C86
Century (over 100 posts)
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Post by C86 on Jan 31, 2009 15:42:07 GMT -5
Interesting point, VC, about the Madigans. Will the next election be a battle between 2 Hoyas, Pat Quinn (71) and Lisa Madigan (88), or will Lisa try to take out Roland Burris for the Senate seat? It's a target-rich environment for her.
Quinn is growing on me. In his earlier days he struck me as a bloviator/grandstander, who wasn't interested in serious issues (other than utilities reform, which was really, realy important). Either Quinn's matured, or by comparison to Blago (the Platonic Ideal of the Bloviator/Grandstander), he now appears statesmanlike. In any event, we needed a change badly and Quinn is as good as any.
Let's also not forget an overlooked aspect of Quinn -- he's a White Sox fan.
Drove the Northwest Tollway last night and saw the last day of the giant Rod Blagojevich sign advertising open road tolling. I did not feel nostalgic.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Jan 1, 2009 17:39:03 GMT -5
Congratulations to the B&G Family! As the father of twins (and Hoya fans) I offer a couple of pieces of advice: 1) when people ask if they can help, immediately yes, whip out a calendar and slot them in right then and there. (You cannot be overstaffed when it comes to twins); 2) always have a pot of strong coffee brewing; and 3) enjoy the most fun you've ever had.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Dec 30, 2008 22:07:35 GMT -5
Illinois politics get curiouser and curiouser. . . .
My thoughts:
1) Burris is singularly unimpressive. He has had a series of state offices, leading to an undistinguished single term as Illinois attorney general. Subsequently, he ran against Daley for mayor and against Blago(!) for governor. Burris got trounced in the primary both times. Burris strikes me as a man of extraordinary ego, even for a politician. His two children are named Roland and Rolanda. If memory serves, Burris has already erected his tombstone, which lists in detail (and in glowing terms) his accomplishments, going back to college. There is space at the bottom where he wanted to add "Governor of Illinois." "Senator" is his next choice. If Burris somehow were to be seated, I have two predictions based on his track record: He will revel in being called "Senator" and he will get beaten in the primary.
2) Blago is more and more acting like a petulant child. This pick is not about advancing the interests of Illinois -- if it were, he would have stepped back and allowed a senator to be chosen who actually would be seated. It's not even about helping Blagojevich in his current legal troubles. Blagojevich's defense lawyer assured the House impeachment committee that Blago would not appoint a replacement for Obama. Blago has now made his lawyer look like a fool, which is not usually conducive to mounting an effective defense. This stunt is all about Blago grabbing attention and asserting his importance. It's a temper tantrum.
3) I won't try to guess whether the Senate has the authority to refuse to seat Burris. One difference from the Powell case, however, is that Powell was actually elected. It would be true to form for Blago, however, to provoke a senseless controversy, which others will be forced to straighten out.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Dec 16, 2008 22:18:16 GMT -5
Saxifrage, I too am blessed with daughters (who also love the Hoyas!). Our family remembered Faith and her family in our prayers, and we will continue to do so. We hope for her quick recovery, and a joyous Christmas at home.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Dec 9, 2008 22:09:53 GMT -5
The weird thing about Blagojevich is how powerless he really has been as governor. His erratic way of doing business has emboldened other Dem's (notably the Speaker of the State House) to block his initiatives. He really has gotten very little done.
Mr. Ambassador, for years Blago has been running the state from the basement of his house in Ravenswood Manor. He's rarely in his office in the Loop, and in Springfield even less. Casual dress may just be natural to him.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Dec 9, 2008 21:27:13 GMT -5
The allegations against Blagojevich are jaw-dropping, even by Chicago standards. The fact that I have the hardest time wrapping my head around is how divorced Blago seems from reality. The man has been under continuous investigation for about 5 years. His political crony Tony Rezko is in jail and cooperating with the feds. His approval rating is at 13 percent and dropping. Obama for years has been treating him like he doesn't exist. NONETHELESS, Blago is scheming to be appointed to the Cabinet?!? If that doesn't work, he'll take the Senate seat, "rehabilitate" his image, and then run for PRESIDENT?! This is just crazy talk, but I don't think he understands how ludicrous it is.
VCjack, I respect your taste in baseball teams, but I respectfully disagree with you on the popularity of George Ryan. Ryan was extremely unpopular when he left office. Like Blago, he was under continuous investigation while in office. One allegation against him was that he stonewalled an investigation into illegal drivers licenses in Illinois (the holder of one illegal license caused a horrible auto accident in which 5 children burned to death). Ryan refused to run for a second term, because he was utterly isolated. Of course, by Blago's standards he looks like Pericles, but that's more of a comment on Blago, than Ryan.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Sept 30, 2008 22:08:42 GMT -5
You can't doubt Obama's bona fides when it comes to baseball: he's a Sox Fan. As is Daley. The Cubs have to content themselves with the support of that noted statesman, Rod Blagojevich.
Great win. Danks was absolutely filthy. Most telling moment was late in the game when Mauer(!) tried to lay down a bunt just to get something started. I do think that the TBS radar gun is juiced, however. Jenks hasn't seen 98 mph in about 3 years, and there is no way he reached that number tonight.
Rooter, I hope you got back in time for the game.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Sept 8, 2008 21:37:27 GMT -5
LU would be a nice addition. We're playing DePaul in Washington this year, so there is no Chicago game in place. The Georgetown commuity here is quite large, and this could be a good event for the alums. Also, the schools haven't played in years (is the 1985 NCAA tourney the last time?). The only downside is finding some place in East Rogers Park to meet before the game.
LU has a proud basketball tradition (including an NCAA championship -- something DePaul can't claim). It would be great for Chicago to get them to return to prominence. If a visit from the Hoyas could help the cause, then I'm all for it.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Jun 14, 2008 15:02:00 GMT -5
With all the events of the day, let's remember the people of Iowa and Wisconsin who are dealing with horrendous flooding right now. Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are currently at the center. University of Iowa students are sandbagging their campus to protect the library, auditorium, and class room buildings from the water.
Let's keep them in our throughts and prayers.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on May 25, 2008 9:22:31 GMT -5
I would replace the 84 title game with the 84 semi-final game against Kentucky. In the first half, the Hoyas were down by double digits and Ewing was in foul trouble. At the end of the first half, Michael Graham cuts the lead to single digits with a jam. The Hoyas' defense, led by Gene Smith in his final game, takes over in the second half. A very, very good Kentucky team finishes shooting 9 percent from the field. Also, the video has some classic moments, like Kentucky coach Joe B Hall throwing a fit after a Ky air ball. To my mind, this game was the epitome of the tough tenacious Hoya basketball of the 80s.
The 84 champiosnhip game was great, don't get me wrong. But the Kentucky game really sums up an era.
Also, wasn't this the game where the Georgetown fans chanted "Say you're sorry!" at Brent Musberger until he held up the Hoya Paranoia shirt on national TV? Classic.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on May 24, 2008 15:08:06 GMT -5
After the abomination that has happened over the last 8 years McCain shouldn't win the general election even if he was Jebus. With how close he has stood to the president over these years he should be ripped to shreds in the general election. Considering this, I think America would vote two asses into the White House over any Republican at this point (simply because they would like them better). If not, we're doomed. Fact is we need to get as far away from this administration as possible. People know this. And McCain ain't there. Therefore, even if they don't know anything about Obama other than that he gives good speeches they will vote for him. Because his party didn't have the worst president this country has ever seen. People are seeing and feeling the pain that has been caused by this presidency like never before. If you want to keep near that path, kudos, but I think most people are trying to get out of these dark times. The Republican party is going to be paying for a long, long time. For what it's worth, most surveys I've seen rank James Buchanan as the worst president the country has ever seen. The assessment seems to make sense, as states seceded during his watch. He was also a democrat.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Mar 8, 2008 18:45:17 GMT -5
Touche'. But I spent three years in Durham, NC, and I cannot separate my disdain for Duke from my affection for Georgetown
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Mar 8, 2008 18:33:57 GMT -5
Someone on Sports Center just called UNC/Duke "the Greatest Rivalry in Sports." Please correct me if I'm wrong, but prior to about the mid-80s, wasn't Carolina's fiercest rival NC State (and Duke was rarely competitive, except for the 1978 team that Feinstein wrote the valentine about)? However, Sports Center said it, so it must be so.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Mar 8, 2008 13:59:58 GMT -5
HOYA SAXA!
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Mar 7, 2008 21:18:36 GMT -5
I'll show my age, because 2 comparable games come to mind that I experienced:
1) The 1985 Sweater Game in the Garden against St. John's
2) The 1982 nationally televised game against Virginia (Ewing vs. Sampson)
Also, I would wager that the 1980 Manley-Field-House-is-Closed Game would draw some votes.
Don't get me wrong. This is a BIG game tomorrow. But the Hoyas have a rich history, and have played many, many important regular season games.
Go Hoyas!
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Mar 2, 2008 8:32:20 GMT -5
The GU crowd inside the Bradley Center was small. Interest on the MU side for this game was huge; I heard that the scalped price was over $100. That being said, I saw probably in excess of 200 Hoyas there, both in the crowd and at the Wisconsin Club party at the game. [By the way, thanks also to the Wisconsin Club -- great hosts].
We were up in the rafters, intermingled with MU fans. It was hard to make our presence heard. However, given the noise in the arena, it would have been hard for a space shuttle to make its presence heard.
MU fans were gracious. [Besides the dopes behind me bitching about every call]. Great experience and a great win.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Mar 1, 2008 23:09:35 GMT -5
I respectfully submit that this is the greatest post game rant of ALL TIME: the April 1983 rant of Cubs Manager Lee Elia
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Mar 1, 2008 22:01:02 GMT -5
First off, this was a huge win by the Hoyas. I was at the Bradley Center this afternoon. That was one TOUGH place for a visitor. Marquette and its fans put out their maximum effort today, and the Hoyas overcame it. Not the prettiest game I've ever seen, but the Hoyas showed a tremendous amount of heart.
Thanks also to FreeNachos, Gold Hoya, and the Chicago Club for putting together a truly memorable road trip to Milwaukee. I can think of few sporting experiences that top brats (and beer) at 10 am in Kenosha's world famous Brat Stop; followed by cheese curds (and beer) at the equally famous Mars Cheese Castle; AND a Hoya overtime victory.
Hoya Saxa!
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Feb 24, 2008 13:52:18 GMT -5
A correction, Ohio has three large cities. Cincy, Cleveland, AND Columbus. In fact, Columbus is the largest city in Ohio.
I saw an analysis during the 04 election in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that basically argues that Ohio is six different states. Cleveland/Youngstown is old-style Rust Belt, Columbus in many ways is fast growing Sunbelt. SE Ohio is similar to its neighbors W VA and E. KY. NW Ohio is Midwest agricultural. I can't remember what the other two are.
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C86
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 230
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Post by C86 on Nov 3, 2007 20:27:04 GMT -5
A saying among Notre Dame fans two coaches ago was "Fire Bob Davie, before we lose to Navy!"
I guess it will now be "Fire Charlie Weis before Navy beats us twice!"
Congratulations to the Mids.
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