NPR article regarding the Derby

[hi_im_god]

i heard him this morning on npr.

he usually has an interesting take. i'd recommend his book on the army/navy football rivalry.

he covers a lot of sports and like many generalist's misses the nuances when it comes to niche sports like horse racing.

wasn't one of his better essays. the gross factual error on the belmont being the classic distance leapt out when i was listening and again as i read it. surprised this made it on air but i guess his editor/fact checker isn't much of a racing enthusiast either.

[westcoastinvader]

I heard him this morning on npr.

he usually has an interesting take. i'd recommend his book on the army/navy football rivalry.

I unexpectedly happened to attend a live Army-Navy football game in Philadephia in 1999.

I just happened to be in Philly on business, and decided to jump on a train from Center City and found a single ticket for face value that Saturday morning.

I had very low expectations, and just was going primarily to "check it off the list" of things to do in life. My expectations lowered further when I entered and learned that both services requested that no alcohol be sold (though there was lots of alcohol in the pre-game parking lot).

Enjoyment increased immensely with the pre-game festivities, complete with sky divers and fly overs.

The videos shown in the stadium on timeouts were incredibly great and funny. Each academy poked good natured and barbed fun at the other.

The pomp and pageantry was stupendous.

The game was better than average for a football fan in an Army-Navy game, though Navy pulled decidedly ahead in the 2nd half.

I was thinking about leaving early, but suddenly noted that seemingly not one person had left the stadium, even though the end result was well decided. I didn't know what was up, but decided I better hang around to see.

Long story short, when the game was over, and the academy teams did the post traditional game serenades to their fans and opponents, it was a goosebump on top of goosebump moment for any American....in my book.

My advice is, if you ever get a chance to go to an Army-Navy game.......ignore the expectation of a boring and meaningless football game, and just go.

I assure, it will be anything BUT boring and meaningless.

[DCracing]

$2 says Frank Deford is a fan and will be betting BB saturday. jerk.

[Danzig]

the usual article about how the tc needs to change....that it's an anachronism.

it must be may.