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The Daily Dose/October 23, 2007
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Checking up on a couple of events we found ourselves thinking about this weekend...
DAVID BECKHAM: Recall that last January it was announced, as if anybody in the country cared about such things, that the planets biggest soccer star, David Beckham of England, had signed a contract to play soccer for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, which, evidently, is a professional soccer league here in the US. (Some Internet research confirmed this.) Initially, the contract was reported to be worth $250 million, but really is worth only $32.5 million. Beckham reported to the Galaxy in July with a bum ankle and barely needed a deodorant before spraining his right knee in August.
Running The Numbers: The Galaxy did not get particularly good value this first year. Beckham played in five Galaxy matches, started two of them, scored zero goals and had two assists. A good college player could've come up with two assists and I could've produced zero goals. He was not a factor in this past Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire, which eliminated the Galaxy from playoff contention. They finished the season 9-14-7.
Something Else On Our Mind: Though it only happened in August, here at the Writer's Shack we thought the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis faded from public consciousness fairly quickly.
Not A Bulletin: We're we expecting anything else? There was no build up to cause cable news to achieve and maintain a state of arousal, the actual incident took only seconds, and, since there wasn't the prospect of a follow up collapse, news outlets were left with only boring, tedious clean up and recovery efforts.
Quick Review: The August 1, collapse, right at evening rush hour, killed 13 and injured over 100. Nobody is entirely sure why it collapsed.
Okay, Not Too Newsworthy, But We Were Curious: But cleanup, both in the Mississippi River and out, has been completed and some preliminary construction work on the new bridge has begun. The $234 million project is scheduled to open in time for Christmas next year.
ON THIS DATE: In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis continued. Following President John Kennedy's speech to the country the night before where he announced the Soviet threat in Cuba and the implementation of a quarantine on all offensive military equipment, Soviet Communist Party Chairman Nikita Krushchev sends a letter to Kennedy, through US Ambassador Foy Kohler, reiterating that all weapons in Cuba are defensive in nature and that further saber-rattling by the US could result in 'catastrophic consequences for world peace'.
Reading Between The Lines: While there aren't too many ways that 'catastrophic consequences for world peace' can be taken, Ambassador Kohler noted the letter avoided "specific threats" and was 'relatively restrained' in tone.
Meanwhile: As the United States readies its ICBM's and the Soviets send more submarines to the area, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro places Cuban military personnel on high alert and tells the Cuban people that Cuba will never disarm as long as the bullies in the US continues to pester him, and, reassuringly tells the world that Cuba will continue "to acquire the arms we feel like acquiring".
A little after 7pm President Kennedy signs the proclamation officially authorizing the quarantine, which is to take effect at 10am the following day.
Late Night With Robert and Anatoly: At 9:30pm, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, at President Kennedy's suggestion, meets with Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin at the Soviet Embassy. Dobrynin tells Kennedy, apparently with a straight face, that to his knowledge there are not Soviet missiles in Cuba. The meeting is short, because at 10:15pm Kennedy is back at the White House, meeting with the president and the British Ambassador to the US, David Ormsby-Gore. At this meeting, President Kennedy shortens the quarantine line from 800 miles from Cuba, to 500 miles.
Also On This Date: In 1983, a suicide truck-bombing at Beirut International Airport kills 241 US Marines and sailors. An almost simultaneous attack on French troops kills 53.
In 1993: Toronto Blue Jay outfielder Joe Carter's three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in game six gives Toronto the World Series championship. It is the second time the World Series ends on a home run.
SPEAKING OF THE WORLD SERIES: The Colorado Rockies (remember them) and the Boston Red Sox open the World Series Wednesday in Boston. Since FOX Sports now owns baseball, starting times are conveniently scheduled for 8:30 eastern time. This isn't new, of course, but we continue to be amazed that baseball continues to allow games to end at nearly midnight. If there is a better way to drive away young east coast fans, we don't know what it is.
The Big Picture: This is the 103rd World Series. It was first played in 1903, then from 1905 through 1993, and every year since 1995. While the Rockies are making their first ever World Series appearance, the Red Sox are making their eleventh. They've won six (2004, 1918, 1915-16, 1912, 1903) and lost four (1986, 1975, 1967, 1946).
Get Your Tickets Now: After its online ticket sale server crashed Monday, the Rockies announced it would be back up and taking orders on Tuesday. About 18,000 tickets are available to the general public for each game.
Get Out Your Record Book: This series is already in the record book, for the Latest Starting Series In A Season That Did Not Include A Terrorist Attack, tying the October 23 mark also set in 2004. The 2001 World Series began on October 27.
Weather Report: The weather in Denver, always an exciting variable this time of year, shouldn't be too bad, especially when you consider temperatures on 10/28 in Denver have ranged from 80 degrees to eleven degrees. Highs are expected to be in the 60's and lows in the low 40's, with little chance of rain. Rain is expected tomorrow in Boston, but it should be clear by game time, with a game time temperature in the mid-50's expected.
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