1 00:00:04,755 --> 00:00:08,995 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:21,875 --> 00:00:26,915 Speaker 1: Marjorie Taylor Green has mocked the dead of nine eleven. 3 00:00:28,235 --> 00:00:32,635 Speaker 1: She is human filth. She must be removed from Congress immediately. 4 00:00:34,595 --> 00:00:37,835 Speaker 1: There is a reason seventy three United States Congressmen and 5 00:00:37,835 --> 00:00:41,035 Speaker 1: congresswomen have gone to prison, seventeen of them in this 6 00:00:41,115 --> 00:00:44,875 Speaker 1: century alone. The House of Representatives has never been the 7 00:00:44,955 --> 00:00:48,795 Speaker 1: home of just our best, or our brightest, or our 8 00:00:48,955 --> 00:00:53,755 Speaker 1: most loyal, or our most respectful, or our most sane. 9 00:00:55,155 --> 00:00:58,235 Speaker 1: But by herself, Marjorie Taylor Green may now have exceeded 10 00:00:58,315 --> 00:01:01,715 Speaker 1: all of the rest of them. The seventy three convicted, 11 00:01:02,315 --> 00:01:06,195 Speaker 1: the others who have just disgraced themselves, the remainder who 12 00:01:06,195 --> 00:01:11,275 Speaker 1: have merely served exceeded them in disgracing this country, in 13 00:01:11,435 --> 00:01:16,515 Speaker 1: betraying its principles, in abusing its privileges, in desecrating the 14 00:01:16,635 --> 00:01:20,475 Speaker 1: memory not merely of the American dead of September eleventh, 15 00:01:20,555 --> 00:01:26,435 Speaker 1: two thousand one, but of specifically minimizing, ignoring, and exploiting 16 00:01:26,995 --> 00:01:32,115 Speaker 1: those who died aboard Flight ninety three, the ones who 17 00:01:32,195 --> 00:01:36,635 Speaker 1: accepted their own deaths, the ones who fought to guide 18 00:01:36,715 --> 00:01:40,315 Speaker 1: their stricken craft away from a school, away from a 19 00:01:40,395 --> 00:01:44,795 Speaker 1: town away from a capital, who did so to protect 20 00:01:44,795 --> 00:01:49,195 Speaker 1: not merely this country's leaders, but to protect this country's 21 00:01:49,235 --> 00:01:57,355 Speaker 1: existential concept. Marjorie Taylor Green, in public on Saturday night 22 00:01:57,435 --> 00:02:05,675 Speaker 1: last defecated on their memories, their sacrifice, their patriotism, their lives, 23 00:02:06,475 --> 00:02:10,955 Speaker 1: and their deaths. She has no place in the House 24 00:02:11,035 --> 00:02:14,595 Speaker 1: of Representatives. She has no place in the running of 25 00:02:14,635 --> 00:02:19,275 Speaker 1: this country. She has no place among decent human beings. 26 00:02:19,795 --> 00:02:22,955 Speaker 1: She has no place in the United States of America. 27 00:02:27,035 --> 00:02:30,035 Speaker 1: On Saturday night, at the Lincoln Day Dinner of the 28 00:02:30,075 --> 00:02:35,155 Speaker 1: Republican Central Committee of Kootney County, Idaho, at Court Aline, 29 00:02:35,475 --> 00:02:40,315 Speaker 1: Marjorie Taylor Green chose to demean the deaths of Mark 30 00:02:40,395 --> 00:02:45,275 Speaker 1: Bingham and Jeremy Glick and Todd Beemer and each of 31 00:02:45,315 --> 00:02:48,795 Speaker 1: the other thirty passenger victims and each of the seven 32 00:02:48,875 --> 00:02:56,675 Speaker 1: crew victims, because this creature, this confidence trickster, this condescending garbage, 33 00:02:57,275 --> 00:03:02,155 Speaker 1: this sub human personification of evil, because she needed to 34 00:03:02,235 --> 00:03:05,915 Speaker 1: make a crack at the vents of the President of 35 00:03:05,955 --> 00:03:10,595 Speaker 1: the United States. I offer you a warning. I'm going 36 00:03:10,635 --> 00:03:13,275 Speaker 1: to play part of the recording of what she said 37 00:03:13,835 --> 00:03:18,155 Speaker 1: about forty seconds from now on Saturday night, This idiot, 38 00:03:18,475 --> 00:03:24,275 Speaker 1: this moron, this clown, this sentient sewage, who days earlier 39 00:03:24,275 --> 00:03:27,995 Speaker 1: had insisted both that the Chinese spy balloon might contain 40 00:03:28,115 --> 00:03:31,075 Speaker 1: nukes or a bioweapon, and that therefore it should be 41 00:03:31,115 --> 00:03:35,035 Speaker 1: shot down immediately over the US mainland. On Saturday night 42 00:03:35,075 --> 00:03:37,955 Speaker 1: in Idaho, she told some of the very people on 43 00:03:37,995 --> 00:03:41,715 Speaker 1: whom the airship might have fallen that she believed the 44 00:03:41,795 --> 00:03:44,915 Speaker 1: explanation for waiting until the craft was over water to 45 00:03:44,955 --> 00:03:49,435 Speaker 1: shoot it down was a lie that debris or wreckage 46 00:03:49,635 --> 00:03:53,915 Speaker 1: posed no threat to anyone on the ground, and as 47 00:03:53,995 --> 00:03:58,355 Speaker 1: supposed proof of her imbecilic conclusion, she had the callousness, 48 00:03:58,595 --> 00:04:03,435 Speaker 1: the inhumanity, and the stupidity to invoke September eleven and 49 00:04:03,555 --> 00:04:06,715 Speaker 1: flight n Do you know what a bunch of bullshit 50 00:04:06,915 --> 00:04:14,355 Speaker 1: that is? They said, it's three school buses, three school 51 00:04:14,355 --> 00:04:17,595 Speaker 1: buses wide. Okay, Well, do you guys remember on nine 52 00:04:17,635 --> 00:04:23,395 Speaker 1: eleven when an airplane crash in Pennsylvania and jel Remember 53 00:04:23,435 --> 00:04:27,035 Speaker 1: that it didn't kill anybody on the ground, killed everyone 54 00:04:27,075 --> 00:04:29,795 Speaker 1: on board, but it didn't kill anyone on the ground. 55 00:04:31,835 --> 00:04:38,555 Speaker 1: It is beyond belief to use nine eleven, especially to 56 00:04:38,715 --> 00:04:44,075 Speaker 1: use flight ninety three as a mechanism for scoring points 57 00:04:44,195 --> 00:04:50,035 Speaker 1: and an f list Republican Lincoln Day dinner is without 58 00:04:50,195 --> 00:04:54,795 Speaker 1: needing to be analyzed or dissected, something beyond reprehensible, something 59 00:04:54,795 --> 00:05:02,595 Speaker 1: beyond cold and evil. But to say that, to describe 60 00:05:02,675 --> 00:05:06,555 Speaker 1: Flight ninety three crashing in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as if it 61 00:05:06,595 --> 00:05:11,475 Speaker 1: were some accidental event or commonplace occurrence, as if God 62 00:05:11,555 --> 00:05:15,235 Speaker 1: knows which of the victims sacrificed what and who had 63 00:05:15,275 --> 00:05:18,715 Speaker 1: to confront which horror to make certain that the plane 64 00:05:18,795 --> 00:05:21,555 Speaker 1: killed no one on the ground, that only they themselves 65 00:05:21,635 --> 00:05:27,155 Speaker 1: would die, to take the almost sacred pain and ever 66 00:05:27,275 --> 00:05:30,835 Speaker 1: wounding mortality of those faithful minutes, and twisted into an 67 00:05:30,955 --> 00:05:34,235 Speaker 1: argument that does not make any sense in the slightest 68 00:05:35,955 --> 00:05:39,355 Speaker 1: is about as close as a secular American can come 69 00:05:39,395 --> 00:05:45,595 Speaker 1: to heresy, And that says nothing about the obvious, just 70 00:05:45,835 --> 00:05:49,435 Speaker 1: as painful question that someone should have shouted into this 71 00:05:49,835 --> 00:05:54,075 Speaker 1: scumbag Green's face the moment she said that what happened 72 00:05:54,075 --> 00:05:56,715 Speaker 1: to the people on the ground that same day when 73 00:05:56,755 --> 00:06:02,555 Speaker 1: the other three planes crashed? Congresswoman, what happened to the 74 00:06:02,595 --> 00:06:05,915 Speaker 1: people on the ground at Old Trade Center Number one? 75 00:06:06,035 --> 00:06:09,715 Speaker 1: Marjorie Taylor Creane, What happened to the people on the 76 00:06:09,715 --> 00:06:13,715 Speaker 1: grounded world Trade Center number two, Congresswoman, what happened to 77 00:06:13,755 --> 00:06:15,795 Speaker 1: the people on the ground at the Pentagon? Or do 78 00:06:15,875 --> 00:06:19,875 Speaker 1: you still subscribe to what you said on video distributed 79 00:06:19,915 --> 00:06:24,515 Speaker 1: by American Priority Conference barely more than four years ago, 80 00:06:24,675 --> 00:06:27,915 Speaker 1: that quote there's never any evidence shown for a plane 81 00:06:27,955 --> 00:06:31,395 Speaker 1: in the Pentagon. Did you think what you said was 82 00:06:31,475 --> 00:06:37,315 Speaker 1: acceptable to say to Americans? Because you remain a nine 83 00:06:37,475 --> 00:06:46,275 Speaker 1: eleven truther bastard, even considering the extraordinary and extraordinarily large 84 00:06:46,355 --> 00:06:51,755 Speaker 1: catalog of your cruel and unfeeling and unnecessary remarks, fueled 85 00:06:51,755 --> 00:06:55,555 Speaker 1: by your own corrupted soul and your own inadequate brain, 86 00:06:56,035 --> 00:07:02,235 Speaker 1: this exceeds anything you have said before, And Madam, it 87 00:07:02,475 --> 00:07:09,475 Speaker 1: is intolerable and will not be accepted by the United 88 00:07:09,515 --> 00:07:15,835 Speaker 1: States of America. There can be no place, even in 89 00:07:15,875 --> 00:07:19,435 Speaker 1: the dubious halls of the United States Congress, for a 90 00:07:19,515 --> 00:07:24,795 Speaker 1: pile of feces in a coat, so lacking a conscience, 91 00:07:25,395 --> 00:07:29,275 Speaker 1: lacking intelligence, lacking patriotism, as to mock the dead of 92 00:07:29,315 --> 00:07:33,755 Speaker 1: Flight ninety three, and of Flight eleven, and of flight 93 00:07:35,435 --> 00:07:39,555 Speaker 1: and of Flight one, and of those in New York, 94 00:07:41,755 --> 00:07:45,075 Speaker 1: and of those at the Pentagon, and of their loved 95 00:07:45,075 --> 00:07:48,355 Speaker 1: ones and friends and fellow citizens in every corner of 96 00:07:48,355 --> 00:07:53,435 Speaker 1: this country and in every corner of this world. You 97 00:07:53,555 --> 00:08:02,755 Speaker 1: mocked them, madam, to get applause in Idaho. And in 98 00:08:02,835 --> 00:08:07,395 Speaker 1: case Congresswoman you believe I have done damage to your 99 00:08:07,475 --> 00:08:14,235 Speaker 1: words by truncating your speech and merely summarizing the context 100 00:08:14,275 --> 00:08:17,555 Speaker 1: of your stupidity and your inhumanity. Here is the full 101 00:08:17,675 --> 00:08:21,995 Speaker 1: minute before and after you mocked the dead of flight 102 00:08:22,115 --> 00:08:28,035 Speaker 1: ninety three. The recording was procured by the group Patriot Takes. 103 00:08:28,795 --> 00:08:32,195 Speaker 1: The excuses that were given on this we're pa set 104 00:08:32,915 --> 00:08:36,595 Speaker 1: absolutely pathet. They told us it was too risky. Oh, 105 00:08:36,635 --> 00:08:39,355 Speaker 1: it was too risky to shoot down the Chinese five balloon. 106 00:08:39,795 --> 00:08:44,035 Speaker 1: Do you know what a bunch of bullshit that is? Yeah, 107 00:08:45,435 --> 00:08:51,075 Speaker 1: they said, it's three school buses, three school buses wide. Okay, well, 108 00:08:51,115 --> 00:08:55,235 Speaker 1: do you guys remember when an airplane crash in Pennsylvania 109 00:08:56,115 --> 00:09:00,275 Speaker 1: and jail liners. Remember that it didn't kill anybody on 110 00:09:00,355 --> 00:09:03,195 Speaker 1: the ground, killed everyone on board, but it didn't kill 111 00:09:03,395 --> 00:09:05,995 Speaker 1: anyone on the ground. So they want to tell all 112 00:09:06,035 --> 00:09:07,795 Speaker 1: of us that it was too risky to take down 113 00:09:07,795 --> 00:09:13,075 Speaker 1: that Chinese favelin over rural Idaho or Montana or any 114 00:09:13,115 --> 00:09:20,195 Speaker 1: of these other states or Alaska. There liars they're either 115 00:09:20,355 --> 00:09:32,635 Speaker 1: their liars or their cowards, or the president is allowed tree. 116 00:09:33,875 --> 00:09:36,755 Speaker 1: There are only two choices. She'll go with all three. 117 00:09:38,395 --> 00:09:40,955 Speaker 1: She has no place in the United States of America. 118 00:09:42,315 --> 00:09:45,795 Speaker 1: She has no place among decent human beings. She has 119 00:09:45,835 --> 00:09:48,755 Speaker 1: no place in the running of this country. She has 120 00:09:48,755 --> 00:09:51,915 Speaker 1: no place in the House of Representatives. And to start 121 00:09:51,995 --> 00:09:59,155 Speaker 1: with immediately, she can have no place. Nor does anyone 122 00:09:59,195 --> 00:10:02,115 Speaker 1: who would use the Dead of nine eleven as a 123 00:10:02,195 --> 00:10:07,035 Speaker 1: political punchline, as a amitable expression of their own pathology 124 00:10:07,155 --> 00:10:11,915 Speaker 1: and psychosis. She has no place on of all things. 125 00:10:13,875 --> 00:10:34,195 Speaker 1: The House Committee on Homeland Security still ahead. There will 126 00:10:34,235 --> 00:10:38,475 Speaker 1: be no action taken against Green because the Conservatives live 127 00:10:38,555 --> 00:10:42,755 Speaker 1: in a hazy world where reality and common sense and 128 00:10:42,915 --> 00:10:49,195 Speaker 1: decency and especially history can only be seen intermittently. There 129 00:10:49,275 --> 00:10:52,835 Speaker 1: is a backlash continuing now over the singing of the 130 00:10:52,875 --> 00:10:57,155 Speaker 1: so called black national anthem. It's Sunday Super Bowl, with 131 00:10:57,275 --> 00:11:01,475 Speaker 1: one fascist named Benny Johnson asking if there is a 132 00:11:01,675 --> 00:11:05,875 Speaker 1: white national anthem and how horrible that would be, without 133 00:11:05,955 --> 00:11:09,275 Speaker 1: realizing well, yes, yes, there is, written by a slave 134 00:11:09,315 --> 00:11:13,595 Speaker 1: owner who prosecuted abolitionists, and Benny Johnson, you may have 135 00:11:13,715 --> 00:11:17,235 Speaker 1: even heard it once or twice or ten thousand times 136 00:11:18,795 --> 00:11:22,955 Speaker 1: in less contentious issues, baseball refusing to give up the 137 00:11:22,995 --> 00:11:26,835 Speaker 1: ghost the awful extra innings rule is to become permanent 138 00:11:27,635 --> 00:11:32,515 Speaker 1: and climb every mountain forward every stream. But if you 139 00:11:32,555 --> 00:11:34,915 Speaker 1: are climbing the mountain to go report on the men's 140 00:11:34,955 --> 00:11:39,795 Speaker 1: Olympic skiing final, as I was forty three years ago, today, 141 00:11:40,555 --> 00:11:46,475 Speaker 1: remember to pack your recording equipment, all of your recording 142 00:11:46,515 --> 00:11:52,515 Speaker 1: equipment before you go up every mountain. That's next. This 143 00:11:52,675 --> 00:12:16,355 Speaker 1: is countdown. This is countdown with Keith Olberman. This is 144 00:12:16,835 --> 00:12:24,035 Speaker 1: Sports Center. Wait, check that not anymore. This is countdown 145 00:12:24,675 --> 00:12:29,435 Speaker 1: with Keith in Sports. The first time somebody observed in 146 00:12:29,555 --> 00:12:33,315 Speaker 1: print that baseball has always survived the idiocy of the 147 00:12:33,355 --> 00:12:37,195 Speaker 1: people that ran it was I believe in the year 148 00:12:37,315 --> 00:12:43,635 Speaker 1: eight's the amazing shrinking formerly national pastime assumed center stage 149 00:12:43,635 --> 00:12:47,115 Speaker 1: again with football over, so has the idiocy of the 150 00:12:47,155 --> 00:12:50,395 Speaker 1: people what run it. ESPN is reporting that they're going 151 00:12:50,435 --> 00:12:53,155 Speaker 1: to make that little league rule permanent in the majors. 152 00:12:53,195 --> 00:12:57,875 Speaker 1: The supposed COVID expedient of ghost runners runner at second 153 00:12:57,915 --> 00:13:01,915 Speaker 1: base to start every extra inning because today's hitters are 154 00:13:01,955 --> 00:13:05,435 Speaker 1: too stupid to actually build a run rather than try 155 00:13:05,475 --> 00:13:07,115 Speaker 1: to hit a homer. Every time they come to the 156 00:13:07,115 --> 00:13:11,035 Speaker 1: plate in their lives. This will become permanent. The Joint 157 00:13:11,035 --> 00:13:14,515 Speaker 1: Competition Committee has voted unanimously to keep the rule, which 158 00:13:14,555 --> 00:13:16,795 Speaker 1: is designed to put a time limit on games, and 159 00:13:16,835 --> 00:13:20,235 Speaker 1: to jettison baseball's century old boast that it was the 160 00:13:20,275 --> 00:13:25,475 Speaker 1: only sport without a clock. That Competition Committee consists of 161 00:13:25,515 --> 00:13:28,955 Speaker 1: executives John Stanton of the Mariners, Bill DeWitt of the Cardinals, 162 00:13:28,955 --> 00:13:31,395 Speaker 1: Greg Johnson of the Giants, Dick mont for to the Rockies, 163 00:13:31,435 --> 00:13:34,515 Speaker 1: Mark Shapiro of the Jay's, Tom Werner of the Red Sox, 164 00:13:34,875 --> 00:13:39,115 Speaker 1: umpire Bill Miller, and players Jack Flaherty, Tyler Glass now 165 00:13:39,275 --> 00:13:41,875 Speaker 1: with Maryfield and Austin Slater. And when they talk about 166 00:13:41,875 --> 00:13:44,755 Speaker 1: the games surviving the idiots who run it, these are 167 00:13:44,795 --> 00:13:48,155 Speaker 1: the men they're talking about. I am not going to 168 00:13:48,315 --> 00:13:50,475 Speaker 1: tell you that I am now going to stop watching 169 00:13:50,515 --> 00:13:54,875 Speaker 1: baseball because of this rule. Along with idiotic executives, baseball 170 00:13:54,915 --> 00:14:00,315 Speaker 1: has also always had massochistic fans like me. My predecessories 171 00:14:00,395 --> 00:14:04,875 Speaker 1: also protested the home run and night games, and night 172 00:14:04,915 --> 00:14:09,155 Speaker 1: games in the World Series, and countless other invaluable innovations. 173 00:14:09,915 --> 00:14:13,195 Speaker 1: Some also previous era baseball fans who I do not 174 00:14:13,355 --> 00:14:17,915 Speaker 1: claim as my predecessors protested, you know, integration. So I'm 175 00:14:17,915 --> 00:14:19,995 Speaker 1: not gonna tell you I'm quitting baseball, but I will 176 00:14:20,035 --> 00:14:22,315 Speaker 1: tell you that since they started treating extra innings as 177 00:14:22,395 --> 00:14:26,195 Speaker 1: something to be gotten over as quickly as possible, I 178 00:14:26,235 --> 00:14:29,155 Speaker 1: have found myself actually turning off games that are in 179 00:14:29,355 --> 00:14:31,915 Speaker 1: extra innings the way I turn off a hockey game 180 00:14:31,955 --> 00:14:35,155 Speaker 1: that remains tied through overtime and goes to a shootout. 181 00:14:35,475 --> 00:14:38,755 Speaker 1: It just doesn't interest me. I'll just read the score later. 182 00:14:39,675 --> 00:14:42,995 Speaker 1: Then again, I actually think a steal of home or 183 00:14:43,035 --> 00:14:47,155 Speaker 1: a squeeze play is far more exciting than a home run. 184 00:14:47,595 --> 00:14:50,915 Speaker 1: In these tiny ballparks with no foul territory and next 185 00:14:50,955 --> 00:14:55,515 Speaker 1: to no intelligent hitters, left, baseball fans like me think 186 00:14:55,755 --> 00:14:58,315 Speaker 1: we know just how dumb the owners have always been. 187 00:14:58,355 --> 00:14:59,995 Speaker 1: And then every once in a while you trip over 188 00:15:00,115 --> 00:15:03,955 Speaker 1: something from the past that makes your eyes water. This 189 00:15:04,875 --> 00:15:07,515 Speaker 1: is from April eighth, nine fifty four, and all you 190 00:15:07,555 --> 00:15:10,435 Speaker 1: really know it need to know is Calvin Griffith would 191 00:15:10,435 --> 00:15:13,555 Speaker 1: shortly become the owner of the Washington Senators and a 192 00:15:13,555 --> 00:15:16,475 Speaker 1: few years later would move them to Minnesota, and after 193 00:15:16,555 --> 00:15:19,355 Speaker 1: that would publicly explain he did so because Washington he 194 00:15:19,355 --> 00:15:22,155 Speaker 1: said was full of black people, and he had decided 195 00:15:22,195 --> 00:15:25,035 Speaker 1: they did not like to buy baseball tickets. And then 196 00:15:25,395 --> 00:15:28,595 Speaker 1: when free agency came, Griffith refused to pay the higher 197 00:15:28,595 --> 00:15:32,995 Speaker 1: salaries or signed good players, and his team nearly went bankrupt. 198 00:15:33,515 --> 00:15:36,035 Speaker 1: Oh and you need to know who Mickey Mantle is. 199 00:15:37,275 --> 00:15:40,115 Speaker 1: This is an Associated Press story from the days just 200 00:15:40,195 --> 00:15:43,755 Speaker 1: before the nineteen fifty four baseball season started. As I said, 201 00:15:43,795 --> 00:15:46,875 Speaker 1: I just tripped over it researching something else. It is 202 00:15:46,915 --> 00:15:50,355 Speaker 1: as bad a talent assessment as I have ever read. 203 00:15:51,315 --> 00:15:58,635 Speaker 1: Headline Mantle is overrated. Avers Senator brass Washington, April eight, 204 00:15:58,675 --> 00:16:02,315 Speaker 1: Associated Press. Mickey Mantle is probably the most overrated player 205 00:16:02,315 --> 00:16:06,395 Speaker 1: in baseball, Calvin Griffith said today. Griffith is executive vice 206 00:16:06,475 --> 00:16:08,635 Speaker 1: president of the Washington Senators, who own a bit of 207 00:16:08,635 --> 00:16:14,155 Speaker 1: baseball property named Jim Busby. Sure Mantel's a good outfielder, 208 00:16:14,315 --> 00:16:17,035 Speaker 1: Griffith said in an interview, but he isn't as good 209 00:16:17,035 --> 00:16:20,515 Speaker 1: as Buzzby. Griffith said that if Mantel we're playing for 210 00:16:20,555 --> 00:16:23,635 Speaker 1: anybody but the New York Yankees quote, you'd hardly ever 211 00:16:23,795 --> 00:16:27,275 Speaker 1: hear of him. His idea was that the Yankee publicists 212 00:16:27,275 --> 00:16:29,675 Speaker 1: and New York sports writers have built Mantle up into 213 00:16:29,715 --> 00:16:32,715 Speaker 1: something he has not. If Buzzby were playing for the Yankees, 214 00:16:32,715 --> 00:16:37,435 Speaker 1: Griffith said, they'd be calling him another trip speaker or something. Mantel, 215 00:16:37,515 --> 00:16:40,315 Speaker 1: the youngster from Commerce, Oklahoma, is out of action as 216 00:16:40,355 --> 00:16:42,395 Speaker 1: the result of a knee injury and won't be in 217 00:16:42,435 --> 00:16:44,955 Speaker 1: the lineup when the Yankees play the Senators on opening 218 00:16:44,995 --> 00:16:48,835 Speaker 1: Day here next Tuesday. The Yankee successor to Joe DiMaggio, 219 00:16:49,195 --> 00:16:50,955 Speaker 1: he has been built in many parts, is one of 220 00:16:50,995 --> 00:16:53,355 Speaker 1: the hottest prospects to hit the major leagues in some time. 221 00:16:53,635 --> 00:16:56,635 Speaker 1: Griffith well remembers his power, since it was in the 222 00:16:56,675 --> 00:16:59,875 Speaker 1: ballpark here that Mantel socked a five hundred and sixty 223 00:16:59,875 --> 00:17:03,395 Speaker 1: five foot home run last year. Buzzby is a native 224 00:17:03,435 --> 00:17:07,595 Speaker 1: of Kennedy, Texas, is at seven nearly five years older 225 00:17:07,635 --> 00:17:10,635 Speaker 1: than Mantele. Griffith regards him as one of the most 226 00:17:10,755 --> 00:17:14,995 Speaker 1: underrated players in the league. Mantle considered an expert in 227 00:17:15,075 --> 00:17:20,395 Speaker 1: grabbing flies. Quote can't compare with Buzzby as fielder, Griffith said. 228 00:17:21,235 --> 00:17:24,355 Speaker 1: Clark Griffith, eight four year old owner of the Senators, 229 00:17:24,995 --> 00:17:26,635 Speaker 1: I might point out, was one of the founders of 230 00:17:26,635 --> 00:17:30,995 Speaker 1: the American League. Chimed in quote, Buzzby is one of 231 00:17:30,995 --> 00:17:34,795 Speaker 1: the best fly catchers that I've ever seen. Then there's 232 00:17:34,835 --> 00:17:39,235 Speaker 1: the matter of hitting. Last year, Mantle batted too. Buzzby's 233 00:17:39,275 --> 00:17:43,195 Speaker 1: average was three twelve. Mantel batted in ninety two runs 234 00:17:43,195 --> 00:17:46,035 Speaker 1: and Buzzby eighty two. But Calvin Griffith noted that a 235 00:17:46,035 --> 00:17:48,795 Speaker 1: lot more Yankees were on base last season for Mantle 236 00:17:48,835 --> 00:17:51,675 Speaker 1: to drive home than there were Senators out of Buzby. 237 00:17:51,795 --> 00:17:54,275 Speaker 1: The Yankee center fielder considered more of a power hitter 238 00:17:54,275 --> 00:17:57,635 Speaker 1: than Buzby hit for two nine total bases last season, 239 00:17:57,955 --> 00:18:05,115 Speaker 1: Buzzby's total two three. Mantle stole eight bases. Buzzby that enough, 240 00:18:05,435 --> 00:18:10,715 Speaker 1: Griffith asked, with a wink, Hey, you don't know Mickey Mantle, 241 00:18:11,315 --> 00:18:13,555 Speaker 1: who was the player who Calvin Griffith said was not 242 00:18:13,635 --> 00:18:16,955 Speaker 1: as good as Jim Busby. Mickey Mantel led the league 243 00:18:17,035 --> 00:18:21,675 Speaker 1: in that overall stat adjusted OPS plus that's on base 244 00:18:21,715 --> 00:18:26,195 Speaker 1: percentage plus slugging percentage adjusted for ballpark and era. He 245 00:18:26,315 --> 00:18:29,235 Speaker 1: led the league in at eight times in his seventeen 246 00:18:29,315 --> 00:18:32,835 Speaker 1: full seasons. His career number is the ninth best all time, 247 00:18:32,875 --> 00:18:34,835 Speaker 1: even though at the age of twenty, that little knee 248 00:18:34,835 --> 00:18:38,555 Speaker 1: injury they mentioned He basically destroyed his knee, but continued 249 00:18:38,595 --> 00:18:41,235 Speaker 1: to play on it even though he really needed surgery 250 00:18:41,275 --> 00:18:44,515 Speaker 1: to correct a torn a c L, the torn mc L, 251 00:18:44,635 --> 00:18:46,595 Speaker 1: and a torn meniscus, but they didn't do any of 252 00:18:46,635 --> 00:18:50,475 Speaker 1: that then, so instead, Mantel played seventeen seasons on essentially 253 00:18:50,835 --> 00:18:54,675 Speaker 1: one leg. He finished with a wins above replacement number 254 00:18:54,675 --> 00:18:58,315 Speaker 1: of a hundred and ten point two. Since Mantel retired 255 00:18:58,355 --> 00:19:01,915 Speaker 1: in ninety eight, that number has been exceeded by only 256 00:19:02,035 --> 00:19:05,195 Speaker 1: one hitter who was not from his own era or 257 00:19:05,395 --> 00:19:07,955 Speaker 1: did not use P E D s in a later era. 258 00:19:08,075 --> 00:19:11,275 Speaker 1: That one hitter was Ricky Henderson. Mantel was not the 259 00:19:11,275 --> 00:19:13,435 Speaker 1: best player of all time, but he would probably be 260 00:19:13,515 --> 00:19:17,635 Speaker 1: the one who accomplished the most despite chronic injury. The 261 00:19:17,675 --> 00:19:20,155 Speaker 1: guy the owner of the Washington Senators thought was way 262 00:19:20,195 --> 00:19:24,475 Speaker 1: better than Mantel, Jim Busby. He never again hit three hundred, 263 00:19:24,875 --> 00:19:27,595 Speaker 1: he never again made an All Star team, and remembering 264 00:19:27,595 --> 00:19:30,435 Speaker 1: that Mantle's total was a hundred and ten point two, 265 00:19:31,155 --> 00:19:35,395 Speaker 1: Buzzby finished with a wins above replacement total of twelve 266 00:19:35,475 --> 00:19:38,595 Speaker 1: point seven compared to a hundred and ten point two. 267 00:19:39,315 --> 00:19:42,595 Speaker 1: And it is people like the owner of the Washington 268 00:19:42,675 --> 00:19:47,475 Speaker 1: Senators who just voted to make the ghost Runner permanent. 269 00:19:54,275 --> 00:19:56,315 Speaker 1: Time for the daily round of the misgrants, morons and 270 00:19:56,395 --> 00:20:00,235 Speaker 1: Dunning Krueger Effect specimens who constitute today's worst persons in 271 00:20:00,275 --> 00:20:05,315 Speaker 1: the world. The Bronze Bano and you two announcing a 272 00:20:05,395 --> 00:20:10,475 Speaker 1: residency at a new facility in Vegas MSG Sphere, co 273 00:20:10,595 --> 00:20:13,755 Speaker 1: owned by Madison Square Garden and it's boss James Dolan. 274 00:20:14,035 --> 00:20:18,035 Speaker 1: So Mr World Peace, Bono is now in bed with 275 00:20:18,075 --> 00:20:21,875 Speaker 1: a man who is openly and boastfully using facial recognition 276 00:20:21,955 --> 00:20:25,595 Speaker 1: technology to keep people he does not like out of 277 00:20:25,755 --> 00:20:30,675 Speaker 1: Madison Square Garden, Radio City Musical and maybe MSG Sphere, 278 00:20:30,675 --> 00:20:33,435 Speaker 1: where Bono is now going to have a residency. You're 279 00:20:33,435 --> 00:20:37,275 Speaker 1: okay with this, pal, Well, okay, Bono, there goes forty 280 00:20:37,315 --> 00:20:41,315 Speaker 1: years worth of your good reputation. The runner up, Speaking 281 00:20:41,355 --> 00:20:44,275 Speaker 1: of which the College Board, you may recall, Florida Governor 282 00:20:44,395 --> 00:20:48,355 Speaker 1: Ron de Fascist banned the College boards African American Studies 283 00:20:48,435 --> 00:20:52,875 Speaker 1: AP college placement course in Florida because wow, because Florida 284 00:20:52,995 --> 00:20:55,315 Speaker 1: is now as racist a state as it was in 285 00:20:57,715 --> 00:21:02,755 Speaker 1: the College Board has finally issued a statement after this action, 286 00:21:02,875 --> 00:21:07,155 Speaker 1: reading quote, we deeply regret not immediately denouncing the Florida 287 00:21:07,195 --> 00:21:11,715 Speaker 1: Department of Education slander magnified by the DeSantis administration subsequent 288 00:21:11,715 --> 00:21:16,035 Speaker 1: comments that African American studies lacks educational value, our failure 289 00:21:16,115 --> 00:21:19,395 Speaker 1: to raise our voice betrayed black scholars everywhere, and those 290 00:21:19,395 --> 00:21:23,355 Speaker 1: who have long toiled to build this remarkable field. Now 291 00:21:23,435 --> 00:21:27,755 Speaker 1: that's great. College board mad What are they gonna do 292 00:21:27,835 --> 00:21:31,915 Speaker 1: about Florida? Are they gonna pull all AP courses out 293 00:21:31,955 --> 00:21:35,195 Speaker 1: of Florida? They're gonna take this opportunity to kneecap de 294 00:21:35,315 --> 00:21:39,635 Speaker 1: Santis and the racists. They're not. They're gonna stare daggers 295 00:21:39,635 --> 00:21:42,395 Speaker 1: at De Santis and they will write more mean press 296 00:21:42,435 --> 00:21:46,635 Speaker 1: releases if necessary. Cowards. And by the way, where the 297 00:21:46,715 --> 00:21:50,035 Speaker 1: university is refusing to accept Florida high school degrees for 298 00:21:50,115 --> 00:21:55,675 Speaker 1: admission after this scunt? More cowards, but our winner, Benny Johnson, 299 00:21:56,275 --> 00:21:59,715 Speaker 1: This is the goober who have all the condescending Dunner 300 00:22:00,355 --> 00:22:03,475 Speaker 1: Krueger poster boys amongst the fascist rights might be the 301 00:22:03,635 --> 00:22:08,595 Speaker 1: most condescending, the most dunning Krugerish, the most fascist, and 302 00:22:08,675 --> 00:22:12,995 Speaker 1: the most gooberish. Benji here is upset with them playing 303 00:22:13,115 --> 00:22:16,635 Speaker 1: lift every voice and sing at the Super Bowl Sunday, 304 00:22:16,875 --> 00:22:21,515 Speaker 1: very upset in fact, he wants people arrested. Bernie says 305 00:22:21,555 --> 00:22:24,795 Speaker 1: he watches quote the Super Bowl for cultural moments like 306 00:22:24,835 --> 00:22:27,755 Speaker 1: the Black national anthem being sung. How the hell is 307 00:22:27,795 --> 00:22:30,915 Speaker 1: this even a thing? What a repugnant, degenerate thing to 308 00:22:30,995 --> 00:22:34,875 Speaker 1: do to split up a national anthem by race. This 309 00:22:34,995 --> 00:22:39,355 Speaker 1: is antithetical, of course, to America. Benno seems to be 310 00:22:39,435 --> 00:22:45,395 Speaker 1: unaware of slavery or segregation, or the fact that the 311 00:22:45,395 --> 00:22:48,835 Speaker 1: people who take him seriously today are you know, white 312 00:22:48,875 --> 00:22:54,115 Speaker 1: supremacist bastards. But wait, there's more. Quoting Benji again, it 313 00:22:54,155 --> 00:22:56,875 Speaker 1: should quite frankly be illegal. You shouldn't be able to 314 00:22:56,915 --> 00:22:59,715 Speaker 1: do that. Is there a white national anthem? I'm not 315 00:22:59,715 --> 00:23:03,275 Speaker 1: sure anyone would be very happy with that being sung. Well, 316 00:23:03,355 --> 00:23:07,635 Speaker 1: since you asked, why, yes, Boubo, there is a white 317 00:23:07,795 --> 00:23:10,795 Speaker 1: national anthem. It was written by a slave owner who 318 00:23:10,835 --> 00:23:13,715 Speaker 1: also served as the district attorney for Washington, d c. 319 00:23:14,355 --> 00:23:18,755 Speaker 1: Before the Civil War, who strictly enforced fugitive slave laws 320 00:23:18,835 --> 00:23:24,075 Speaker 1: and prosecuted abolitionists. The third verse of his white National 321 00:23:24,075 --> 00:23:28,195 Speaker 1: Anthem actually concludes, no refuge could save the hireling and 322 00:23:28,355 --> 00:23:32,595 Speaker 1: slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of 323 00:23:32,675 --> 00:23:36,755 Speaker 1: the grave. The White national Anthem was promoted in the 324 00:23:36,795 --> 00:23:38,955 Speaker 1: first half of the twentieth century in this country by 325 00:23:38,955 --> 00:23:42,315 Speaker 1: the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and after decades of lobbying, 326 00:23:42,435 --> 00:23:45,475 Speaker 1: they got their wish. The white national anthem is called 327 00:23:46,275 --> 00:23:50,075 Speaker 1: the Star Spangled Banner, and the slave owner who prosecuted 328 00:23:50,075 --> 00:23:54,035 Speaker 1: abolitionists who wrote it was named Francis Scott Key. And 329 00:23:54,075 --> 00:23:56,155 Speaker 1: when it was adopted as this country's anthem in nine 330 00:23:56,835 --> 00:24:00,355 Speaker 1: the United Daughters of the Confederacy celebrated their victory by 331 00:24:00,395 --> 00:24:04,515 Speaker 1: holding a parade in which they all carried the Confederate flag. 332 00:24:04,715 --> 00:24:08,195 Speaker 1: You so there's your answer, Benny Johnson. Yeah, there is 333 00:24:08,235 --> 00:24:11,475 Speaker 1: a white national anthem, and you know you're right. Nobody 334 00:24:11,555 --> 00:24:14,275 Speaker 1: should be happy when it sung. In fact, we should 335 00:24:14,315 --> 00:24:19,195 Speaker 1: stop singing it. Also as a piece of music, the 336 00:24:19,235 --> 00:24:24,875 Speaker 1: Star Spangled Banner, It sucks, Benny, I know nothing at 337 00:24:24,915 --> 00:24:29,475 Speaker 1: all about American history, Johnson. That's one ugly Johnson. You've 338 00:24:29,515 --> 00:24:44,595 Speaker 1: got there, Today's worst parson and the word still ahead 339 00:24:44,595 --> 00:24:47,355 Speaker 1: on countdown. Happy Valentine's Day, whatever that means to you, 340 00:24:47,395 --> 00:24:50,675 Speaker 1: it means just one thing to me. Valentine's Day at 341 00:24:50,675 --> 00:24:53,635 Speaker 1: the Olympics. My boss has got me drunk the night before. 342 00:24:54,275 --> 00:24:56,435 Speaker 1: Then at the crack of dawn, they sent me up 343 00:24:56,475 --> 00:24:58,155 Speaker 1: to the top of the mountain to cover the men's 344 00:24:58,195 --> 00:25:01,595 Speaker 1: downhill in minus fifty wind chills, which is when I 345 00:25:01,675 --> 00:25:04,235 Speaker 1: realized that I'd gone to the top of the mountain, 346 00:25:04,275 --> 00:25:07,595 Speaker 1: but I gotten to bring well. Anyway, stand by for 347 00:25:07,635 --> 00:25:09,755 Speaker 1: this story. First in each edition of Countdown, we feature 348 00:25:09,835 --> 00:25:11,715 Speaker 1: dog in need You can Help. Every dog has its 349 00:25:11,835 --> 00:25:16,475 Speaker 1: Day to Magnolia, Texas and Daniel d n a animal 350 00:25:16,555 --> 00:25:18,795 Speaker 1: rescue is trying to get Daniel back on his feet. 351 00:25:19,275 --> 00:25:23,595 Speaker 1: A young standard issue tan hound mutt. Daniel was attacked 352 00:25:23,595 --> 00:25:26,435 Speaker 1: and tortured by a group of teenage boys in Texas. 353 00:25:26,795 --> 00:25:30,395 Speaker 1: They drew on him, they stabbed him, they fractured his shoulder, 354 00:25:31,035 --> 00:25:34,395 Speaker 1: and yet when the rescue staff found Daniel, he wagged 355 00:25:34,435 --> 00:25:36,435 Speaker 1: his tail at them. If you want to donate to 356 00:25:36,515 --> 00:25:39,395 Speaker 1: Daniel's rehab, you can find him on Cuddly or on 357 00:25:39,475 --> 00:25:43,595 Speaker 1: my Twitter feed. Your retweets will also help. I thank you, 358 00:25:44,475 --> 00:26:09,075 Speaker 1: and Daniel, thanks you. I swear I saw a snowflake 359 00:26:09,235 --> 00:26:11,955 Speaker 1: or too late Saturday night here the first of the year, 360 00:26:12,635 --> 00:26:15,955 Speaker 1: and that makes it forty two consecutive winners that that 361 00:26:16,115 --> 00:26:19,475 Speaker 1: first snow has triggered me in exactly the same way, 362 00:26:20,035 --> 00:26:23,475 Speaker 1: sending me back in my mind to the nineteen eighty 363 00:26:23,675 --> 00:26:29,555 Speaker 1: Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The alarm goes off. 364 00:26:30,315 --> 00:26:32,915 Speaker 1: It is pitch black in my room at the Swiss 365 00:26:33,075 --> 00:26:40,235 Speaker 1: Acres Motel. It is Valentine's Day, and I am still drunk. 366 00:26:42,155 --> 00:26:45,795 Speaker 1: Keith knew he was in trouble, but I was also 367 00:26:45,875 --> 00:26:48,555 Speaker 1: twenty one years old, and in fact, my birthday had 368 00:26:48,555 --> 00:26:54,555 Speaker 1: only been eighteen days earlier. So somehow I survived, showered, dressed, packed, 369 00:26:54,595 --> 00:26:57,635 Speaker 1: and I mean I packed two cassette tape recorders, four 370 00:26:57,675 --> 00:27:00,875 Speaker 1: sets of batteries, an audio processing machine that weighed like 371 00:27:00,955 --> 00:27:04,515 Speaker 1: fourteen pounds, the nine bolt batteries it took, I think 372 00:27:04,515 --> 00:27:07,795 Speaker 1: it was a dozen of them, a telephone, a backup telephone, 373 00:27:07,915 --> 00:27:12,475 Speaker 1: twelve assorted patch chords to loose leaf notebooks, about eight pens, 374 00:27:12,555 --> 00:27:15,955 Speaker 1: two microphones, to extra pair of socks. And I got 375 00:27:16,035 --> 00:27:21,315 Speaker 1: dressed too, full sets of thermal underwear, shirts, sweaters, snow pants, 376 00:27:21,515 --> 00:27:25,995 Speaker 1: snow shoes. Because it was eleven degrees below zero that morning. 377 00:27:27,115 --> 00:27:29,595 Speaker 1: I got something quick to eat at the commissary, and 378 00:27:29,635 --> 00:27:32,475 Speaker 1: I made it out somehow to the line for the 379 00:27:32,555 --> 00:27:35,995 Speaker 1: bus from the Lake Placid Olympics Center to the Lake 380 00:27:36,075 --> 00:27:40,155 Speaker 1: Placid Transportation Center to Lake Placid's own White Face Mountain, 381 00:27:40,435 --> 00:27:44,595 Speaker 1: then onto the snow track the open penned mountain tractor 382 00:27:44,635 --> 00:27:46,915 Speaker 1: that went up the side of White Face Mountain and 383 00:27:46,955 --> 00:27:50,275 Speaker 1: took me to the finish line of the nineteen Olympic 384 00:27:50,395 --> 00:27:56,195 Speaker 1: Men's downhill ski final still drunk. That is how a 385 00:27:56,275 --> 00:28:00,235 Speaker 1: reporter covered the Olympics nearly forty three years ago. You drank, 386 00:28:00,755 --> 00:28:04,355 Speaker 1: you woke up, you went, You stood near the finish line, 387 00:28:04,355 --> 00:28:07,515 Speaker 1: and when the skiers completed their runs, you hiked or 388 00:28:07,635 --> 00:28:10,435 Speaker 1: wobbled over to them and you took out your microphone 389 00:28:10,515 --> 00:28:13,635 Speaker 1: or your pen and you interviewed them, like two minutes 390 00:28:13,635 --> 00:28:16,555 Speaker 1: after they had finished hurtling towards you down the hill. 391 00:28:17,755 --> 00:28:20,075 Speaker 1: You could see almost nothing of the race from there. 392 00:28:20,475 --> 00:28:23,915 Speaker 1: There were no TV monitors. Basically, your only clue was 393 00:28:23,955 --> 00:28:26,035 Speaker 1: the sound of the crowd that would give you about 394 00:28:26,075 --> 00:28:29,035 Speaker 1: thirty seconds worth of warning that the skier was coming 395 00:28:29,035 --> 00:28:31,715 Speaker 1: over the near horizon and you should be prepared to 396 00:28:31,915 --> 00:28:37,115 Speaker 1: flee just in case he or she wiped out. Also, 397 00:28:37,995 --> 00:28:40,915 Speaker 1: you were on top of a mountain at the dead 398 00:28:41,035 --> 00:28:43,675 Speaker 1: point of winter, and whereas it might have been a 399 00:28:43,795 --> 00:28:47,035 Speaker 1: balmy eleven degrees below zero in the comfort of the 400 00:28:47,115 --> 00:28:50,955 Speaker 1: Swiss Acres motel with the wind chill at the base 401 00:28:50,995 --> 00:28:54,515 Speaker 1: of the mountain, it was forty eight below zero and 402 00:28:54,595 --> 00:28:57,475 Speaker 1: there had already been four inches of new snow since 403 00:28:57,515 --> 00:29:01,875 Speaker 1: the sun came up, which is where the still drunk 404 00:29:01,955 --> 00:29:05,675 Speaker 1: part came in Handy, my boss is at my first job, 405 00:29:05,755 --> 00:29:09,155 Speaker 1: the thousand station radio network called United President National Audio, 406 00:29:09,475 --> 00:29:11,995 Speaker 1: had decided the night before to teach me how to 407 00:29:12,235 --> 00:29:16,755 Speaker 1: drink while on assignment. My bosses were the bureau manager 408 00:29:16,795 --> 00:29:19,035 Speaker 1: for that part of u p I, the late stand Sebek, 409 00:29:19,075 --> 00:29:22,195 Speaker 1: who had hired me, and Sam Rosen, the sports director 410 00:29:22,235 --> 00:29:25,515 Speaker 1: of the network, who not only somehow survived being my 411 00:29:25,595 --> 00:29:29,475 Speaker 1: first boss, but today, just forty three years later, is 412 00:29:29,515 --> 00:29:32,395 Speaker 1: still working as the television voice of the New York 413 00:29:32,475 --> 00:29:35,555 Speaker 1: Rangers hockey team and is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. 414 00:29:35,715 --> 00:29:38,435 Speaker 1: So I guess my reputation is a tough employee is 415 00:29:38,515 --> 00:29:43,835 Speaker 1: wildly overrated, or at least Sam think So. Sam and 416 00:29:43,915 --> 00:29:46,675 Speaker 1: Stan kept me drinking at the motel until two am, 417 00:29:46,755 --> 00:29:48,475 Speaker 1: knowing full well that I had to get on the 418 00:29:48,675 --> 00:29:51,595 Speaker 1: six am bus to go cover the men's downhill because 419 00:29:51,595 --> 00:29:53,715 Speaker 1: it was the two of them who had assigned me 420 00:29:53,755 --> 00:29:58,275 Speaker 1: to go cover the men's downhill and bluntly. I was 421 00:29:58,315 --> 00:30:01,875 Speaker 1: surprisingly pleased with myself that freezing morning, because I had 422 00:30:01,915 --> 00:30:05,075 Speaker 1: indeed learned how to drink while on assignment. I had 423 00:30:05,195 --> 00:30:08,235 Speaker 1: somehow found the phone jack for the U p I 424 00:30:08,315 --> 00:30:11,835 Speaker 1: phone buried under all the new snow, which of course 425 00:30:11,955 --> 00:30:15,315 Speaker 1: was buried under all the old snow, attached the phone 426 00:30:15,355 --> 00:30:17,795 Speaker 1: to it, got in a dial tone, called the office, 427 00:30:17,875 --> 00:30:20,675 Speaker 1: checked the alligator clips with which I would feed the tape, 428 00:30:20,875 --> 00:30:26,715 Speaker 1: and always well until I went to put a cassette 429 00:30:26,715 --> 00:30:35,475 Speaker 1: tape into the cassette recorder. I didn't have one. Fat 430 00:30:35,515 --> 00:30:37,955 Speaker 1: A lot of good two cassette tape machines gonna do 431 00:30:38,035 --> 00:30:41,955 Speaker 1: you without a cassette to stick in one of them. 432 00:30:42,115 --> 00:30:45,075 Speaker 1: I looked forlornly around the base of White Face Mountain, 433 00:30:46,355 --> 00:30:49,035 Speaker 1: twelve feet above sea level as we were. There was 434 00:30:49,075 --> 00:30:52,835 Speaker 1: a surprisingly nice shalet and a decent restaurant, but there 435 00:30:52,835 --> 00:30:57,155 Speaker 1: were no radio shacks or other electronics stores. There was, however, 436 00:30:57,275 --> 00:31:02,355 Speaker 1: one other radio guy, Jack Briggs, from the Associated Press 437 00:31:02,435 --> 00:31:05,475 Speaker 1: Radio Network, the nominal arch rival to our own up 438 00:31:05,675 --> 00:31:08,595 Speaker 1: I Audio. I knew Jack a little. He was a 439 00:31:08,675 --> 00:31:12,435 Speaker 1: nice guy. I went and explained my plight making sure 440 00:31:12,475 --> 00:31:16,555 Speaker 1: to blame my bosses for my predicament. Oh man, he said, 441 00:31:17,275 --> 00:31:20,835 Speaker 1: his breath turning into first steam and then ice cubes. 442 00:31:21,595 --> 00:31:25,515 Speaker 1: I'm so sorry, but I can't give you a cassette. 443 00:31:26,435 --> 00:31:29,315 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, you're U p I and I'm a p 444 00:31:31,155 --> 00:31:35,075 Speaker 1: oh how, I laughed. That was a great line to 445 00:31:35,115 --> 00:31:38,035 Speaker 1: say to a rookie reporter still drunk thanks to the 446 00:31:38,035 --> 00:31:41,915 Speaker 1: initiation rituals of his own bosses, the possessor of one 447 00:31:42,035 --> 00:31:46,875 Speaker 1: great buzz but zero audio cassettes, Jack Briggs could tell 448 00:31:46,915 --> 00:31:50,315 Speaker 1: I thought he was kidding. That's when he said, I'm 449 00:31:50,315 --> 00:31:53,115 Speaker 1: not kidding. Look. Look, if my boss, Shelby Whitfield ever 450 00:31:53,115 --> 00:31:57,315 Speaker 1: found out, he'd fire me. I suddenly wasn't drunk anymore, 451 00:31:57,435 --> 00:32:02,275 Speaker 1: not at all. My my boss will will will fire me. 452 00:32:03,075 --> 00:32:06,155 Speaker 1: Briggs was adamant. I can't run the risk of shehallby 453 00:32:06,235 --> 00:32:11,675 Speaker 1: finding out. I have to confess. I shouted, how the 454 00:32:11,755 --> 00:32:16,555 Speaker 1: hell is he gonna find out? Jack? I think subconsciously 455 00:32:16,555 --> 00:32:18,595 Speaker 1: I was hoping to create an avalanche, which would have 456 00:32:18,595 --> 00:32:20,555 Speaker 1: been a better solution than the one I was faced with. 457 00:32:21,515 --> 00:32:24,635 Speaker 1: I said to him, there's you and there's me, and 458 00:32:24,675 --> 00:32:27,715 Speaker 1: we're on top of a goddamn mountain. And Shelby Whitfield. 459 00:32:27,755 --> 00:32:30,995 Speaker 1: Your boss is in Washington, d C. And he's a drunk, 460 00:32:32,315 --> 00:32:35,435 Speaker 1: and he's probably more drunk than I am, and he'd 461 00:32:35,435 --> 00:32:39,315 Speaker 1: probably thank you for helping me to drink more. Briggs 462 00:32:39,355 --> 00:32:42,035 Speaker 1: would not budge. I told him I would pay him. 463 00:32:42,195 --> 00:32:44,275 Speaker 1: I told him I would give him the cassette back 464 00:32:44,355 --> 00:32:46,755 Speaker 1: after I fed my boss the interviews over the phone, 465 00:32:46,875 --> 00:32:48,915 Speaker 1: so there'd be no evidence and he wouldn't even have 466 00:32:48,955 --> 00:32:53,235 Speaker 1: to do any interviews. No good, I'm sorry, and I 467 00:32:53,235 --> 00:32:55,155 Speaker 1: know you're gonna tell this story about me for a while. 468 00:32:56,075 --> 00:32:59,155 Speaker 1: As he walked away from me, I shouted after him. Forever. 469 00:33:02,355 --> 00:33:06,115 Speaker 1: Turned out there was no radio shack and no camaraderie, 470 00:33:06,195 --> 00:33:09,235 Speaker 1: but there was a West Coast newspaper reporter atop the 471 00:33:09,315 --> 00:33:12,635 Speaker 1: mountain who heard some of this conversation. I guess I 472 00:33:12,755 --> 00:33:16,075 Speaker 1: yelled a little loudly to Mr Briggs. Some guy standing 473 00:33:16,115 --> 00:33:18,315 Speaker 1: next to us St. Bernard told me to quiet down. 474 00:33:18,355 --> 00:33:20,755 Speaker 1: He mentioned something else about the avalanches, or maybe I 475 00:33:20,915 --> 00:33:23,715 Speaker 1: dreamed that part. I don't know. Anyway, the West Coast 476 00:33:23,715 --> 00:33:27,315 Speaker 1: newspaper guy said he had a micro cassette machine and 477 00:33:27,355 --> 00:33:28,915 Speaker 1: he would loan it to me and I could give 478 00:33:28,915 --> 00:33:30,635 Speaker 1: it back to him at the media center that day 479 00:33:30,715 --> 00:33:32,155 Speaker 1: or the next one. But I had to do him 480 00:33:32,155 --> 00:33:34,355 Speaker 1: a favor because there was this really cute reporter in 481 00:33:34,395 --> 00:33:36,435 Speaker 1: our up I bureau and he really wanted to be 482 00:33:36,435 --> 00:33:38,275 Speaker 1: introduced to her. And I said, I can promise you 483 00:33:38,355 --> 00:33:40,875 Speaker 1: nothing but a handshake, and he understood, and that's how 484 00:33:40,875 --> 00:33:44,595 Speaker 1: I did not get fired. But of course, a story 485 00:33:44,635 --> 00:33:48,915 Speaker 1: like this has punchlines, and this one has two of them. 486 00:33:48,955 --> 00:33:52,075 Speaker 1: The first is two years and a couple of months later, 487 00:33:52,235 --> 00:33:55,675 Speaker 1: Shelby Whitfield asked me to lunch. He had left the 488 00:33:55,675 --> 00:33:58,315 Speaker 1: Associated Press to run the sports department at the ABC 489 00:33:58,555 --> 00:34:01,315 Speaker 1: Radio network, back when that was not only a thing, 490 00:34:01,475 --> 00:34:04,795 Speaker 1: but a big thing. We went to a terrific New 491 00:34:04,875 --> 00:34:09,235 Speaker 1: York City Chinese restaurant near ABC called shun Lee, and 492 00:34:09,275 --> 00:34:11,915 Speaker 1: Shelby Whitfield interviewed me for a job when that kind 493 00:34:11,915 --> 00:34:14,275 Speaker 1: of job paid eighty thousand a year in my very 494 00:34:14,355 --> 00:34:16,515 Speaker 1: nice studio apartment in a very nice part of town 495 00:34:16,675 --> 00:34:20,875 Speaker 1: costs less than five hundred dollars a month later, in 496 00:34:20,915 --> 00:34:24,315 Speaker 1: an interesting twist, I found out the jobs didn't exist. 497 00:34:24,995 --> 00:34:27,475 Speaker 1: I was mentioning the interview in a press box somewhere 498 00:34:27,675 --> 00:34:30,115 Speaker 1: I think Madison Square Garden, and there was another kid 499 00:34:30,155 --> 00:34:33,875 Speaker 1: reporter named how He Rose and how are you still working? 500 00:34:33,915 --> 00:34:35,755 Speaker 1: He does the New York Mets games on the radio, 501 00:34:36,195 --> 00:34:39,355 Speaker 1: and how he said, Wait, they interviewed me for that 502 00:34:39,675 --> 00:34:42,795 Speaker 1: job last year, just an excuse for that damn Whitfield 503 00:34:43,035 --> 00:34:48,075 Speaker 1: to go drink his lunch on ABC's tab. Anyway, before 504 00:34:48,115 --> 00:34:50,115 Speaker 1: we started the interview for the job, I did not 505 00:34:50,235 --> 00:34:53,315 Speaker 1: know did not exist at ABC. I told Shelby Whitfield 506 00:34:53,355 --> 00:34:55,795 Speaker 1: the white Face Mountain, can I borrow a cassette Jack 507 00:34:55,835 --> 00:34:59,915 Speaker 1: Briggs story? And Shelby's exact reply was, I don't know. 508 00:35:00,115 --> 00:35:02,075 Speaker 1: Was I going to find out? There was you and 509 00:35:02,075 --> 00:35:03,355 Speaker 1: there was him, and you were on top of a 510 00:35:03,395 --> 00:35:06,715 Speaker 1: goddamn mountain and I was in Washington. Only he didn't 511 00:35:06,755 --> 00:35:11,235 Speaker 1: say goddamn that Briggs. He added, always trying to suck 512 00:35:11,315 --> 00:35:13,635 Speaker 1: up to me, I gotta tell you something I actually 513 00:35:13,675 --> 00:35:15,635 Speaker 1: once promised I wouldn't tell you if we ever met this. 514 00:35:15,915 --> 00:35:18,275 Speaker 1: When the Olympics were over and came back to the office, 515 00:35:18,875 --> 00:35:20,795 Speaker 1: he told me what happened. He expected me to be 516 00:35:20,835 --> 00:35:22,715 Speaker 1: happy or give him a bonus or something. And I 517 00:35:22,715 --> 00:35:26,355 Speaker 1: called him a little snitch. Only Shelby didn't say snitch, 518 00:35:26,955 --> 00:35:30,635 Speaker 1: just a word that rhymed with it. The other punch 519 00:35:30,675 --> 00:35:35,555 Speaker 1: line is from and remember this happened at the Olympics. 520 00:35:36,515 --> 00:35:38,715 Speaker 1: I go to work at ESPN and come in a 521 00:35:38,715 --> 00:35:41,315 Speaker 1: little early to launch their radio network of story I've 522 00:35:41,315 --> 00:35:44,435 Speaker 1: told here before, and there I find a friend of 523 00:35:44,475 --> 00:35:46,595 Speaker 1: mine since my radio days, who I have not seen 524 00:35:46,635 --> 00:35:49,075 Speaker 1: in a year or so, and he says, hey, last month, 525 00:35:49,115 --> 00:35:51,155 Speaker 1: I was in an NBA game in Washington. I ran 526 00:35:51,195 --> 00:35:53,755 Speaker 1: it at Jack Briggs. He heard you were going to ESPN. 527 00:35:53,755 --> 00:35:55,315 Speaker 1: He asked me if you were still telling that story 528 00:35:55,315 --> 00:35:57,875 Speaker 1: about the time you got stuck on White Face Mountain 529 00:35:57,875 --> 00:35:59,795 Speaker 1: without a cassette. And he was the only other reporter 530 00:35:59,875 --> 00:36:01,675 Speaker 1: there and he wouldn't give you a spare. And I 531 00:36:01,715 --> 00:36:04,595 Speaker 1: told him you were, and I smiled, and I reply, 532 00:36:04,715 --> 00:36:22,915 Speaker 1: I hope you remembered to use the word forever. Countdown 533 00:36:22,995 --> 00:36:25,275 Speaker 1: has come to you from the studios of Alderman Broadcasting 534 00:36:25,315 --> 00:36:29,315 Speaker 1: Empire World Headquarters in the Sports Capsule Building in New York. 535 00:36:30,315 --> 00:36:32,475 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. Here the credits. Most of the music, 536 00:36:32,515 --> 00:36:35,795 Speaker 1: including our theme from Beethoven's Ninth, was arranged, produced, and 537 00:36:35,875 --> 00:36:38,635 Speaker 1: performed by Brian Ray and John Philip Chanelle, who are 538 00:36:38,675 --> 00:36:42,035 Speaker 1: the Countdown Musical directors. Guitarist based and drums by Brian 539 00:36:42,115 --> 00:36:46,235 Speaker 1: ray All, orchestration and keyboards by John Philip Shanelle, produced 540 00:36:46,275 --> 00:36:49,795 Speaker 1: by t Ko Brothers. Another Beethoven selections have been arranged 541 00:36:49,835 --> 00:36:53,075 Speaker 1: and performed by No Horns Allowed. The sports music is 542 00:36:53,075 --> 00:36:56,035 Speaker 1: the Olderman theme from ESPN Too, and it was written 543 00:36:56,035 --> 00:36:59,715 Speaker 1: by Mitch Warren Davis courtesy of ESPN, Inc. Musical comments 544 00:36:59,715 --> 00:37:02,835 Speaker 1: by Nancy Faust. The best baseball stadium organist ever. Our 545 00:37:02,875 --> 00:37:07,675 Speaker 1: announcer today was Tony Cornis, who is also written by ESPN. Hey, 546 00:37:07,715 --> 00:37:10,635 Speaker 1: everything else is pretty much my fault. So let's countdown 547 00:37:10,675 --> 00:37:14,315 Speaker 1: for this, the seven seventieth day since Donald Trump's first 548 00:37:14,315 --> 00:37:17,675 Speaker 1: attempted coup against the democratically elected government of the United States. 549 00:37:18,115 --> 00:37:22,435 Speaker 1: Arrest him now while we still can. The next scheduled 550 00:37:22,475 --> 00:37:25,195 Speaker 1: countdown is tomorrow. Until then, I'm Keith all Reman. Good morning, 551 00:37:25,235 --> 00:37:40,795 Speaker 1: good afternoon, goodnight, and good luck. Countdown with Keith ol 552 00:37:40,835 --> 00:37:43,915 Speaker 1: Reman is a production of I heart Radio. For more 553 00:37:44,035 --> 00:37:47,395 Speaker 1: podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, 554 00:37:47,475 --> 00:37:50,875 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.