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The Daily Dose/January 22, 2009
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
   
Notes from around the Human Experience...Gabriela Montero Week continues at The Column Four Foto!
ALL ABOAD THE BANDWAGON: Nobody loves a bandwagon more than we do here at the Writer's Shack, so it certainly isn't the upset of the year to find we are rooting for the newest Writer's Shack fave, the Arizona Cardinals, in the upcoming Super Bowl.
Usually we jump on bandwagons because a team is favored and/or has been very good for a long time. Evidence of this can be found in our support of the Mount Union College football team, which has won ten NCAA Division III national championships, and the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby union team, which still kicks ass and takes names despite not winning the World Cup last year.
A Shift In The Wind: Not in this case. The Cardinals, whether based in Chicago, St. Louis or Phoenix, have for decades been the worst franchise in the NFL.
They have won at least 10 games in a season just five times, and, in fact, went 9-7 this year and haven't won ten games in a season since 1975.
They have won five (5) playoff games in their history, three of them this season.
OTOH: By contrast the Cardinals have lost ten or more games in a regular season 24 times, including twice in seasons where they only played ten games. They have won two NFL championships, in 1925, when they were awarded the title despite the fact the Pottsville Maroons had a better record, and in 1947, when they were based in Chicago and beat the Eagles for the title.
Those Who Ignore History Are Doomed To Repeat It: Our Cardinals are quarterbacked by Kurt Warner, who ten years ago took command of an unheralded St. Louis Rams team after starter Trent Green was injured and led them to a Super Bowl win. The Rams used to play in Cleveland and Los Angeles before being led by Warner. The Cardinals used to play in Chicago and St. Louis before being led by Warner. Draw your own conclusions. We have.
AT YOUR SERVICE: On this date, in 1506, the Swiss Guard reports for duty at the Vatican, beginning service to the Pope that continues to this day.
God Save The Queen…Whoops, Too Late: On this date, in 1901, Queen Victoria of Great Britain died at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight. Victoria reigned for over 63 years, the longest of any British monarch. She was succeeded by her son, who became Edward VII.
It's About Time: Edward VII had been heir apparent for 59 years, two months and 14 days, longer than any other heir apparent to the British throne, including the current Heir, Prince Charles, who won't surpass Edward until April, 2011.
Finally: The US Supreme Court settles the abortion debate once and for all when it issues its Roe vs. Wade decision on this date in 1973. Prior to this ruling the United States had been fractured and divided over whether it is or is not proper for a woman to terminate a pregnancy.
Dry, Technical Matter: The 7-2 decision overturned various abortion laws and Texas, and other state laws in conflict with the Court's holdings, the specifics of which are more or less beyond the scope of this column.
At the same time, the Court ruled in Doe vs.Bolton, which overturned anti-abortion laws in Georgia that hadn't already been overturned by the Eleventh US District Court.
FunFact: All told, the two rulings affected abortion laws in 46 states.
Get Your Official Writer's Shack Policy Right Here: We do not necessarily approve of abortion here at the Writer's Shack on the theory we're glad we weren't aborted, but, as a practical matter, criminalizing an act or a behavior does nothing to eliminate it, it merely creates another class of criminal. For that reason we support keeping it legal.
So We Should Legalize Murder Then? That's The Message We're Hearing: Well, no. If someone murders me, he has affected my ability to live my life as I see - or, rather, as I saw - fit. Someone having an abortion does not really affect me, unless I'm the one being aborted.
So Screw The Fetus, Then, Right? Look, we didn't say everything in this life was cut and dry or even fair. We have only a pen, not a magic wand.
Ready, Aim, Fire: In an early instance of live, reality tee vee, Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer shot and killed himself at a news conference on this date in 1987. Dwyer was facing sentencing after having been convicted of receiving a kickback.
Good Timing: Since he died before having been sentenced and removed from office, Dwyer's family was entitled to a state-funded survivor's benefit of over $1 million.
FunFact: Despite having been filled and stained, the bullet hole is still visible in the state treasurer's office.
Get Out Your History Books: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers scores 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors on this date in 2006. It's the second most points ever scored in an NBA game, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points, done in 1962.
Dry, Technical Matter: The final from the Staples Center: Los Angeles 122, Toronto 104.
Thought For The Day: These poor bastards. They've got us right where we want 'em. We can shoot in every direction now. - Chesty Puller, Marine, surrounded by the enemy.
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: Eight presidential inaugurations have been officiated by someone other than the Chief Justice of the United States. In 1789 George Washington was inaugurated by the Chancellor of the State of New York Robert Livingston because there wasn't a Chief Justice yet. In 1793 Washington was inaugurated by Associate Justice William Cushing. Circuit Court Chief Judge William Cranch inaugurated both John Tyler in 1841 and Millard Fillmore in 1850. New York State Supreme Court Justice John Brady inaugurated Chester Arthur in 1881; US District Judge John Hazel inaugurated Theodore Roosevelt in 1901; John Coolidge, a Notary Public, inaugurated his son, Calvin, in 1923, and US District Judge Sarah Hughes inaugurated Lyndon Johnson in 1963.
Today's Stumper: What five players trail Kobe Bryant in the NBA record book for most points in a game by someone not named Wilt Chamberlain? - Answer next time!
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