There were a ton of shredded tires on the side of the road. 2) The towns had awesome names - "Promised Land, Pennsylvania" is an actual place, we discovered. 3) On every bridge, there was a sign: "Bridges Freeze First".
The last point in particular has been a source of much laughter for us over the past four years. Every so often, as we approach a bridge, I'll glance over at Vicki and solemnly say, "Remember: bridges freeze first."
On Saturday, we drove over to my parents' to see my nephew in a play. Vicki was having "one of THOSE days" and couldn't seem to get past an awful morning. We were in the car, driving across 101, when I decided that a bridge comment might lighten her mood. The following conversation ensued:
ME: Remember: bridges freeze first. HER: I don't believe that. I think they're lying. ME: You think the entire state of Pennsylvania is lying to you? Why would they do that? HER: Because they have the Amish. ME: What does that even mean? HER: [laughing hysterically] I have no idea.
(long pause)
HER: They have the Amish and the Philadelphia Eagles. 'nough said.
Week 12 @ St. Louis: 20 carries, 132 yards, 2 TD; 2 receptions, 14 yards, 2 fumbles lost Season Totals: 225 carries, 909 yards, 6 TD; 45 receptions, 336 yards, 3 TD; 2 fumbles lost
Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions
Week 12 vs. Tampa Bay: 16 carries, 86 yards Season Totals: 133 carries, 599 yards, 5 TD; 27 receptions, 212 yards
Best week of the season for Forte, two lost fumbles notwithstanding. It was his third multi-touchdown game, a season-high for rushing yards, and his third 100-yard rushing game of the season. Smith doesn't have the numbers that Forte does, but he has beaten out Rudi Johnson for the top spot in Detroit's backfield and had his third straight game with 85+ rushing yards this week.
The World Series ended weeks ago when Eric Hinske swung through a Brad Lidge slider* (and kicked off the most boring championship celebration I have ever seen - it looked like there were about ten people in the pile on the pitcher's mound), but it was only recently that I went looking for a list of series-ending outs through the years. That search came up short, so I hit Baseball-Reference.com, looked through a bunch of box scores, and made a list of my own**.
*I have no idea if it was a slider and I don't feel like looking it up. It's a relatively unimportant point and "Brad Lidge slider" sounds more interesting than "Brad Lidge fastball". Also, Lidge's "celebration" after recording the final out was an insult to Tug McGraw's memory.
**I guarantee there was an easier way to do this, probably involving the Play Index. That's not how I roll, though. It wasn't so long ago that I compiled historical stats for the local independent baseball team using a five-subject notebook and a pencil. I'm not proud of this.
Building a table for all 104 World Series didn't seem like a whole lot of fun, so I opted to include some of the finales that I found most interesting. 2004: Boston's Keith Foulke vs. St. Louis' Edgar Renteria (groundout to pitcher) 1997: Cleveland's Charles Nagy vs. Florida's Edgar Renteria (single to centerfield)
Renteria is one of only two players to end a World Series by making an out and delivering a walk-off hit (Goose Goslin is the other). Of course, 2004 would have warranted inclusion on this list even without that little extra bit of history, because, you know, I'm a homer.
2001: New York's Mariano Rivera vs. Arizona's Luis Gonzalez (single to centerfield) 2000: New York's Mariano Rivera vs. New York's Mike Piazza (flyout to centerfield) 1999: New York's Mariano Rivera vs. Atlanta's Keith Lockhart (flyout to left field) 1998: New York's Mariano Rivera vs. San Diego's Mark Sweeney (groundout to third base)
With his 2001 appearance, Rivera became the first pitcher to be on the mound at the end of four different World Series. The previous record holder, Rollie Fingers, closed out all three of Oakland's wins in the early 1970s, retiring Pete Rose to end the first.
1993: Philadelphia's Mitch Williams vs. Toronto's Joe Carter (homerun to left field)
One of only two walkoff homeruns that clinched a World Series win, it could also be referred to as the play that all but ended Williams' career. His totals after Carter took him deep: three years, 52 games, six saves, 32 runs allowed in 37 1/3 innings.
1967: St. Louis' Bob Gibson vs. Boston's George Scott (strikeout) 1965: Los Angeles' Sandy Koufax vs. Minnesota's Bob Allison (strikeout) 1964: St. Louis' Bob Gibson vs. New York's Bobby Richardson (popout to second base) 1963: Los Angeles' Sandy Koufax vs. New York's Hector Lopez (groundout to shortstop)
It's somehow fitting that two guys who were probably the best lefthanded and righthanded pitchers of the 1960s closed out four World Series in five years during the heart of the decade. Side note: now that I think of it, the on-field celebration in 1965 was probably the most subdued I've ever seen. Koufax had just about killed himself to bring the Dodgers the championship; his teammates recognized his exhaustion and just sort of shook his hand and guided him off the field.
1962: New York's Ralph Terry vs. San Francisco's Willie McCovey (lineout to second base) 1960: New York's Ralph Terry vs. Pittsburgh's Bill Mazeroski (homerun to left field)
Terry actually had a great Series in 1962 and won the MVP award for the Yankees. It wouldn't have happened without a bit of luck, however: with two outs and the winning run on second, McCovey crushed a screaming liner right at second baseman Bobby Richardson. A couple feet to either side, and Terry might've played the goat for the second time in three years. 1956: New York's Johnny Kucks vs. Brooklyn's Jackie Robinson (strikeout)
The last at-bat of Robinson's career. He was traded to the Giants in the off-season but retired before joining the team. 1928: New York's Waite Hoyt vs. St. Louis' Frankie Frisch (foul flyout to left field)
Unless I made a mistake somewhere, this was the first time two future Hall of Famers met in the final at-bat of a World Series. Red Ruffing and Billy Herman squared off ten years later, the only other instance I found. (Fingers-Rose in 1972 just missed, for obvious reasons, but Rivera-Piazza in 2000 will add to the list someday.) 1927: Pittsburgh's Johnny Miljus vs. New York's Tony Lazzeri (wild pitch) 1926: St. Louis' Pete Alexander vs. New York's Bob Meusel (Babe Ruth caught stealing)
On paper, these may be the two weirdest finishes in World Series history. The winning run scoring on a wild pitch? The greatest slugger in the history of forever being caught stealing? That's just odd, man.
1924: New York's Jack Bentley vs. Washington's Early McNeely (double to left field) 1923: New York's Sam Jones vs. New York's Jack Bentley (groundout to second base)
Bentley is the only player ever to make the final out of a World Series as both a batter and a pitcher, and he did it in back-to-back years.
1912: New York's Christy Mathewson vs. Boston's Larry Gardner (sacrifice fly to right field) 1905: New York's Christy Mathewson vs. Philadelphia's Lave Cross (groundout to shortstop)
The winning runs that Mathewson allowed in 1912 were unearned, the result of centerfielder Fred Snodgrass' error. It was only right that he closed things out in 1905, however: it was the final out of his third straight shutout in that year's Fall Classic.
1908: Chicago's Orval Overall vs. Detroit's Boss Schmidt (groundout to catcher) 1907: Chicago's Mordecai Brown vs. Detroit's Boss Schmidt (popout to shortstop)
I say we begin referring to Chicago's legendary inability to win a World Series as "The Curse of Boss Schmidt". Who's with me?
1903: Boston's Bill Dinneen vs. Pittsburgh's Honus Wagner (strikeout)
The greatest shortstop in baseball fails to deliver on the game's biggest stage. If I didn't think the whole "A-ROD IS THE BIGGEST CHOKER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!!!" was kinda silly, I might have a joke here. On a happier note: who knew Wagner had a brother named Butts? Me either.
I can't confirm this, but I think newly retired Mike Mussina might have also quit his part-time job as an ESPN fact checker. From the official "ESPN.com news services" story on his retirement:
New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina announced his retirement Thursday, becoming the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax in 1967 to win 20 games or more in the final season of his career.
As you've no doubt heard (or read, or intuited), Mike Mussina is expected to announce that he's finished, and thus will end his career with a 20-win season. How rare is this? According to ESPN Research, the list of pitchers who won 20 games in their last season is exceptionally short:
Sandy Koufax
1966
27-6
Lefty Williams
1920
22-14
Eddie Cicotte
1920
21-10
Henry Schmidt
1903
22-13
Again, with The Koufax: Dandy Sandy's record in 1966 was 27-9, not 27-6.
And finally, somebody has to be wrong. Is it ESPN Research, which supplied Neyer with the four names you see above, or is it the Elias Sports Bureau...?
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he's just the fifth pitcher since 1900 to win 20 games or more in the final season of his career -- and the first since Koufax. He's the only pitcher in that group to win his 20th game in his final start.
UPDATE: Hey, I figured out who was wrong. It was, um, me. Because I conveniently forgot that Mussina was the fifth name on Neyer's list. So yeah...I'm kinda dumb.
Here's something cool, though: of the five pitchers who won twenty or more games in their final season, three - Williams, Cicotte, and Koufax - actually won 20+ in their last two seasons. Too bad Mussina wasn't willing to come back and take a shot at making it four out of five.
A few years ago, I put together a list of foreign-born managers in major league history. It was a pretty interesting project - something like 95% of managers are either born in the United States or an unknown location - but I never really had a good reason to post it. Like, you know, a team hiring the first Asian-American manager in history. Yeah, that'll do.
I listed a few things that I found interesting below, but this one can go above the fold: before Seattle hired Don Wakamatsu, one of the favorites for the position was Joey Cora. Cora was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and had he gotten the job, he would have been the first Puerto Rican manager in major league history. Kinda cool, I think.
Arthur Irwin (1889, 91-92, 94-96, 98-99) – 416-427
Fred Lake (1908-1910) – 163-180)
George Gibson (1920-22, 25, 32-34) – 413-344
Dominican Republic (4)
Felipe Alou (1992-2001, 2003-06) – 1033-1021
Luis Pujols (2002) – 55-100
Tony Pena (2002-05) – 198-285
Manny Acta (2007-08) – 132-191
Germany (3)
Joe Miller (1872) – 0-11
Chris Von der Ahe (1895-97) – 3-14
Ron Gardenhire (2002-08) – 622-512
Venezuela (2)
Ozzie Guillen (2004-08) – 433-378
Al Pedrique (2004) – 22-61
Scotland (2)
Jim McCormick (1879-80, 82) – 74-96
Hugh Nicol (1897) – 8-32
Australia (1)
Joe Quinn (1895, 99) – 23-132
France (1)
Bruce Bochy (1995-2008) – 1094-1156
Wales (1)
Jimmy Austin (1913, 18, 23) – 31-44
Note 1: Ron Gardenhire was born in West Germany.
Note 2: Mike Gonzalez (1938, 40) was the first manager born in Latin America (Cuba).
Note 3: France’s Bruce Bochy (1995-2005) and West Germany’s Gardenhire (2002-05) are the first European-born major league managers since 1923.
Note 4: Bochy’s father was an Army officer stationed in France when Bruce was born.
Note 5: Four foreign-born managers have won a Manager of the Year award: Felipe Alou (Dominican Republic, Montreal Expos, 1994), Bruce Bochy (France, San Diego Padres, 1996), Tony Pena (Dominican Republic, Kansas City Royals, 2003) and Ozzie Guillen (Venezuela, Chicago White Sox, 2005).
Post-Season Appearances
Harry Wright - 4 National Association pennants (1872-75), 2 National League pennants (1877-78)
Ron Gardenhire - 4 American League Central Division titles (2002-04, 06)
Ted Sullivan - 1 Union Association pennant (1884)
Ozzie Guillen - 2 American League Central Division title (2005, 08), 1 American League pennant (2005), 1 World Series title (2005)
Felipe Alou - 1 National League West Division title (2003)
Arthur Irwin - 1 American Association pennant (1891)
Bill Watkins - 1 World Series win (1887)
Bruce Bochy - 4 National League West Division titles (1996, 98, 2005-06), 1 National League pennant (1998)
Note 1: Venezuela’s Ozzie Guillen was the first foreign-born manager to win a modern World Series (Chicago White Sox, 2005).
Note 2: France’s Bruce Bochy was the first foreign-born manager to reach a modern World Series (San Diego Padres, 1998).
This week, the national sports media will be abuzz with the latest "Game of the Year": #2 Texas Tech's much anticipated visit to #5 Oklahoma. There's good reasons for the hype, not least of which are the national championship and Heisman Trophy implications that will be on the line.
But "Game of the Year"? I think not. The game of the year, at least in OMDQ's twisted world, will be played earlier in the afternoon, when the Washington State Cougars host the Washington Huskies. Washington is 0-10, although that goose egg - and therefore the team's involvement in Reverse Survivor - was only made possible by a questionable call that cost them a game against BYU early in the season. The Huskies have also played a difficult schedule, facing four teams that were ranked in the Top 25 at the time.
Washington State is just plain bad. They've already set a Pac-10 record for points allowed in a season, becoming the first team in conference history to give up more than 500 points - and Washington and Hawaii still remain on the schedule. The offense is almost as awful - they have been shut out three times in the past four games (in the fourth game, they scored exactly one touchdown in every quarter).
It all comes down to this: the last winless team in FBS against what might actually be the worst team in FBS. I'm not much for predictions here, but this game begs for one:
Washington 49, Washington State 35
The other two contenders, SMU and Western Kentucky, are off this week. Actually, the Hilltoppers are off for two weeks before traveling to Florida International for the season finale on December 6. Conversely, all four FCS teams without a win finish up their seasons this weekend. So proud to see one of New Hampshire's own, Dartmouth, representin' the Granite State.
Winless Teams Washington (Pac-10, 0-10) – lost to UCLA, 27-7
Sat, Nov 22 - @ Washington State Sat, Dec 6 - @ California
Eligible One-Win Teams Southern Methodist (CUSA West, 1-9) – lost to UTEP, 36-10
Sat, Nov 29 - Southern Miss
Washington State (Pac-10, 1-10) – lost to Arizona State, 31-0
Sat, Nov 22 - Washington Sat, Nov 29 - @ Hawaii
Western Kentucky (Independents, 2-8) – lost to Middle Tennessee, 21-10
Sat, Dec 6 - @ Florida International
Dropped Out None
Winless Teams – FCS Idaho State (Big Sky, 0-11) – lost to Montana, 29-10 Sat, November 22 vs. Sacramento State
Dartmouth (Ivy League, 0-9) – lost to Brown, 45-16 Sat, November 22 @ Princeton
Indiana State (Missouri Valley, 0-11) – lost to Northern Iowa, 28-0 Sat, November 22 vs. Missouri State
St. Francis (PA) (Northeast, 0-10) – lost to Robert Morris, 35-20 Sat, November 22 vs. Bryant
Matt Forte, Chicago Bears Week 11 @. Green Bay: 16 carries, 64 yards; 6 receptions, 40 yards Season Totals: 205 carries, 777 yards, 4 TD; 43 receptions, 322 yards, 3 TD
Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions Week 11 @ Carolina: 24 carries, 112 yards; 2 receptions, 23 yards Season Totals: 117 carries, 513 yards, 5 TD; 27 receptions, 212 yards
I tried to trade for Smith in one of my fantasy leagues this week, but the other owner wasn't going for it. Based on this week, he made the right decision, as the only thing keeping Smith from scoring 20+ points in our league was his lack of a touchdown or two. (Instead, the deal ended up being Marshawn Lynch and a 12th round draft pick for Cedric Benson and a 3rd round draft pick.)
Forte remains one of the NFL's top offensive rookies, on pace for over 1,200 yards. Smith currently projects to about 820, but has 96 and 112 yards in his last two games, so he could also break 1,000 - especially since he is now Detroit's number one running back.
For the record: I have never blogged from my parents' basement. It's dark down there, the floor is made of dirt, and there are bugs. Lots of bugs. I hate bugs.
Blogging in my pajamas/underwear, however...as Dewey Cox would say, "I'm guilty - GUILTY AS CHARGED!"
I saw this animation for the first time six or seven years ago. Every couple years, I think about it and find it after Internet search strings that invariably include such phrases as "did you just eat my brain" and "animated cat". Fortunately, tonight I remembered that I have a blog where the link can be posted and kept for all eternity. Thank you, sweet Internet.
Hunter: Chief of the Boat. Chief of the Boat: Sir? Hunter: Thank you, COB. Chief of the Boat: Thank you? *Fuck* you! Get it straight Mr Hunter, I'm not on your side. Now you could be wrong! But wrong or right, the Captain can't just replace you at will. That was completely improper! And that's why I did what I did. By the book. Hunter: I thank you anyway.
Lloyd Dobler: I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.
Diane Court: I have this theory of convergence, that good things always happen with bad things. I know you have to deal with them at the same time, but I just don't know why they have to happen at the same time. I just wish I could work out some schedule. Am I just babbling? Do you know what I mean? Lloyd Dobler: No.
Winless Teams Washington (Pac-10, 0-9) – lost to Arizona State, 39-19
Sat, Nov 15 - UCLA Sat, Nov 22 - @ Washington State Sat, Dec 6 - @ California
Eligible One-Win Teams Southern Methodist (CUSA West, 1-9) – lost to Memphis, 31-26
Sat, Nov 15 - @ UTEP Sat, Nov 29 - Southern Miss
Washington State (Pac-10, 1-9) – lost to Arizona, 59-28
Sat, Nov 15 - @ Arizona State Sat, Nov 22 - Washington Sat, Nov 29 - @ Hawaii
Western Kentucky (Independents, 2-8) – lost to Troy, 17-7
Sat, Nov 15 - Middle Tennessee Sat, Dec 6 - @ Florida International
Dropped Out None
Winless Teams – FCS Idaho State (Big Sky, 0-10) – lost to Weber State, 59-27 Dartmouth (Ivy League, 0-8) – lost to Cornell, 37-14 Indiana State (Missouri Valley, 0-10) – lost to Youngstown State, 35-21 St. Francis (PA) (Northeast, 0-9) – lost to Central Connecticut State, 36-0
Everyone who reads this blog knows that useless information is one of my great loves. On the heels of last Tuesday's presidential election, I thought it would be interesting to see which candidates through the years had gathered the most "career" electoral votes.
I'll have some personal thoughts on this later, if time allows. And I hope it does, because I've got some things to say.
Update: The text of Obama's speech, from CNN.com:
Hello, Chicago.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.
We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.
Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.
Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.
And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.
And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.
To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.
To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.
This is your victory.
And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.
There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.
I promise you, we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.
This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.
It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.
Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.
In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.
Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.
Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.
As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.
And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.
And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.
Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.
This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
When a sports team wins a major championship these days, they almost immediately receive T-shirts and hats commemorating the feat. After Game Five of this year's World Series, for instance, there was a guy wandering around the field about four seconds after the final out, while the players were still piling on top of one another, handing apparel to everyone.
What I want to know is this: why don't they do this after presidential elections are decided?
Really, think about it - how great would it be for CNN to call the election for a candidate, and immediately get camera shots of campaign offices around the nation, with workers donning hats and T-shirts and leaping wildly into great pig piles? It would be awesome.
Make it happen in '12, Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer.
Congratulations, Washington: you are officially the last team in college football’s Bowl Subdivision to win a game in 2008.
The Huskies were obviously inspired by the midweek news that head coach Ty Willingham will not be back next season, losing a 56-0 heartbreaker to #7 USC. The Huskies defense limited Trojans quarterback Mark Sanchez to 157 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Unfortunately, they allowed six rushing touchdowns by five different running backs, including Sanchez.
North Texas handled its mini-controversy much better, following up the scandalous news that a number of players had failed drug tests with a 51-40 win over Western Kentucky. When I saw the score, I expected huge numbers from Giovanni Vizza and Casey Fitzpatrick. Vizza delivered – 23-37, 214 yards, 4 touchdowns, plus a 38-yard touchdown scamper on the ground – but Fitzpatrick didn’t dominate, hauling in seven passes for 66 yards. His last reception was a big one, however, a 27-yard touchdown catch with about 2 ½ minutes to play that gave the Mean Green a 45-40 lead.
Running back Cam Montgomery joined Vizza in the “Star” category, carrying 20 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. It was the second 100-yard game of the season for the junior, who has 430 yards and three touchdowns in his last four games.
The Reverse Survivor game to watch continues to be November 22, Washington at Washington State. Neither team appears to be playing particularly inspired football at this point in the season: the Huskies, as mentioned, didn’t show a whole lot of passion in defense of their lame duck coach, and the Cougars have not scored in ten quarters, a stretch in which they have been outscored 172-0 by Oregon State, USC, and Stanford.
Washington State has been outscored 434-63 this season (not counting a 48-9 win over FCS opponent Portland State). They’ve allowed 63 or more points in a game four times this season.
From here, of course, the game changes slightly, as the focus shifts from “last team to earn a win” to “last team to earn a win over an FBS opponent”. Four teams – Washington, Washington State, Southern Methodist, and Western Kentucky – remain in the hunt. The Huskies have one Reverse Survivor award in hand this season – in about three weeks, we should know if they’ll add to their trophy case yet again.
Winless Teams Washington (Pac-10, 0-8) – lost to USC (7), 56-0
Sat, Nov 8 - Arizona State Sat, Nov 15 - UCLA Sat, Nov 22 - @ Washington State Sat, Dec 6 - @ California
Eligible One-Win Teams Southern Methodist (CUSA West, 1-8) – did not play
Sat, Nov 8 - Memphis Sat, Nov 15 - @ UTEP Sat, Nov 29 - Southern Miss
Washington State (Pac-10, 1-8) – lost to Stanford, 58-0
Sat, Nov 8 - Arizona Sat, Nov 15 - @ Arizona State Sat, Nov 22 - Washington Sat, Nov 29 - @ Hawaii
Western Kentucky (Independents, 2-7) – lost to North Texas, 51-40
Sat, Nov 8 - @ Troy Sat, Nov 15 - Middle Tennessee Sat, Dec 6 - @ Florida International
Dropped Out North Texas (Sun Belt, 1-8) – beat Western Kentucky, 51-40 Syracuse (Big East, 2-6) – beat Louisville, 28-21
Winless Teams – FCS Idaho State (Big Sky, 0-9) – lost to Cal Poly, 49-10 Dartmouth (Ivy League, 0-7) – lost to Harvard, 35-7 Indiana State (Missouri Valley, 0-9) – lost to North Dakota State, 34-7 St. Francis (PA) (Northeast, 0-8) – did not play
1. "Losing a Whole Year" 2. "Narcolepsy" 3. "Semi-Charmed Life" 4. "Jumper" 5. "Graduate" 6. "How's It Going to Be" 7. "Thanks a Lot" 8. "Burning Man" 9. "Good for You" 10. "London" 11. "I Want You" 12. "The Background" 13. "Motorcycle Drive By" 14. "God of Wine"
The Black Parade (My Chemical Romance)
1. "The End." 2. "Dead!" 3. "This Is How I Disappear" 4. "The Sharpest Lives" 5. "Welcome to the Black Parade" 6. "I Don't Love You" 7. "House of Wolves" 8. "Cancer" 9. "Mama" 10. "Sleep" 11. "Teenagers" 12. "Disenchanted" 13. "Famous Last Words" 14. "Blood" (hidden track)
The Black Album (Metallica)
1. "Enter Sandman" 2. "Sad but True" 3. "Holier Than Thou" 4. "The Unforgiven" 5. "Wherever I May Roam" 6. "Don't Tread on Me" 7. "Through the Never" 8. "Nothing Else Matters" 9. "Of Wolf and Man" 10. "The God That Failed" 11. "My Friend of Misery" 12. "The Struggle Within"
My Own Prison (Creed)
1. "Torn" 2. "Ode" 3. "My Own Prison" 4. "Pity for a Dime" 5. "In America" 6. "Illusion" 7. "Unforgiven" 8. "Sister" 9. "What's This Life For" 10. "One"
Bat Out of Hell (Meat Loaf)
1. "Bat out of Hell" 2. "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" 3. "Heaven Can Wait" 4. "All Revved Up with No Place to Go" 5. "Two out of Three Ain't Bad" 6. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" 7. "For Crying Out Loud"
Rock Spectacle (Barenaked Ladies)
1. "Brian Wilson" 2. "Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank" 3. "Break Your Heart" 4. "Jane" 5. "When I Fall" 6. "Hello City" 7. "What a Good Boy" 8. "The Old Apartment" 9. "Life, in a Nutshell" 10. "These Apples" 11. "If I Had $1000000"
Hysteria (Def Leppard)
1. "Women" 2. "Rocket" 3. "Animal" 4. "Love Bites" 5. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" 6. "Armageddon It" 7. "Gods of War" 8. "Don't Shoot Shotgun" 9. "Run Riot" 10. "Hysteria" 11. "Excitable" 12. "Love and Affection"
Thriller (Michael Jackson)
1. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" 2. "Baby Be Mine" 3. "The Girl Is Mine" 4. "Thriller" 5. "Beat It" 6. "Billie Jean" 7. "Human Nature" 8. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" 9. "The Lady in My Life"
Fallen (Evanescence)
1. "Going Under" 2. "Bring Me to Life" (featuring Paul McCoy) 3. "Everybody's Fool" 4. "My Immortal" 5. "Haunted" 6. "Tourniquet" 7. "Imaginary" 8. "Taking Over Me" 9. "Hello" 10. "My Last Breath" 11. "Whisper"
American Idiot (Green Day)
1. "American Idiot" 2. "Jesus of Suburbia" a. "Jesus of Suburbia" b. "City of the Damned" c. "I Don't Care" d. "Dearly Beloved" e. "Tales from Another Broken Home" 3. "Holiday" 4. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" 5. "Are We the Waiting" 6. "St. Jimmy" 7. "Give Me Novacaine" 8. "She's a Rebel" 9. "Extraordinary Girl" 10. "Letterbomb" 11. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" 12. "Homecoming" a. "The Death of St. Jimmy" b. "East 12th Street" c. "Nobody Likes You!" d. "Rock 'n' Roll Girlfriend" e. "We're Coming Home Again" 13. "Whatsername"
New Miserable Experience (Gin Blossoms)
1. "Lost Horizons" 2. "Hey Jealousy" 3. "Mrs. Rita" 4. "Until I Fall Away" 5. "Hold Me Down" 6. "Cajun Song" 7. "Hands Are Tied" 8. "Found Out About You" 9. "Allison Road" 10. "29" 11. "Pieces of the Night" 12. "Cheatin'"
One of the funniest running gags I have ever seen in a movie is the constant "Drugs are bad!" dialogue between Tim Meadows and John C. Reilly. I posted the initial encounter, about the pros and cons of marijuana, as one of my very first "Favorite Movie Quotes", but all four segments between the two - helpfully combined into the two minute video you see below - are hilarious. It's the best work Meadows has ever done.
Cocaine: "It turns all your bad feelings into good feelings...it's a nightmare! Pills: "We doin' PILLS! Uppers and downers! It's the logical next step for you!" Viagra: "If boner lasts more than four hours, call more ladies!"
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