| Filed under: MLB
In honor of both March Madness and The Sporting Blog finding video of the horrifically soul-crunching defeat suffered by Memphis against Louisville in a recent C-USA title game, I'm taking nominations for a tournament. In the same vein as "the ur-tard" Bill Simmons' "Levels of Losing", I'd like to see your nominations for the most painful defeat any team has ever suffered. This is limited to actual sporting defeats, as including something like the Hank Gathers incident would most likely be a run-away winner. Events from all sports (Even NASCAR and soccer) will be accepted into this tournament. Right now I have a few examples that are locked into the tournament. I'm hoping for 16 or even a full 32. I'm looking for gut-wrenching defeats, be it in the manner of losing, or the result of that loss.
Coeur d'Alene Soldier Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Images that put a face on the dead, that make them identifiable, are simply prohibited. If Joseph Heller were still around, he might appreciate the bureaucratic elegance of paragraph 11(a) of IAW Change 3, DoD Directive 5122.5: Names, video, identifiable written/oral descriptions or identifiable photographs of wounded service members will not be released without the service members prior written consent. Complete story. .
With decision to donate kidney, man gives gift of two lifetimes
He wanted to be sure the recipient would take good care of the donated kidney and not abuse drugs or alcohol. The first attempt at a transplant went horribly wrong and Hughes nearly died on the operating table, but he did not take back his offer. Instead, he reassured Sherman and his wife, Linda, that he would try again, finally giving his gift of life on Feb. 26. "I wanted to donate to someone who would be a good candidate to live a full life," explained the soft-spoken Hughes, who works as a website designer so that he can be home with his two young sons while his wife pursues her career as a Pittsburgh police detective. "It wasn't based on religion. It was based on someone in need." On Saturday, members of Sherman's synagogue, Temple Emeth in Chestnut Hill, celebrated Hughes's stunning generosity, which saved the life of one of their most charismatic members.
Rumps enjoy taste of success
The defense has never been better this season; the depth has never been more of a factor. "It's surreal because we expected something bad to happen," Ryan said. "It had always happened before. Aquinas was snakebitten. There was a lot of success and heartbreak down there. It just didn't happen to us this year. "We knew we had the potential this year, but a lot of the pressure was self-inflicted," Ryan said. "But we finally closed the deal. We finally had the excitement and satisfaction of getting to the pinnacle. It was relief. I've slept pretty comfortably since that win." Rich doesn't say much on the bench. He's more the strong-silent type, willing to offer his input any time Ryan asks for it, which is often. He's not even listed on the team's program. Yet, he's the perfect complement to Ryan's X's and O's mentality.
After just one year, ASU junked its scholarship program for illegal ...
Clearly, this could have been handled with a bit more grace. Here's another question: Just how hard did ASU work on getting donations for this scholarship? I haven't heard any direct requests for support. Granted, I'm not rich and not an ASU alum; I wouldn't blame anyone for leaving me off their fundraising list. But with an issue like this, you'd think a public plea would be in order — if nothing else, a story in the newspaper urging people to give. I can't find any evidence that ever happened. When we last heard about this issue, President Crow made it sound as though the matter was taken care of. ASU had found private funds. Period. Which makes me wonder this. Did ASU really run out of money? Or was it just easier not to raise it? With legislators breathing hot air and an angry mob at the gate, it surely would be easier for ASU to cut 207 Mexican-born students adrift than to keep fighting.
Obama Denies Assuring Canada on NAFTA
The adviser, Austan Goolsbee, said his comments to those officials were misinterpreted by the author, Joseph DeMora, who works for the Canadian consulate in Chicago and attended the meeting. In Carrollton, Texas, Obama told reporters: "Nobody reached out to the Canadians to try to assure them of anything." Asked why he had appeared to deny a report last week that such a meeting had taken place, Obama said: "That was the information I had at the time." In Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper disputed the contention of his political opposition that Canadian officials leaked word of the meeting to complicate Obama's chances or to favor Republican Sen. John McCain, who strongly supports NAFTA. .
US elections 2004
For supporters of John Kerry, who have seen allegations about the Democratic candidate's military record sap his campaign, it must have seemed like a case of just deserts.
The president, George Bush, was last week looking vulnerable on the same grounds after CBS's flagship current affairs show, 60 Minutes, broadcast a report claiming he had been suspended from pilot duties for failing to meet the required standards. It was also claimed that a commanding officer had been put under pressure to "sugar coat" Mr Bush's performance reviews.
But while CBS stands by its story, allegations have now surfaced that 60 Minutes based a large part of the report on forged documents.
Although what one man - even a presidential candidate - did more than 30 years ago can seem rather trivial, the US election is being fought between a self-declared "war president" and a man who, in stump speeches, claims he would defend his country as president in the way he had defended it as a young man.
|
