1 00:00:04,755 --> 00:00:08,995 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:23,875 --> 00:00:28,035 Speaker 1: Twelve Republican Senators have voted yes to advance the Respect 3 00:00:28,075 --> 00:00:31,915 Speaker 1: for Marriage Act. It is full of loopholes which protect 4 00:00:31,955 --> 00:00:34,995 Speaker 1: religious prejudice, and it is flawed in a dozen ways, 5 00:00:35,355 --> 00:00:39,155 Speaker 1: and those who voted against it are dinosaurs. And yet 6 00:00:39,675 --> 00:00:42,515 Speaker 1: other Republicans House members had voted for it in July, 7 00:00:43,195 --> 00:00:45,915 Speaker 1: and Chuck Schumer said yesterday he thinks the final bill 8 00:00:46,475 --> 00:00:49,595 Speaker 1: will be formally passed after Thanksgiving. And I think it 9 00:00:49,755 --> 00:00:53,275 Speaker 1: is imperative to stop everything for a moment and reflect 10 00:00:53,635 --> 00:00:57,235 Speaker 1: on how heartening this really is, and not simply for 11 00:00:57,275 --> 00:01:00,355 Speaker 1: the subject of same sex marriage, but for the chance 12 00:01:00,435 --> 00:01:05,155 Speaker 1: that this country is still moving forward, still progressing, still 13 00:01:05,235 --> 00:01:08,995 Speaker 1: pushing the Donald Trump's and the religious fanatics further back 14 00:01:09,355 --> 00:01:12,555 Speaker 1: more frequently into the caves of history, no matter how 15 00:01:12,595 --> 00:01:17,115 Speaker 1: often and how loudly they managed to emerge. In six 16 00:01:17,275 --> 00:01:23,075 Speaker 1: President Clinton signed legislation defining marriage as being between one 17 00:01:23,155 --> 00:01:28,235 Speaker 1: man and one woman. As late as polling was consistent, 18 00:01:28,315 --> 00:01:32,355 Speaker 1: a majority of Americans believed same sex marriages should not 19 00:01:32,475 --> 00:01:36,635 Speaker 1: be legally valid, and on November four, two thousand eight, 20 00:01:37,235 --> 00:01:39,875 Speaker 1: just five thousand, one hundred and twenty six days ago, 21 00:01:40,315 --> 00:01:46,075 Speaker 1: voters in California approved Proposition eight, which not merely opposed 22 00:01:46,155 --> 00:01:50,195 Speaker 1: marriage equality, but rescinded it ended the right in that 23 00:01:50,235 --> 00:01:54,155 Speaker 1: state of same sex couples to marry, seven million votes 24 00:01:54,555 --> 00:01:58,995 Speaker 1: to six million, four hundred thousand votes. I was in disbelief. 25 00:01:59,635 --> 00:02:02,875 Speaker 1: The Obama McCain presidential election had taken up so much 26 00:02:02,875 --> 00:02:05,355 Speaker 1: oxygen that fall that I never for a moment thought 27 00:02:05,355 --> 00:02:08,475 Speaker 1: there was a chance Prop eight would pass. When it did, 28 00:02:08,515 --> 00:02:12,435 Speaker 1: I was stunned and guilt ridden for having not spoken out, 29 00:02:13,155 --> 00:02:17,595 Speaker 1: and so on November I did a special comment on Countdown, 30 00:02:17,635 --> 00:02:19,395 Speaker 1: and I would like to read most of it again 31 00:02:19,435 --> 00:02:23,635 Speaker 1: for you now, because obviously this country changed so much 32 00:02:24,155 --> 00:02:27,275 Speaker 1: in such a good way since that day, and because 33 00:02:27,315 --> 00:02:29,995 Speaker 1: I want to share with you one contemporaneous reaction to 34 00:02:30,035 --> 00:02:33,875 Speaker 1: what I said on that night fourteen Novembers ago. There 35 00:02:33,915 --> 00:02:37,475 Speaker 1: are some minor edits to this, just to avoid confusion. Otherwise, 36 00:02:37,955 --> 00:02:42,675 Speaker 1: this is it word for word. I said, this isn't 37 00:02:42,675 --> 00:02:45,915 Speaker 1: about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't 38 00:02:45,955 --> 00:02:48,875 Speaker 1: really just about Prop eight. And I don't have a 39 00:02:48,875 --> 00:02:52,235 Speaker 1: personal investment in this. I'm not gay. I had too 40 00:02:52,235 --> 00:02:54,755 Speaker 1: strange to think of one member of even my very 41 00:02:54,755 --> 00:02:58,395 Speaker 1: extended family, who is I have no personal stories of 42 00:02:58,635 --> 00:03:02,995 Speaker 1: close friends or colleagues fighting prejudice that still pervades their lives, 43 00:03:03,915 --> 00:03:09,875 Speaker 1: and yet to me, this vote is horrible, horrible, because 44 00:03:10,555 --> 00:03:13,755 Speaker 1: this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics. This 45 00:03:13,835 --> 00:03:18,115 Speaker 1: is about the human heart. And if that sounds corny, 46 00:03:18,435 --> 00:03:22,435 Speaker 1: so be it. If you voted for this proposition, or 47 00:03:22,475 --> 00:03:25,995 Speaker 1: support those who did, or the sentiment they expressed. I 48 00:03:26,115 --> 00:03:33,355 Speaker 1: have some questions, because truly I do not understand why 49 00:03:33,555 --> 00:03:37,875 Speaker 1: does this matter to you? What is it to you? 50 00:03:38,555 --> 00:03:42,675 Speaker 1: In a time of impermanence and fly by night relationships, 51 00:03:43,155 --> 00:03:47,595 Speaker 1: These people over here want the same chance at permanence 52 00:03:47,635 --> 00:03:52,035 Speaker 1: and happiness that is your option. They don't want to 53 00:03:52,075 --> 00:03:55,355 Speaker 1: deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away 54 00:03:55,355 --> 00:04:00,315 Speaker 1: from you. They want what you want, a chance to 55 00:04:00,395 --> 00:04:05,195 Speaker 1: be a little less alone in the world. Only now 56 00:04:05,235 --> 00:04:07,195 Speaker 1: you are saying to them, no, you can't have it 57 00:04:07,275 --> 00:04:11,955 Speaker 1: on these terms. Maybe something similar if they behave, if 58 00:04:11,955 --> 00:04:14,795 Speaker 1: they don't cause too much trouble, You'll even give them 59 00:04:14,795 --> 00:04:17,155 Speaker 1: all the same legal rights, even as you are taking 60 00:04:17,155 --> 00:04:21,635 Speaker 1: away the legal right which they already had. A world 61 00:04:21,795 --> 00:04:24,675 Speaker 1: around them still anchored in love and marriage, and you 62 00:04:24,715 --> 00:04:29,715 Speaker 1: are saying, no, you can't marry What if somebody passed 63 00:04:29,715 --> 00:04:34,635 Speaker 1: a law that said you could not marry I keep 64 00:04:34,675 --> 00:04:38,835 Speaker 1: hearing this term redefining marriage. If this country had not 65 00:04:39,035 --> 00:04:42,555 Speaker 1: redefined marriage, black people still could not marry white people. 66 00:04:43,115 --> 00:04:46,075 Speaker 1: Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal. 67 00:04:46,755 --> 00:04:52,475 Speaker 1: In nineteen sixty seven, nineteen sixty seven, the parents of 68 00:04:52,515 --> 00:04:55,595 Speaker 1: the man who was on that day President elect of 69 00:04:55,635 --> 00:04:58,475 Speaker 1: the United States could not have married in nearly one 70 00:04:58,595 --> 00:05:01,275 Speaker 1: third of the states of the country. Their son would 71 00:05:01,315 --> 00:05:05,195 Speaker 1: grow up to lead. But it's worse than that. If 72 00:05:05,195 --> 00:05:09,555 Speaker 1: this country had not redefined marriage, some black people still 73 00:05:09,555 --> 00:05:13,075 Speaker 1: couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most 74 00:05:13,115 --> 00:05:16,835 Speaker 1: overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad history of slavery. 75 00:05:17,275 --> 00:05:20,675 Speaker 1: Marriages were not legally recognized if the people were slaves. 76 00:05:21,235 --> 00:05:24,955 Speaker 1: Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband 77 00:05:24,955 --> 00:05:29,275 Speaker 1: and wife or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different, 78 00:05:29,355 --> 00:05:32,195 Speaker 1: not until death do you part, but until death or 79 00:05:32,315 --> 00:05:38,995 Speaker 1: distance do you part. Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized, 80 00:05:39,795 --> 00:05:44,195 Speaker 1: you know, just like marriages today in California are not 81 00:05:44,315 --> 00:05:49,435 Speaker 1: legally recognized if the people are gay. And uncountable in 82 00:05:49,475 --> 00:05:52,235 Speaker 1: our history are the number of men and women forced 83 00:05:52,235 --> 00:05:56,115 Speaker 1: my society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, 84 00:05:56,355 --> 00:05:59,635 Speaker 1: or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing. 85 00:06:00,635 --> 00:06:03,635 Speaker 1: Centuries of men and women who have lived their lives 86 00:06:03,675 --> 00:06:08,115 Speaker 1: in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie 87 00:06:08,235 --> 00:06:13,315 Speaker 1: to themselves or others, broken countless other lives of spouses 88 00:06:13,355 --> 00:06:17,755 Speaker 1: and children, all because we said a man couldn't marry 89 00:06:17,795 --> 00:06:22,395 Speaker 1: another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The 90 00:06:22,515 --> 00:06:27,035 Speaker 1: sanctity of marriage? How many marriages like that have there been? 91 00:06:27,475 --> 00:06:31,075 Speaker 1: And how on earth do they increase the sanctity of 92 00:06:31,155 --> 00:06:37,755 Speaker 1: marriage rather than rendering that term meaningless? What is this 93 00:06:37,875 --> 00:06:41,995 Speaker 1: to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression 94 00:06:42,115 --> 00:06:45,995 Speaker 1: of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to 95 00:06:46,075 --> 00:06:51,715 Speaker 1: embrace that love. The world is barren enough. It is 96 00:06:51,755 --> 00:06:56,315 Speaker 1: stacked against love and against hope, and against those very 97 00:06:56,315 --> 00:07:00,035 Speaker 1: few and precious emotions that enable us, all of us, 98 00:07:00,515 --> 00:07:04,795 Speaker 1: to go forward. Your marriage only stands a fifty the 99 00:07:04,915 --> 00:07:07,235 Speaker 1: chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and 100 00:07:07,235 --> 00:07:10,715 Speaker 1: how hard you work. And here are people overjoyed at 101 00:07:10,715 --> 00:07:15,635 Speaker 1: the prospect of just that chance and that work just 102 00:07:15,835 --> 00:07:20,515 Speaker 1: for the hope of having that feeling. With so much 103 00:07:20,715 --> 00:07:24,795 Speaker 1: hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and 104 00:07:25,035 --> 00:07:28,435 Speaker 1: people pitted against each other for no good reason, This 105 00:07:29,315 --> 00:07:33,115 Speaker 1: is what your religion tells you to do with your 106 00:07:33,235 --> 00:07:36,635 Speaker 1: experience of life and this world and all its sadness 107 00:07:36,675 --> 00:07:39,275 Speaker 1: is This is what your conscience tells you to do 108 00:07:40,035 --> 00:07:44,195 Speaker 1: with your knowledge that life, with endless vigor seems to 109 00:07:44,395 --> 00:07:47,075 Speaker 1: tilt the playing field on which we all live in 110 00:07:47,115 --> 00:07:52,355 Speaker 1: favor of unhappiness and hate. This is what your heart 111 00:07:53,275 --> 00:07:58,995 Speaker 1: tells you to do. You want to sanctify marriage, You 112 00:07:59,035 --> 00:08:01,915 Speaker 1: want to honor your God and the universal love you 113 00:08:01,955 --> 00:08:08,075 Speaker 1: believe he represents. Then spread hap beginess, this tiny, symbolic, 114 00:08:08,355 --> 00:08:12,475 Speaker 1: semantical grain of happiness, share it with all those who 115 00:08:12,555 --> 00:08:16,595 Speaker 1: seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or 116 00:08:16,675 --> 00:08:19,635 Speaker 1: book of choice telling you to stand against this, and 117 00:08:19,675 --> 00:08:22,715 Speaker 1: then tell me how you can believe both that statement 118 00:08:23,235 --> 00:08:26,795 Speaker 1: and another statement, another one which reads, only do unto 119 00:08:26,915 --> 00:08:31,035 Speaker 1: others as you would have them do unto you. You 120 00:08:31,075 --> 00:08:36,115 Speaker 1: are asked now by your country, and perhaps by your creator, 121 00:08:36,675 --> 00:08:41,835 Speaker 1: to stand on one side or another. You are asked 122 00:08:41,955 --> 00:08:45,915 Speaker 1: now to stand not on a question of politics, not 123 00:08:45,995 --> 00:08:49,235 Speaker 1: on a question of religion, not on a question of 124 00:08:49,315 --> 00:08:53,555 Speaker 1: gay or straight. You are asked now to stand on 125 00:08:53,635 --> 00:08:58,395 Speaker 1: a question of love. All you need to do is 126 00:08:58,555 --> 00:09:03,355 Speaker 1: stand and let the tiny ember of love meet its 127 00:09:03,395 --> 00:09:07,555 Speaker 1: own fate. You don't have to help it, you don't 128 00:09:07,595 --> 00:09:10,515 Speaker 1: have to applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. 129 00:09:10,875 --> 00:09:17,035 Speaker 1: Just don't put it out, just don't extinguish it. Because 130 00:09:17,035 --> 00:09:19,435 Speaker 1: while it may at first look like that love is 131 00:09:19,475 --> 00:09:23,035 Speaker 1: between two people you don't know, and you don't understand, 132 00:09:23,075 --> 00:09:25,635 Speaker 1: and maybe you don't even want to know, that love 133 00:09:25,755 --> 00:09:29,395 Speaker 1: is in fact the ember of your love for your 134 00:09:29,595 --> 00:09:34,475 Speaker 1: fellow person, just because this is the only world we have, 135 00:09:35,035 --> 00:09:40,795 Speaker 1: and the other guy counts too. I find myself concluding 136 00:09:40,835 --> 00:09:44,235 Speaker 1: by turning two of all things the closing plea for 137 00:09:44,435 --> 00:09:48,915 Speaker 1: mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial. But what 138 00:09:49,035 --> 00:09:51,715 Speaker 1: he said fits what is really at the heart of this. 139 00:09:52,355 --> 00:09:56,355 Speaker 1: He said, I was reading last night of the aspiration 140 00:09:56,435 --> 00:10:00,315 Speaker 1: of the old Persian poet Omar Khyam. This is what 141 00:10:00,395 --> 00:10:03,555 Speaker 1: he told the judge. It appealed to me as the 142 00:10:03,635 --> 00:10:06,635 Speaker 1: highest that I can and vision. I wish it was 143 00:10:06,675 --> 00:10:09,715 Speaker 1: in my heart. I wish it was in the hearts 144 00:10:09,875 --> 00:10:13,835 Speaker 1: of all, so I be written in the Book of Love. 145 00:10:14,795 --> 00:10:19,195 Speaker 1: I do not care about that book above. Erase my 146 00:10:19,315 --> 00:10:23,275 Speaker 1: name or write it as you will, so I be 147 00:10:23,395 --> 00:10:31,635 Speaker 1: written in the Book of Love November two eight. On 148 00:10:31,755 --> 00:10:37,395 Speaker 1: November two thousand twenty two, the Senate voted sixty two 149 00:10:37,435 --> 00:10:41,075 Speaker 1: to thirty seven, beyond the grasp of any filipbuster, to 150 00:10:41,315 --> 00:10:45,875 Speaker 1: move forward with the Respect for Marriage Act. Marriage equality 151 00:10:46,235 --> 00:10:50,075 Speaker 1: will be the law of this nation within a month. 152 00:10:51,355 --> 00:10:57,715 Speaker 1: It is breathtaking. Of all the commentaries I have ever done, 153 00:10:57,755 --> 00:10:59,635 Speaker 1: of all the broadcasts I have ever done, the one 154 00:10:59,675 --> 00:11:02,035 Speaker 1: I have heard the most about from viewers and listeners, 155 00:11:02,035 --> 00:11:03,715 Speaker 1: and the one I still hear the most about from 156 00:11:03,795 --> 00:11:06,875 Speaker 1: viewers and listeners is that Prop eight special comment from 157 00:11:06,875 --> 00:11:10,635 Speaker 1: two thousand eight. Two months after I delivered it, I 158 00:11:10,715 --> 00:11:13,155 Speaker 1: was on a train to Washington to anchor the coverage 159 00:11:13,155 --> 00:11:16,035 Speaker 1: of the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the 160 00:11:16,115 --> 00:11:19,635 Speaker 1: United States when he had not yet endorsed the same 161 00:11:19,675 --> 00:11:22,875 Speaker 1: sex marriage. When a man stood up from his seat 162 00:11:22,915 --> 00:11:25,355 Speaker 1: down the other end of the train and began to 163 00:11:25,435 --> 00:11:28,755 Speaker 1: walk towards me, and I immediately recognized him, and he 164 00:11:28,835 --> 00:11:30,355 Speaker 1: came up to me and asked me if I was 165 00:11:30,435 --> 00:11:33,275 Speaker 1: Keith Olverman, and he extended his hand and said, my 166 00:11:33,355 --> 00:11:36,315 Speaker 1: name is Ian. I am a gay man from England. 167 00:11:36,715 --> 00:11:40,875 Speaker 1: I want to thank you for speaking on my behalf. 168 00:11:40,915 --> 00:11:44,235 Speaker 1: It was the actor Sir Ian McKellan, and as moving 169 00:11:44,275 --> 00:11:47,995 Speaker 1: as his words were, I was smiling because he somehow 170 00:11:48,035 --> 00:11:52,075 Speaker 1: thought there was a chance I wouldn't recognize him. Then 171 00:11:52,075 --> 00:11:53,915 Speaker 1: he sat across the aisle from me for a few 172 00:11:53,955 --> 00:11:56,595 Speaker 1: moments and he said that since he had first seen 173 00:11:56,675 --> 00:11:58,875 Speaker 1: the video of the commentary on YouTube, he had been 174 00:11:58,955 --> 00:12:02,235 Speaker 1: unable to get one question about it. Answered. Did I 175 00:12:02,275 --> 00:12:06,355 Speaker 1: make that video especially for YouTube or did it originate 176 00:12:06,395 --> 00:12:09,995 Speaker 1: in some other venue? What was its origin? Ian McKellan 177 00:12:10,075 --> 00:12:13,315 Speaker 1: wanted to know. I explained that I did a nightly 178 00:12:13,395 --> 00:12:18,435 Speaker 1: news and commentary show on MSNBC. And he was startled. 179 00:12:19,395 --> 00:12:24,715 Speaker 1: This was on television, cable television. You said all that 180 00:12:25,555 --> 00:12:31,835 Speaker 1: on cable television in a news show. I explained, yes, 181 00:12:33,235 --> 00:12:37,435 Speaker 1: my good God, Ian McKellan said, some of my hope 182 00:12:37,435 --> 00:12:43,715 Speaker 1: for the future is restored. Twelve Republicans in the Senate 183 00:12:43,755 --> 00:12:46,235 Speaker 1: and forty seven in the House voted for the Respect 184 00:12:46,275 --> 00:12:49,555 Speaker 1: for Marriage Act yesterday and it will be law by Christmas. 185 00:12:49,555 --> 00:12:52,315 Speaker 1: And if you just heard that commentary from two thousand eight, 186 00:12:52,315 --> 00:12:54,715 Speaker 1: for the first time, and you're maybe less than thirty 187 00:12:54,795 --> 00:12:57,435 Speaker 1: years old, you might wonder how any of what I 188 00:12:57,435 --> 00:13:02,275 Speaker 1: said that night could have been considered controversial, let alone debatable. 189 00:13:04,355 --> 00:13:08,155 Speaker 1: And it makes me think right now, as Ian McKellen 190 00:13:08,235 --> 00:13:12,915 Speaker 1: thought on that train ride to d C, some of 191 00:13:13,355 --> 00:13:31,635 Speaker 1: my hope for the future is restored still ahead. After 192 00:13:31,715 --> 00:13:34,275 Speaker 1: two weeks of getting the crap rightly beaten out of 193 00:13:34,275 --> 00:13:38,915 Speaker 1: it for firing show host Tiffany Cross, MSNBC decides it 194 00:13:39,075 --> 00:13:43,035 Speaker 1: needed to smear her in public via Rupert Murdocks New 195 00:13:43,115 --> 00:13:46,035 Speaker 1: York Post. Eleven years ago. They tried the same thing 196 00:13:46,075 --> 00:13:48,155 Speaker 1: with me, because then, as now, the people who run 197 00:13:48,275 --> 00:13:53,235 Speaker 1: NBC are scumbags. More coming up. The knives continue to 198 00:13:53,275 --> 00:13:55,435 Speaker 1: come out for Trump and his dead in the Water 199 00:13:55,555 --> 00:13:59,195 Speaker 1: declaration speech, and they are almost all coming from the 200 00:13:59,315 --> 00:14:03,835 Speaker 1: far right. And Baseball's Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins turned 201 00:14:03,875 --> 00:14:07,075 Speaker 1: thirty years old today. I know this because I was 202 00:14:07,075 --> 00:14:10,435 Speaker 1: the guy who announced their birth live on ESPN at 203 00:14:10,475 --> 00:14:14,235 Speaker 1: the expansion draft thirty years ago today, and to find 204 00:14:14,235 --> 00:14:15,795 Speaker 1: out who the first pick was going to be, I 205 00:14:15,875 --> 00:14:19,995 Speaker 1: did a terrible, terrible thing which I will finally confess to, 206 00:14:20,155 --> 00:14:23,595 Speaker 1: and things I promised not to tell about how terrible 207 00:14:23,635 --> 00:14:27,435 Speaker 1: the thing was that I did. That's next. This is countdown. 208 00:14:32,675 --> 00:14:39,835 Speaker 1: This is countdown with Keith Olberman still ahead on countdown. 209 00:14:39,955 --> 00:14:42,475 Speaker 1: It is a formula as old as time itself. Somebody 210 00:14:42,555 --> 00:14:48,195 Speaker 1: leaves MSNBC. MSNBC gets terrible publicity for it. So MSNBC 211 00:14:48,955 --> 00:14:53,155 Speaker 1: trash is the person who left anonymously, in this case, 212 00:14:53,635 --> 00:14:57,075 Speaker 1: the person who got fired. Tiffany Cross coming up first. 213 00:14:57,115 --> 00:14:59,035 Speaker 1: In each addition of Countdown, we feature a dog in 214 00:14:59,035 --> 00:15:01,155 Speaker 1: need whom you can help. Every dog has its day, 215 00:15:01,195 --> 00:15:04,915 Speaker 1: and this is a nightmare. In Missouri, a family dog 216 00:15:04,955 --> 00:15:08,555 Speaker 1: had puppies and the humans did not care. They did nothing. 217 00:15:08,955 --> 00:15:11,835 Speaker 1: All but one of the puppies starved to death, and 218 00:15:11,875 --> 00:15:16,435 Speaker 1: the mother, named Penny, was also starving with terrible infections 219 00:15:16,475 --> 00:15:19,875 Speaker 1: by the time saving St. Louis Pets rescued her. They 220 00:15:19,875 --> 00:15:23,115 Speaker 1: are running a fundraiser for Penny and her one surviving 221 00:15:23,195 --> 00:15:26,475 Speaker 1: pop on Cuddly. You can find them there and contribute, 222 00:15:26,555 --> 00:15:29,475 Speaker 1: and Penny will be in my pinned tweet at tom 223 00:15:29,555 --> 00:15:32,355 Speaker 1: Jumbo Grumbo and also with the Keith Alderman account on Twitter. 224 00:15:32,755 --> 00:15:35,555 Speaker 1: If you can donate, it'll be a big help. Obviously. 225 00:15:35,875 --> 00:15:38,835 Speaker 1: If you can't donate A retweet of Penny's sad story 226 00:15:39,195 --> 00:15:43,475 Speaker 1: can be nearly as invaluable. I thank you, and Penny 227 00:15:43,515 --> 00:16:01,035 Speaker 1: thanks you. Poscripts to the news some headlines, some updates, 228 00:16:01,115 --> 00:16:05,235 Speaker 1: some snarks, some predictions. Dateline, Washington, Mike Pence tell CBS 229 00:16:05,315 --> 00:16:08,315 Speaker 1: News that he will not testify to the January sixth Committee, 230 00:16:08,515 --> 00:16:10,915 Speaker 1: even though it is investigating the people that wanted to 231 00:16:10,995 --> 00:16:16,115 Speaker 1: hang him. Quote Congress has no right to my testimony. Ah, 232 00:16:16,195 --> 00:16:19,155 Speaker 1: it's bigger than the law. A reminder that this jackass 233 00:16:19,235 --> 00:16:22,155 Speaker 1: was just another right wing radio host in Indiana when 234 00:16:22,155 --> 00:16:26,235 Speaker 1: he developed the skill of looking profoundly thoughtful while staring 235 00:16:26,235 --> 00:16:29,555 Speaker 1: at a camera. The CBS interview was also Mike Pence's 236 00:16:29,675 --> 00:16:34,755 Speaker 1: sixth quote exclusive unquote. Since Monday, Dateline, New York, the 237 00:16:34,835 --> 00:16:37,515 Speaker 1: reviews of the Trump declaration speech continued to come in, 238 00:16:37,555 --> 00:16:40,835 Speaker 1: and they continued to be poor. My long ago colleague 239 00:16:40,875 --> 00:16:44,915 Speaker 1: Stewart Barney on Fox Business telling Lara Trump, the daughter 240 00:16:44,955 --> 00:16:47,875 Speaker 1: in law, it didn't seem that Trump had the old magic. 241 00:16:48,075 --> 00:16:52,075 Speaker 1: You know what I mean? Spoiler alert, Lara Trump didn't 242 00:16:52,115 --> 00:16:55,435 Speaker 1: know what he meant. And Dateline, Los Angeles, the vote 243 00:16:55,475 --> 00:16:58,755 Speaker 1: is finally in. Karen Bass is the new mayor elect 244 00:16:58,875 --> 00:17:02,435 Speaker 1: of l A, edging the Fox Democrat Rick Caruso, who 245 00:17:02,435 --> 00:17:05,955 Speaker 1: spent more than one and four million dollars to be 246 00:17:06,075 --> 00:17:25,835 Speaker 1: a loser. This is Sports Center. Wait, check that not anymore. 247 00:17:26,635 --> 00:17:33,235 Speaker 1: This is Countdown with Keith Alberman in sports Baseball Cy 248 00:17:33,435 --> 00:17:36,275 Speaker 1: Young Awards given out last night. Justin Verlander of the 249 00:17:36,315 --> 00:17:38,915 Speaker 1: Astros wins the third of his career as the American 250 00:17:38,995 --> 00:17:43,315 Speaker 1: League recipient. Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins takes the NL prize. 251 00:17:43,435 --> 00:17:47,315 Speaker 1: Both won unanimously, first time that's happened since ninety eight, 252 00:17:47,355 --> 00:17:49,275 Speaker 1: when the winners were Bob Gibson, who had an r 253 00:17:49,315 --> 00:17:52,115 Speaker 1: A of one point one two and Denny McClain, who 254 00:17:52,195 --> 00:17:54,355 Speaker 1: won thirty one games that year. The big stat for 255 00:17:54,395 --> 00:17:57,475 Speaker 1: al Contra, the NL winner, is that he threw six 256 00:17:57,515 --> 00:18:01,035 Speaker 1: complete games, more than any other team managed to amass. 257 00:18:01,395 --> 00:18:03,915 Speaker 1: This leads into what has happened to the complete game. 258 00:18:03,955 --> 00:18:05,995 Speaker 1: Nobody has thrown as many as ten of them in 259 00:18:06,035 --> 00:18:09,075 Speaker 1: a season since two thousand eleven. Nobody has thrown as 260 00:18:09,075 --> 00:18:13,635 Speaker 1: many as twenty since Fernando valenzwal in six In fact, 261 00:18:13,715 --> 00:18:17,355 Speaker 1: of the five hundred and twenty nine highest single season 262 00:18:17,435 --> 00:18:21,595 Speaker 1: totals for complete games in a season in baseball history. 263 00:18:22,275 --> 00:18:25,875 Speaker 1: Only one of them happened later the World War One. 264 00:18:26,395 --> 00:18:28,955 Speaker 1: That was the thirty three piled up by Robin Roberts 265 00:18:28,995 --> 00:18:32,715 Speaker 1: of the Phillies in nineteen three. And an unusual trade 266 00:18:32,755 --> 00:18:42,315 Speaker 1: in baseball last night, Thank you Nancy Faust, the teams 267 00:18:42,315 --> 00:18:45,155 Speaker 1: that met in the American League Wild Cards Series swapped 268 00:18:45,235 --> 00:18:49,275 Speaker 1: guys Seattle gets slugging outfielder Tayascar Hernandez who would not 269 00:18:49,395 --> 00:18:53,075 Speaker 1: sign a long term deal with Toronto, for pitchers Eric Swanson, 270 00:18:53,115 --> 00:18:56,835 Speaker 1: a good reliever and prospect Adam Macco. After an expert 271 00:18:56,915 --> 00:19:00,355 Speaker 1: junior football player shot and killed three current team members, 272 00:19:00,395 --> 00:19:02,675 Speaker 1: and we learned yesterday that a witness confirms the shooter 273 00:19:02,755 --> 00:19:05,995 Speaker 1: aimed at his victims that was not ran. Virginia has 274 00:19:06,075 --> 00:19:10,115 Speaker 1: canceled its scheduled Saturday game against Coastal Carolina. It's the 275 00:19:10,195 --> 00:19:13,355 Speaker 1: right call. Unfortunately, it's one a lot of schools probably 276 00:19:13,355 --> 00:19:16,315 Speaker 1: would not make. At the World Cup in Qatar, as 277 00:19:16,315 --> 00:19:19,555 Speaker 1: it looms the shame of a country in which homosexuality 278 00:19:19,635 --> 00:19:23,675 Speaker 1: is a crime hosting soccer's biggest event, the general repressiveness 279 00:19:23,715 --> 00:19:26,315 Speaker 1: of the place continues to come out. A Danish reporter 280 00:19:26,395 --> 00:19:28,915 Speaker 1: in a public place in Qatar Live from the World 281 00:19:28,995 --> 00:19:32,315 Speaker 1: Cup on TV was forced off the air without any 282 00:19:32,355 --> 00:19:36,315 Speaker 1: explanation by private security guards who threatened to break his camera, 283 00:19:36,915 --> 00:19:40,075 Speaker 1: and Kyrie Irving, suspended by the Brooklyn Nets after repeated 284 00:19:40,115 --> 00:19:43,275 Speaker 1: anti Semitic actions, could return to the lineup as early 285 00:19:43,275 --> 00:19:46,875 Speaker 1: as Sunday, according to my friend Woe j ESPN because 286 00:19:46,875 --> 00:19:50,515 Speaker 1: he's quote nearing completion on the process needed for a 287 00:19:50,595 --> 00:20:01,155 Speaker 1: return to play. Whatever that means. I had thirty years 288 00:20:01,195 --> 00:20:04,275 Speaker 1: since the expansion draft that created the Colorado Rockies and 289 00:20:04,275 --> 00:20:08,595 Speaker 1: the now Miami Marlins. I anchored the draft on ESPN 290 00:20:08,715 --> 00:20:10,875 Speaker 1: from like ten in the morning until ten at night 291 00:20:11,275 --> 00:20:13,755 Speaker 1: and to get the scoop as to who was going 292 00:20:13,795 --> 00:20:16,435 Speaker 1: to be chosen. First, I did a bad, bad thing. 293 00:20:17,155 --> 00:20:20,315 Speaker 1: I'll confess to it next. First, the daily roundup of 294 00:20:20,315 --> 00:20:24,035 Speaker 1: the misgrants, morons and Donning Kruger effect specimens who constitute 295 00:20:24,035 --> 00:20:29,995 Speaker 1: today's worst persons in the world and all media edition 296 00:20:30,035 --> 00:20:32,515 Speaker 1: see if you can spot the theme the bronze Laura 297 00:20:32,675 --> 00:20:35,955 Speaker 1: Ingram of Fox News and Charlie Kirk the kid who 298 00:20:35,955 --> 00:20:39,515 Speaker 1: looks like a badly drawn version of Charlie Brown. They 299 00:20:39,555 --> 00:20:44,595 Speaker 1: are still pushing the homophobic and more importantly fabricated conspiracy 300 00:20:44,635 --> 00:20:47,635 Speaker 1: theory about the attempted assassination of Nancy Pelosi by a 301 00:20:47,715 --> 00:20:51,315 Speaker 1: MAGA nuts and the attack on Paul Pelosi their current 302 00:20:51,355 --> 00:20:55,795 Speaker 1: obsession quote media mystery now at center of Paul Pelosi attack. 303 00:20:55,875 --> 00:20:58,715 Speaker 1: What they mean by that is that NBC News reporter 304 00:20:58,795 --> 00:21:02,555 Speaker 1: Miguel al mcgare put on a provably false story ten 305 00:21:02,675 --> 00:21:06,035 Speaker 1: days ago, one so bad that NBC had to formally 306 00:21:06,155 --> 00:21:09,915 Speaker 1: retract it, and al mcgare was then suspended. Ingram and 307 00:21:10,035 --> 00:21:14,875 Speaker 1: Kirk insists almaghar might have been right, and he's being silenced, 308 00:21:14,995 --> 00:21:17,795 Speaker 1: and if the story was inaccurate, NBC should just specify 309 00:21:17,835 --> 00:21:21,155 Speaker 1: the mistake and move on. Hell if Fox did that, 310 00:21:21,155 --> 00:21:23,235 Speaker 1: they have to start a second channel just to list 311 00:21:23,235 --> 00:21:26,955 Speaker 1: all their mistakes. How much more do you need? They 312 00:21:26,995 --> 00:21:30,755 Speaker 1: retracted the story. It was all wrong. Runner up chairman 313 00:21:30,795 --> 00:21:33,515 Speaker 1: and chief executive officer of CNN Worldwide, who when we 314 00:21:33,515 --> 00:21:36,075 Speaker 1: were at MSNBC together I thought, used to eat paste. 315 00:21:36,315 --> 00:21:41,195 Speaker 1: Chris licked Puck News reporting it's not a hockey publication. 316 00:21:41,715 --> 00:21:43,635 Speaker 1: I told them, don't call it that. Everybody will think 317 00:21:43,675 --> 00:21:48,115 Speaker 1: it's a hockey publication. Puck News reporting that after signaling 318 00:21:48,155 --> 00:21:50,915 Speaker 1: he would not implement layoffs, licked has now announced it 319 00:21:50,955 --> 00:21:54,515 Speaker 1: a CNN town hall that he is implementing layoffs beginning 320 00:21:54,555 --> 00:21:58,355 Speaker 1: next month. But it's worse than that. Licked also froze 321 00:21:58,395 --> 00:22:01,755 Speaker 1: nearly all of CNN travel. Now it turns out he 322 00:22:01,795 --> 00:22:05,315 Speaker 1: has headed to Abu Dhabi this weekend and is expected 323 00:22:05,315 --> 00:22:09,835 Speaker 1: to attend the Formula one Grand Prix race there, probably 324 00:22:09,835 --> 00:22:13,595 Speaker 1: with his family on the trip with him, and Puck reports. 325 00:22:13,635 --> 00:22:16,875 Speaker 1: Lickt also seems to be burying CNN veteran Wolf Blitzer 326 00:22:17,235 --> 00:22:20,435 Speaker 1: prediction Chris Licht is not going to last on that job, 327 00:22:21,075 --> 00:22:24,915 Speaker 1: but our winner, speaking of not lasting much longer. MSNBC 328 00:22:25,595 --> 00:22:28,555 Speaker 1: two weeks ago it fired weekend host Tiffany Cross to 329 00:22:28,675 --> 00:22:31,995 Speaker 1: appease the right wing after she referred to Clarence Thomas 330 00:22:32,075 --> 00:22:36,155 Speaker 1: as Justice pubic hair and was attacked by Tucker Carlson 331 00:22:36,795 --> 00:22:39,995 Speaker 1: and MSNBC, NBC News and NBC Universal Live in abject 332 00:22:40,155 --> 00:22:43,995 Speaker 1: terror of any criticism from the political right. Well, MSNBC 333 00:22:44,115 --> 00:22:47,715 Speaker 1: president Rashida Jones and NBC News president saysar Conde, I 334 00:22:47,755 --> 00:22:51,475 Speaker 1: guess he's chairman whatever, and NBC Universal chairman Jeff Shell 335 00:22:52,355 --> 00:22:55,275 Speaker 1: got Frick a seed for caving and firing Cross, and 336 00:22:55,435 --> 00:22:58,315 Speaker 1: rightly so so a little late, they've turned to page 337 00:22:58,315 --> 00:23:03,475 Speaker 1: one in the MSNBC Screw Him Playbook. They have smeared 338 00:23:03,515 --> 00:23:06,795 Speaker 1: Tiffany Cross as a veteran of that particular page in 339 00:23:06,795 --> 00:23:09,995 Speaker 1: the MSNBC playbook. They did it to me when I left, 340 00:23:10,435 --> 00:23:12,875 Speaker 1: when I left in two thousand eleven, and after the 341 00:23:12,915 --> 00:23:15,515 Speaker 1: negotiations to go back there last year turned out to 342 00:23:15,515 --> 00:23:18,835 Speaker 1: go nowhere. Let me explain this as I tell you 343 00:23:18,875 --> 00:23:21,875 Speaker 1: what they've done. Somebody leaked to The New York Post, 344 00:23:21,915 --> 00:23:25,195 Speaker 1: and remember that's the same corporation that employs Tucker Carlson 345 00:23:25,755 --> 00:23:29,875 Speaker 1: that Cross had called, quote other journalists, media executives, and 346 00:23:29,955 --> 00:23:33,555 Speaker 1: social activists and made calls saying I'm going out in 347 00:23:33,635 --> 00:23:36,235 Speaker 1: a blaze and I'm taking down the network and going 348 00:23:36,275 --> 00:23:40,755 Speaker 1: after Rashida, meaning the president of MSNBC, Rashida Jones. Now 349 00:23:40,795 --> 00:23:43,835 Speaker 1: the NBC motive for making up that quote is not 350 00:23:43,995 --> 00:23:47,115 Speaker 1: only does it make Cross look bad, but it makes 351 00:23:47,195 --> 00:23:50,315 Speaker 1: Rashida Jones, the president of the network, look like a victim. 352 00:23:50,355 --> 00:23:54,595 Speaker 1: And it undermines anybody who criticized NBC for firing Cross, 353 00:23:54,675 --> 00:23:58,475 Speaker 1: because it looks like they're just rallying to a friend's aid. Also, 354 00:23:59,155 --> 00:24:03,155 Speaker 1: that phrase social activists when used by the New York Post. 355 00:24:03,755 --> 00:24:06,915 Speaker 1: That's shorthand for back people. Wait, there's more, and it's 356 00:24:06,995 --> 00:24:10,155 Speaker 1: classic media management smear quoting The Post has learned that 357 00:24:10,195 --> 00:24:12,315 Speaker 1: she had also been under fire for racking up as 358 00:24:12,395 --> 00:24:15,795 Speaker 1: much as one hundred thousand dollars and expenses for five 359 00:24:15,875 --> 00:24:19,515 Speaker 1: star hotels days she took trips to Los Angeles and 360 00:24:19,515 --> 00:24:23,555 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl, positioning them as work trips. Unquote, A 361 00:24:23,595 --> 00:24:26,955 Speaker 1: couple of things wrong here. Racking up as much as 362 00:24:27,035 --> 00:24:31,635 Speaker 1: one hundred thousand dollars as much as well, two dollars 363 00:24:31,675 --> 00:24:35,195 Speaker 1: in fifteen cents is as much as a hundred thousand dollars. 364 00:24:35,475 --> 00:24:38,715 Speaker 1: Then nobody on any network has an expense account. You 365 00:24:38,715 --> 00:24:41,755 Speaker 1: can't just spend the company's money. Either you stay at 366 00:24:41,795 --> 00:24:45,115 Speaker 1: the hotel the network selects because they have a deal everywhere, 367 00:24:45,395 --> 00:24:47,715 Speaker 1: or you stay somewhere else and you put in for expenses, 368 00:24:47,755 --> 00:24:50,675 Speaker 1: and if NBC doesn't approve, they don't cover your expenses. 369 00:24:51,035 --> 00:24:54,435 Speaker 1: You're saddled with the bill. And also, wait, this is 370 00:24:54,475 --> 00:24:56,395 Speaker 1: about a trip to the super Bowl. She was fired 371 00:24:56,395 --> 00:24:59,875 Speaker 1: in November for a trip to the Super Bowl. Last February, 372 00:25:00,915 --> 00:25:04,555 Speaker 1: quote Cross irked colleagues as she demanded more office space 373 00:25:04,835 --> 00:25:06,835 Speaker 1: despite the fact she was only on the air once 374 00:25:06,835 --> 00:25:09,555 Speaker 1: a week. So does that mean she wanted her own 375 00:25:09,755 --> 00:25:13,435 Speaker 1: floor at thirty Rock or her own building in Midtown Manhattan, 376 00:25:13,595 --> 00:25:15,435 Speaker 1: Or does it mean that they gave her a cubicle 377 00:25:16,235 --> 00:25:18,315 Speaker 1: and she asked for a small office with a door 378 00:25:18,555 --> 00:25:20,435 Speaker 1: so she could write her scripts and piece and have 379 00:25:20,555 --> 00:25:22,995 Speaker 1: meetings and stuff. Or was she asking for more office 380 00:25:23,035 --> 00:25:27,795 Speaker 1: space for her producers and staff. The premises make Tiffany 381 00:25:27,795 --> 00:25:30,515 Speaker 1: Cross look like an elitist of Prima Donna, an open 382 00:25:30,595 --> 00:25:34,715 Speaker 1: money spigot. When Current TV breached my contract in two 383 00:25:34,715 --> 00:25:37,915 Speaker 1: thousand twelve and tried to blame me because they decided 384 00:25:37,955 --> 00:25:40,035 Speaker 1: they just didn't want to pay anybody the eight million 385 00:25:40,035 --> 00:25:42,675 Speaker 1: dollars they owed me that year, they hired a former 386 00:25:42,715 --> 00:25:45,195 Speaker 1: White House spin doctor to plant stories in the New 387 00:25:45,275 --> 00:25:49,315 Speaker 1: York Post and elsewhere that I was irking colleagues by 388 00:25:49,355 --> 00:25:53,515 Speaker 1: constantly changing the car service that picked me up and 389 00:25:53,555 --> 00:25:56,035 Speaker 1: took me to the studio and back every day, and 390 00:25:56,075 --> 00:25:58,555 Speaker 1: I said mean things about the driver's while I was 391 00:25:58,675 --> 00:26:02,275 Speaker 1: constantly changing the car service. But they left this part out. 392 00:26:02,315 --> 00:26:05,915 Speaker 1: I was doing so because Current TA had stopped paying 393 00:26:06,075 --> 00:26:09,355 Speaker 1: its car service bills among most of its other bills, 394 00:26:09,675 --> 00:26:11,915 Speaker 1: and every other day, we had to find a new 395 00:26:11,955 --> 00:26:16,435 Speaker 1: car service who the company had not stiffed yet. Eventually, 396 00:26:16,475 --> 00:26:19,515 Speaker 1: the only company that would pick me up was run 397 00:26:19,555 --> 00:26:21,755 Speaker 1: by a guy who used to smoke in the car 398 00:26:22,955 --> 00:26:27,595 Speaker 1: and MSNBC, in particular, will smear anybody who leaves. When 399 00:26:27,635 --> 00:26:29,435 Speaker 1: I left there in two thousand eleven, there was a 400 00:26:29,435 --> 00:26:32,355 Speaker 1: written agreement, and a key element in that agreement was 401 00:26:32,435 --> 00:26:36,355 Speaker 1: no smearing. Two days after I left, here comes the stories, 402 00:26:36,675 --> 00:26:40,315 Speaker 1: which eventually got around too. I swear a story that 403 00:26:40,475 --> 00:26:42,835 Speaker 1: claimed that everybody on my staff was put off and 404 00:26:42,915 --> 00:26:46,715 Speaker 1: hated me because I used to wear running shoes into 405 00:26:46,795 --> 00:26:52,355 Speaker 1: the office. I swear MSNBC smeared me so often, always anonymously, 406 00:26:52,475 --> 00:26:55,435 Speaker 1: always as a source to places like The New York Post, 407 00:26:55,595 --> 00:26:59,035 Speaker 1: that the issue was taken to a mediator and NBC 408 00:26:59,195 --> 00:27:02,675 Speaker 1: was ordered to pay me thousands in penalties. I hope 409 00:27:02,715 --> 00:27:06,515 Speaker 1: Tiffany Cross got that deal. Broadly speaking, nobody should cry 410 00:27:06,595 --> 00:27:09,435 Speaker 1: for people on TV for all the downsides. You're paid 411 00:27:09,515 --> 00:27:13,875 Speaker 1: ridiculously well, and there's somebody to comb your hair for you. 412 00:27:14,355 --> 00:27:17,195 Speaker 1: But the smearing is a way to manipulate the audience, 413 00:27:17,395 --> 00:27:20,875 Speaker 1: to damage the employee, and to protect the company's reputation. 414 00:27:20,955 --> 00:27:25,915 Speaker 1: When the company's reputation should be crap like NBC's MSNBC 415 00:27:25,955 --> 00:27:28,515 Speaker 1: and NBC News and NBC have always been good at 416 00:27:28,555 --> 00:27:33,715 Speaker 1: smearing and not good at much else. Them and MSNBC 417 00:27:33,795 --> 00:27:37,355 Speaker 1: president Rashida Jones, NBC News Chairman Caesar Conde, and NBC 418 00:27:37,475 --> 00:27:40,555 Speaker 1: Universal Chairman Jeff Shell will show them. We'll trash er 419 00:27:40,875 --> 00:27:44,715 Speaker 1: and that will show them what lousy judges of talent 420 00:27:44,875 --> 00:27:47,675 Speaker 1: we are. Hey, who you are? Who thought this plan? 421 00:27:47,835 --> 00:28:06,715 Speaker 1: Up today's worst persons in the world to the number 422 00:28:06,755 --> 00:28:09,075 Speaker 1: one story on the Countdown in my favorite topic, me 423 00:28:09,435 --> 00:28:11,795 Speaker 1: and things I promised not to tell, And for the 424 00:28:11,835 --> 00:28:15,275 Speaker 1: first time that really applies to this, I have a 425 00:28:15,315 --> 00:28:21,715 Speaker 1: confession to make. Thirty years ago today, November, Baseball's Colorado 426 00:28:21,795 --> 00:28:25,275 Speaker 1: Rockies in Florida now Miami Marlins were born by an 427 00:28:25,395 --> 00:28:28,595 Speaker 1: expansion draft, the first in baseball in sixteen years in 428 00:28:28,675 --> 00:28:33,755 Speaker 1: New York, and I anchored it on ESPN all day 429 00:28:34,395 --> 00:28:36,755 Speaker 1: and before it started, I was able to figure out 430 00:28:36,755 --> 00:28:39,275 Speaker 1: who the first pick in the draft was going to be. 431 00:28:39,875 --> 00:28:42,675 Speaker 1: And then, as now, I wasn't proud of how I 432 00:28:42,715 --> 00:28:46,875 Speaker 1: confirmed that story, but I did it anyway. It wasn't planned, 433 00:28:46,915 --> 00:28:50,275 Speaker 1: it didn't do any real harm. And what followed. It 434 00:28:50,315 --> 00:28:54,035 Speaker 1: was one of the weirdest things I've ever experienced in broadcasting. 435 00:28:55,195 --> 00:28:59,435 Speaker 1: The draft and our interminable broadcast I got on the 436 00:28:59,475 --> 00:29:02,115 Speaker 1: set before it was light and left after it got 437 00:29:02,195 --> 00:29:05,675 Speaker 1: dark took place in the Marriott Marquis Telling Times Square 438 00:29:05,715 --> 00:29:09,395 Speaker 1: in New York on November. And not only were we 439 00:29:09,515 --> 00:29:12,155 Speaker 1: on the air, Peter Gammon's and Ray Night and me 440 00:29:12,315 --> 00:29:15,115 Speaker 1: at the anchor desk from like ten in the morning 441 00:29:15,155 --> 00:29:17,555 Speaker 1: until ten at night, but the three of us plus 442 00:29:17,675 --> 00:29:21,595 Speaker 1: dozens of staffers had been sequestered to prepare in that 443 00:29:21,755 --> 00:29:25,275 Speaker 1: hotel for almost the entirety of the previous week. They 444 00:29:25,275 --> 00:29:29,515 Speaker 1: didn't even want us leaving the hotel. Moreover, Gammons and 445 00:29:29,635 --> 00:29:31,835 Speaker 1: I and others had been meeting for an hour or 446 00:29:31,835 --> 00:29:35,955 Speaker 1: so every Tuesday since August to go over the thousands 447 00:29:35,995 --> 00:29:38,715 Speaker 1: of possibilities of who would be eligible for this draft, 448 00:29:38,835 --> 00:29:41,195 Speaker 1: who would not, and who would likely to be taken. 449 00:29:42,435 --> 00:29:44,755 Speaker 1: Our preparation was like a real life version of the 450 00:29:44,795 --> 00:29:48,235 Speaker 1: apocryphal story of the ancient king assembling scholars to study 451 00:29:48,275 --> 00:29:52,635 Speaker 1: for years to find him one phrase that was true 452 00:29:52,755 --> 00:29:56,395 Speaker 1: and usable in any circumstance. Well, by the time November 453 00:29:56,475 --> 00:29:58,835 Speaker 1: rolled around, we had had so many of these meetings 454 00:29:58,875 --> 00:30:01,275 Speaker 1: that I was dreaming the names of one d possible 455 00:30:01,315 --> 00:30:04,155 Speaker 1: minor leaguers they might draft off the New York Mets 456 00:30:05,435 --> 00:30:08,355 Speaker 1: future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman was selected in that draft. 457 00:30:08,395 --> 00:30:11,995 Speaker 1: We talked about him, so we're later Yankees and Phillies 458 00:30:12,035 --> 00:30:15,355 Speaker 1: manager Joe Girardi and two other future major league managers, 459 00:30:15,355 --> 00:30:19,755 Speaker 1: Brad Ausmus and Eric Wedge. Then it's a pretty quick 460 00:30:19,755 --> 00:30:24,875 Speaker 1: fall off to the Ryan Hallblitzel's and Andre's Barrowman's who 461 00:30:24,875 --> 00:30:28,875 Speaker 1: were selected in the draft. Anyway, maybe on the Sunday 462 00:30:28,955 --> 00:30:31,355 Speaker 1: before the actual draft, which was on a Tuesday that year, 463 00:30:31,595 --> 00:30:34,515 Speaker 1: Peter Gammon's found out that the guy the Florida Marlins 464 00:30:34,595 --> 00:30:37,715 Speaker 1: really wanted was a minor league outfielder who had been 465 00:30:37,795 --> 00:30:41,875 Speaker 1: left exposed by the Toronto Blue Jays named Nigel Wilson. 466 00:30:42,595 --> 00:30:45,635 Speaker 1: But the number one pick by the Colorado Rockies was 467 00:30:45,675 --> 00:30:49,395 Speaker 1: still uncertain. Since August, we had figured the Rockies would 468 00:30:49,395 --> 00:30:52,075 Speaker 1: take the best picture available, and that that would be 469 00:30:52,075 --> 00:30:55,195 Speaker 1: whichever one of three or four guys the Atlanta Braves 470 00:30:55,235 --> 00:30:57,875 Speaker 1: did not protect then as now they had a lot 471 00:30:57,875 --> 00:31:01,275 Speaker 1: of good young pictures. The two likeliest possibilities that they 472 00:31:01,315 --> 00:31:05,635 Speaker 1: were gonna have to expose were named Kent, Mrker David Need. 473 00:31:07,275 --> 00:31:10,035 Speaker 1: So early on Monday, somebody I knew in the Rockies 474 00:31:10,115 --> 00:31:12,955 Speaker 1: organization confirmed to me off the record that their franchise 475 00:31:12,995 --> 00:31:17,235 Speaker 1: had decided on taking the Atlanta picture. And when I 476 00:31:17,235 --> 00:31:21,715 Speaker 1: said which one, he laughed and said, scap for it, 477 00:31:22,355 --> 00:31:24,355 Speaker 1: which was something we used to say on the playground 478 00:31:24,395 --> 00:31:25,875 Speaker 1: when I was a kid, when we wanted the other 479 00:31:25,955 --> 00:31:28,395 Speaker 1: kid to have to search for something like a dropped 480 00:31:28,435 --> 00:31:33,355 Speaker 1: coin or a marble or the homework answers. Then another 481 00:31:33,475 --> 00:31:36,715 Speaker 1: source told me that the Braves in deciding on the 482 00:31:36,755 --> 00:31:40,595 Speaker 1: Atlanta picture, well, they had chosen to protect Kent Mrker, 483 00:31:40,675 --> 00:31:43,995 Speaker 1: but not to protect David Need. And so I asked 484 00:31:44,275 --> 00:31:47,435 Speaker 1: our searcher at the draft, Vinnie va salo Vin. He's 485 00:31:47,435 --> 00:31:49,875 Speaker 1: a statman who I mentioned ten days ago after he 486 00:31:49,955 --> 00:31:52,355 Speaker 1: passed away. I asked Vinnie to see if there was 487 00:31:52,395 --> 00:31:55,715 Speaker 1: some way he could find the phone number for David 488 00:31:55,835 --> 00:32:00,075 Speaker 1: Needs family in Texas I think it was, And of 489 00:32:00,115 --> 00:32:03,435 Speaker 1: course Vinnie found the number, and I knew the Rockies 490 00:32:03,475 --> 00:32:05,355 Speaker 1: were going to have to have who ever they were 491 00:32:05,355 --> 00:32:08,875 Speaker 1: going to pick first in New York with us for 492 00:32:09,035 --> 00:32:13,355 Speaker 1: the announcement on Tuesday morning, so if David Need was 493 00:32:13,395 --> 00:32:16,115 Speaker 1: still at his parents home in Texas or wherever it 494 00:32:16,195 --> 00:32:18,955 Speaker 1: was at five pm Monday local time, he was really 495 00:32:19,075 --> 00:32:23,395 Speaker 1: unlikely to be in New York before ten am Tuesday. 496 00:32:23,995 --> 00:32:27,995 Speaker 1: They would not cut it that close. So I took 497 00:32:28,035 --> 00:32:29,635 Speaker 1: the phone number of then he got for me, and 498 00:32:29,675 --> 00:32:33,515 Speaker 1: I called and a young voice answered, his younger sister, 499 00:32:33,715 --> 00:32:37,915 Speaker 1: maybe maybe a tween ten eleven, something like that, And 500 00:32:37,955 --> 00:32:41,635 Speaker 1: I asked, is David there? And she said, no, he's not. 501 00:32:41,795 --> 00:32:44,235 Speaker 1: Can I take a message? And that's when it came 502 00:32:44,275 --> 00:32:48,475 Speaker 1: to me, some kind of evil repertorial instinct which made 503 00:32:48,475 --> 00:32:51,235 Speaker 1: me say, oh, I'm sorry I missed him. Did he 504 00:32:51,275 --> 00:32:53,795 Speaker 1: already get on the plane for New York? And she 505 00:32:53,875 --> 00:32:58,515 Speaker 1: said yes. Before I had finished thanking her, I began 506 00:32:58,555 --> 00:33:03,235 Speaker 1: to feel a guilt that I have retained to this day. Still. 507 00:33:04,155 --> 00:33:06,395 Speaker 1: A scoop is a scoop. We were there to cover 508 00:33:06,475 --> 00:33:09,155 Speaker 1: the expansion draft, and I sure had covered it. A 509 00:33:09,315 --> 00:33:11,915 Speaker 1: Rocky source said they were taking the Atlanta picture, and 510 00:33:11,955 --> 00:33:15,035 Speaker 1: Atlanta source said the Braves had not protected David Need. 511 00:33:15,195 --> 00:33:17,875 Speaker 1: A Need family source had said he was already on 512 00:33:17,915 --> 00:33:21,755 Speaker 1: the plane to New York at the last big staff 513 00:33:21,795 --> 00:33:24,635 Speaker 1: meeting in a conference room in the hotel just before 514 00:33:24,675 --> 00:33:28,315 Speaker 1: dinner on Monday, we all agreed ESPN had learned that 515 00:33:28,435 --> 00:33:30,915 Speaker 1: David Need would be the first player chosen in the 516 00:33:31,795 --> 00:33:35,555 Speaker 1: expansion Draft and Nigel Wilson would be the second, And 517 00:33:35,755 --> 00:33:39,355 Speaker 1: this being thirty years ago, we sat on all that 518 00:33:39,995 --> 00:33:42,995 Speaker 1: there was no internet. There was no value in putting 519 00:33:43,035 --> 00:33:44,955 Speaker 1: it on the eleven PM Sports Center because the only 520 00:33:44,995 --> 00:33:47,475 Speaker 1: suspense we had for the actual broadcast of the draft 521 00:33:47,675 --> 00:33:50,515 Speaker 1: the next day was letting people wonder if maybe some 522 00:33:50,555 --> 00:33:52,915 Speaker 1: of the wilder rumors were correct and the first guy 523 00:33:52,995 --> 00:33:55,035 Speaker 1: chosen in the draft the next day wouldn't be some 524 00:33:55,555 --> 00:33:58,715 Speaker 1: obscure prospect like David Need, but would be a big 525 00:33:58,835 --> 00:34:01,755 Speaker 1: name like Eddie Murray or Lee Smith or some other 526 00:34:01,835 --> 00:34:05,955 Speaker 1: high price guy. Edis are to believe. But we kept 527 00:34:05,995 --> 00:34:12,515 Speaker 1: these two scoops to ourselves for sixteen hours. Nobody knew 528 00:34:12,955 --> 00:34:16,715 Speaker 1: until we signed on the next morning. That used to 529 00:34:16,755 --> 00:34:20,235 Speaker 1: happen all the time. I confirmed the trade of Wayne 530 00:34:20,235 --> 00:34:23,355 Speaker 1: Gretzky to the l A. Kings in August about five 531 00:34:23,395 --> 00:34:26,035 Speaker 1: PM Pacific time. It was still at breaking news exclusive 532 00:34:26,235 --> 00:34:28,315 Speaker 1: when we led with it on the Channel five News 533 00:34:28,435 --> 00:34:34,955 Speaker 1: at ten. However, there was a fairly new ESPN correspondent 534 00:34:34,995 --> 00:34:37,275 Speaker 1: who was with us in the New York hotel representing 535 00:34:37,515 --> 00:34:39,995 Speaker 1: ESPN Radio. And I think she is still with the company, 536 00:34:40,155 --> 00:34:42,155 Speaker 1: so I will leave her name out of it, because 537 00:34:42,355 --> 00:34:45,955 Speaker 1: I really think in retrospect, she just had no idea. 538 00:34:46,395 --> 00:34:49,875 Speaker 1: This wasn't what all of ESPN management had wanted her 539 00:34:49,915 --> 00:34:53,475 Speaker 1: to do. And she listened very carefully to Gammon's reporting 540 00:34:53,515 --> 00:34:57,035 Speaker 1: to the group that he'd figured out and figured out 541 00:34:57,075 --> 00:34:59,195 Speaker 1: and was going to report that Nigel Wilson was the 542 00:34:59,195 --> 00:35:02,515 Speaker 1: first choice of the Marlins, and me reporting to the 543 00:35:02,555 --> 00:35:05,235 Speaker 1: group that I'd figured out and had figured out was 544 00:35:05,235 --> 00:35:10,835 Speaker 1: going to report by deceiving David needs Kids sister. And 545 00:35:10,915 --> 00:35:15,155 Speaker 1: then she said this reporter did excuse me, I don't 546 00:35:15,155 --> 00:35:16,675 Speaker 1: want to just walk out of the room, but I'm 547 00:35:16,715 --> 00:35:18,555 Speaker 1: just leaving to go back to my room and phone 548 00:35:18,555 --> 00:35:20,715 Speaker 1: all this into ESPN Radio so we can put it 549 00:35:20,755 --> 00:35:24,915 Speaker 1: on the air right away, as in a movie. Several 550 00:35:25,075 --> 00:35:27,875 Speaker 1: dozen heads turned towards her, each with a look of 551 00:35:27,915 --> 00:35:30,755 Speaker 1: astonishment on it, except for one or two guys who 552 00:35:30,915 --> 00:35:36,595 Speaker 1: just assumed she was kidding. They laughed. I laughed. I 553 00:35:36,675 --> 00:35:39,235 Speaker 1: was one of the hosts song ESPN Radio. Hell. I 554 00:35:39,275 --> 00:35:42,355 Speaker 1: was one of the founding hosts of ESPN Radio. So 555 00:35:42,395 --> 00:35:46,155 Speaker 1: I said, what do you mean we're embargoing this. We're 556 00:35:46,195 --> 00:35:48,155 Speaker 1: not even running it on Sports Center. We're gonna lead 557 00:35:48,195 --> 00:35:52,195 Speaker 1: the draft coverage with it tomorrow. And she smiled pleasantly 558 00:35:52,235 --> 00:35:55,155 Speaker 1: and said, well, that might be what they told you 559 00:35:55,315 --> 00:35:57,875 Speaker 1: to do, but I was told to report any breaking 560 00:35:57,875 --> 00:36:02,075 Speaker 1: news immediately, and and this is breaking news at this point. 561 00:36:02,115 --> 00:36:05,915 Speaker 1: Peter Gammon's got very red. The hell you are, he said, 562 00:36:06,435 --> 00:36:09,595 Speaker 1: and she said pleasantly, yes, the hell I am, and 563 00:36:09,715 --> 00:36:13,315 Speaker 1: she got up and left. I wasn't quite as mad 564 00:36:13,355 --> 00:36:17,355 Speaker 1: as Peter, or as our executive producer, or as any 565 00:36:17,395 --> 00:36:20,155 Speaker 1: of the other dozen producers or anybody else in the room, because, 566 00:36:20,195 --> 00:36:23,555 Speaker 1: as I said, I worked for ESPN Radio too. I 567 00:36:23,595 --> 00:36:26,115 Speaker 1: knew something the others in the room did not, And 568 00:36:26,195 --> 00:36:28,395 Speaker 1: more importantly, I knew something the reporter who had just 569 00:36:28,515 --> 00:36:31,235 Speaker 1: left the room intending to scoop us and her own 570 00:36:31,235 --> 00:36:35,395 Speaker 1: employers did not. But I had to make sure. As 571 00:36:35,395 --> 00:36:38,635 Speaker 1: the producers began to say things like follow her and 572 00:36:38,915 --> 00:36:43,515 Speaker 1: stop her and fire her, I said, just just wait. 573 00:36:43,595 --> 00:36:45,355 Speaker 1: Let me let me call the general manager of the 574 00:36:45,435 --> 00:36:49,235 Speaker 1: radio network first I did. He was in the hotel. 575 00:36:49,515 --> 00:36:53,035 Speaker 1: He never missed an opportunity like that. I explained the 576 00:36:53,115 --> 00:36:56,995 Speaker 1: situation to him. I'll talk to her, he sighed, she's 577 00:36:57,035 --> 00:37:00,315 Speaker 1: just being overly enthusiastic. I didn't tell her to do that. 578 00:37:00,435 --> 00:37:02,955 Speaker 1: Nobody told her to do there, and I asked him 579 00:37:02,955 --> 00:37:05,955 Speaker 1: if there were any special report or anything that she 580 00:37:06,035 --> 00:37:08,635 Speaker 1: could be filing somewhere. In other words, she went back 581 00:37:08,675 --> 00:37:10,515 Speaker 1: to her room to call this in, to go on 582 00:37:10,555 --> 00:37:15,675 Speaker 1: the ESPN Radio network and report it before we could Nope, 583 00:37:16,115 --> 00:37:19,795 Speaker 1: said the general manager. Same schedule as ever, We're dark 584 00:37:19,875 --> 00:37:26,115 Speaker 1: until tomorrow afternoons, extra point commentary at five m. Well, 585 00:37:26,155 --> 00:37:28,475 Speaker 1: there was now ugly murmuring in the room, and I 586 00:37:28,515 --> 00:37:31,355 Speaker 1: told them all to relax. What had just been confirmed 587 00:37:31,355 --> 00:37:33,515 Speaker 1: by the general manager of the radio network, which had 588 00:37:33,555 --> 00:37:35,235 Speaker 1: only been on the air for ten months and was 589 00:37:35,275 --> 00:37:39,075 Speaker 1: anything but full time, was that there was nothing on 590 00:37:39,715 --> 00:37:42,875 Speaker 1: ESPN Radio right now. There was no place for their 591 00:37:42,875 --> 00:37:47,995 Speaker 1: reporter to scoop us on ESPN Radio was off the air, 592 00:37:48,155 --> 00:37:54,675 Speaker 1: literally silent, until four pm the following afternoon. I know 593 00:37:54,755 --> 00:37:58,035 Speaker 1: people at ESPN who still hold grudges against her for this, 594 00:37:58,115 --> 00:38:14,115 Speaker 1: though I've done all the damage I can do here. 595 00:38:14,155 --> 00:38:16,675 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening. If you're not following, were subscribed 596 00:38:16,795 --> 00:38:19,835 Speaker 1: or whatever, please do so, and also please stop a 597 00:38:19,875 --> 00:38:21,915 Speaker 1: passer by on the street and get them to follow 598 00:38:21,955 --> 00:38:24,835 Speaker 1: as well. Here are our credits. Most of the music, 599 00:38:24,875 --> 00:38:28,075 Speaker 1: including our theme for Beethoven's Ninth, was arranged, produced, and 600 00:38:28,155 --> 00:38:31,035 Speaker 1: performed by Brian Ray and John Philip Chanelle. They are 601 00:38:31,075 --> 00:38:34,835 Speaker 1: the Countdown musical directors. All orchestration and keyboards by John 602 00:38:34,875 --> 00:38:38,835 Speaker 1: Philip Chanelle. Guitars based and drums by Brian Ray, produced 603 00:38:38,835 --> 00:38:41,875 Speaker 1: by T k O Brothers brother Beethsoven selections have been 604 00:38:41,955 --> 00:38:45,275 Speaker 1: arranged and performed by No Horns Allowed. The sports music 605 00:38:45,435 --> 00:38:48,195 Speaker 1: is the Olberman theme from ESPN two, and it was 606 00:38:48,235 --> 00:38:52,355 Speaker 1: written by Mitch Warren Davis courtesy of ESPN, Inc. Musical 607 00:38:52,395 --> 00:38:55,395 Speaker 1: comments from Nancy Faust, the best baseball stadium organist ever. 608 00:38:55,675 --> 00:38:58,955 Speaker 1: Our announcer today fitting with the ESPN story was Kenny Maine. 609 00:38:59,555 --> 00:39:02,275 Speaker 1: That story played out before Kenny worked for ESPN. In fact, 610 00:39:02,275 --> 00:39:04,995 Speaker 1: it played out before there was an ESPN two. Everything 611 00:39:04,995 --> 00:39:07,755 Speaker 1: else pretty much my fault. So let's countdown for this 612 00:39:07,835 --> 00:39:10,595 Speaker 1: the six and eighty first day since Donald Trump's first 613 00:39:10,595 --> 00:39:14,355 Speaker 1: attempted coup against the democratically elected government of the United States. 614 00:39:14,835 --> 00:39:19,115 Speaker 1: Arrest him now while we still can a new episode tomorrow. 615 00:39:19,235 --> 00:39:21,995 Speaker 1: Until then, I'm Keith oll. We're in good morning, good afternoon, goodnight, 616 00:39:22,475 --> 00:39:31,395 Speaker 1: and good luck. Countdown with Keith old Woman is a 617 00:39:31,435 --> 00:39:35,035 Speaker 1: production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from I 618 00:39:35,115 --> 00:39:38,635 Speaker 1: heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 619 00:39:38,875 --> 00:39:40,875 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.