Do you think it is far-fetched to design applications in United States classrooms, using mathematics and sports? Science, physics and chemistry can also be blended with sports for an interdisciplinary learning experience for students at all levels.
My article on "The Nitty-Gritty of the NFL Football" and an article in the Official Pro Football Hall of Fame Yearbook (2007) discuss the characteristics and "Evolution of the Football." On pages 100-104 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame magazine, you learn that the football is not a pigskin. You see images of the early football in 1894, the Duke Football, and the White Football in 1956.
Once more, you read:
"On January 1, 2006, New England Patriots backup quarterback Doug Flutie converted the NFL's first successful dropkick since 1941. He converted an extra point in the fourth quarter of the season-ending game against the Miami Dolphins.
"Prior to Flutie's kick, the league's last successful dropkick was on December 21, 1941--two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor--when Ray "Scooter" McLean drop-kicked an extra point as the Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants, 37-9, in the NFL championship game."
Why is the above quote so important? Here is the answer:
"Changes to the football made the art of drop-kicking significantly more difficult due to the more erratic bounce (physics) of a tapered ball.
"The upward bounce of the older, rounder version of the ball was much more predictable (physics and mathematics)."
The NFL archives enlighten the 2009 fans, telling us that in 1899 the Official Football Rules Book contained a definition to include the descriptive shape.
The 1899 Rules Book says that "the football used shall be of leather, enclosing an inflated rubber bladder. The ball shall have the shape of a prolate spheroid."
Prolate spheroid? You mean to say that the football officials knew the mathematics term, prolate spheroid! Yes, and it could mean that the students in 1899 may have known and loved mathematics more than the students in 2009.
Well, it's clear to me that there is so much knowledge embedded in the world of sports that we must be like "gold diggers." We should, perhaps, chisel through the surface and get to the deeper things that need to be revealed in the world of sports.
Why? We need to motivate our students to the highest level of excellence, again, so as to maintain our position and rank in an international setting.
In January 2009 at the Joint Mathematics Meeting, in Washington, D.C., there were several sessions, conducted by mathematicians, disseminating information on sports and mathematics. One session was led by Howard Penn of the United States Naval Academy.
The topic I prepared for presentation in the 2009 Washington, D. C. meeting was titled, "New Ways of Assessing NFL Players." The inspiration came from the observation that many NFL players who made outstanding contributions to the sport, have been misrepresented by statistics which lacked the dimensionality to describe their intensity and integrity as sportsmen.
Data was collected from public databases. Mathematical modeling was used to compare players, and interesting results were evident. I tagged a term "sport's prodigy" because some guys were able to set records in a much shorter time frame than others.
The argument could go like this: Just as we marvel over the 13 year-old B/R writers who publish such powerful and outstanding work at such a young age, there are NFL players who performed on the playing field, doing marvelous feats, yet their career was not long.
Bleacher Report encourages us to give credit where credit is due. As a sports writing site, we, then, must give credit to the players when credit is due.
It's the 21st century. We need not rant and rave about who is the better player. We must, I believe, use more sophisticated analysis and assessment strategies to measure and identify impact in the games, and in the entire sports industry.
Not only have I and other B/R sportswriters been perceived as underrated, there are many sportsmen of my generation who have been both underrated, and I might add, berated.
They have been berated by faulty reasoning, and incomplete analysis with gaps in understanding.
In some cases, too little emphasis has been placed on athletic performance, and too much on personal challenges which are intimately connected with, in my opinion, the culture of the sports and entertainment industry.
There have been growth and "forgiveness" in the media recorded images of the lives of some great sportsmen. For example, Kobe Bryant and Majic Johnson have been able to move forward in their lives, although human error put pimples on their careers in the past.
So how do we use these ideas in the classroom?
We teach cognitive, affective and psycho-motor skills. The content for the cognitive lessons can be draw from sports databases.
The biographical sketches of the stars who achieved, stumbled in some social or legal way, and then are in recovery and redemptive stages, can be used to educate in the affective domain.
Finally, the archival records demonstrating superior athletic skills, feats of endurance, courage and compassion, can be used to teach in the psycho-motor domain.
In early October 2009, another conference, sponsored by the U. S. Department of Education will convene in Washington, D. C. I will be there representing the National Association of Mathematicians, and my good experiences of learning more about sports through my interactions with the Bleacher Report (B/R) will be shared with some of my colleagues.
Many of the articles on B/R are loaded with wisdom, knowledge and analysis in each of the cognitive, affective and psycho-motor domains. The concepts in these domains are taught in curriculum and instruction.
Once we eradicate the "warts" on our complexion, we will display a beautiful image of the creative uses of the Bleacher Report.
B/R is an excellent outlet to demonstrate that sports can entertain, educate and even elevate academic achievement in America, if we collaborate and put our best foot forward.
One of the amenities of our mission is to share the concept:
Sports can help entertain, educate, and elevate academic achievement in America, and in the international community.
Finally, one good way to get started on this mission is to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame website or contact Mr. Jerry Csaki, the education director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio.
When can you get started? My answer: In a few days the 2009 Enshrinement Ceremonies will begin. Not only should you be there for that historical event, but also spend a little time visiting the education division of the Hall of Fame.
This is it!
We're coming down to the final stretch and Barack Obama needs your help now, more than ever before!
Please bring your cell phone, a charger and a few fun friends who care about change and join with thousands of your neighbors in the largest ever-attempted phone bank effort in New York state history. The Obama campaign is hosting several of these "mega call centers" all over New York, so invite your friends and family to make calls to voters in key battleground states and change America for years to come.
Visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/nylastcall to find a location near you.
http://ny.barackobama.com/NYlastcall
Subject: Vote against Sarah Palin - Please do so ASAPPBS is running a poll which asks if Sarah Palin is qualified to be VP. Republicans are flooding the poll SO YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!Please click on this link:http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html Obviously, the most important thing is for you to VOTE YES to BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT ON NOVEMBER 4TH and to do everything you possibly can to make that a reality. Please remember to register two people to vote, take someone who lives near you to the polls, and log onto the Call Team on this site and encourage someone else to vote for Barack.
The Palin thing is just a psychological thing - but as you know, some people are absolutely influenced by what they see. Let's let them see we Vote NO to Palin.
Here is a wonderfully inspiring video. This video should open even blind eyes. Watch and Share!
http://www.vimeo.com/1742831#success
As Whitney Houston said, "I believe that children are our future". And our children are hoping for a future with Barack Obama as President of the United States, not John McCain. Why? Growing up in Toronto, my daughter sees homeless people, and people on our streets who are hungry. She's being taught to give money to the church to help people who need it, to pitch in at food drives, to pack up clothes and toys for others in need. So when she heard about John McCain owning so many houses that he couldn't even keep track of them all, it was all too much for her. "Seven houses?", she exclaimed, "Some people don't even have one. He can't live in seven houses at once. Why doesn't he just give some of them away to people who don't have any?" Why indeed? She's only four, and she's figured it out. An economy that has some people owning seven homes, while others sleep on cardboard is not working. Some people definitely have, others have not. And it's not fair. Sure, the economy is more complicated than that, but in essence, what we have now is not fair. And it's not right. A vote for Barack Obama can change that.
... Suddenly I'm starting to worry.
I have great respect fot what David Plouffe, David Axelrod and the other campaign team members - bringing Senator Obama from what seems like nowhere to where he is today. Ye, yet .... I'm feeling troubled.
I read today I'm reading lots of negative pieces ... basically of the nature that Barack Obama's star is fading, the message has grown stale. During most of the summer before the convention, I got the feeling everyone was resting ... it almost seemed dull.
As a Canadian I really believe that Barack Obama is needed - not just by the USA, but by the world. A brief piece I read today about a poll (BBC I think) quoted results from a poll taken around the world which said 80% agreed with that thought.
Americans I know all support Senator Obama yet ... he now seems to be the underdog.
Is it just the swings of fortune in the battle? To me the debates are now crucial.
Maybe its just me ... and the campaign team has a handle on it. But when a McCain team member says "its not about issues anymore" ... I get very worried.
Maybe its just me .....
gryff :)
Hi Every one! :)
I know this seems very odd, because most of you didn't even know I was alive.. However, I do a few times a week do a video/radio type show about American politics and more pointedly, what can *I* do, to do my part in helping ensure that Obama becomes the next president of the USA this November.
Tonight on my show I will be having a guest (via telephone) who will read a statement to McCain. More of an open letter. I have to tell you, it's good!In fact very good. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor after she read it to me. She says she wrote it in 20 minutes. And that is also about how long it iswhen she read it to me. Quite frankly it's brilliant!
I want you to hear it. She needs you to hear it. If you would be willing tonight at around 10 PM ESTto tune into my show on the net I would be very grateful and I have no doubt that you will be remarkably moved with her words. If you never listen to my show again, or if you leave right after she reads it, that is okay with me. She is so full of passion and insight I was literally floored! I can tell you in all honesty, that doesn't happen to me easily. I have no doubt that if you are a true believer as I am in this movement and cause you won't be able to walk away without being breathless either.
I really hope you at least come to check it out and see and hear for yourself. If you think I'm crazy afterwards, so be it and you can ignore me till the end of time.
However, I think you might like to hear this. You can get to my show by going to:
http://www.stickam.com/politicallysound
If you go look now, I know, it's a little lame, but I do it on my own dime and don't have any fancy set up. But I am not asking you to come listen to me. I'm asking you to come listen to her. (Liz)
Show will start between 10.00 PM & 10:30 PM. We are aiming for 10 PM EST, but I do have kids.. the realities of life. I know every one thinks they have heard some thing that floors them, but I don't think I'm wrong about Liz.
I really hope to see you there. You can just lurk, or feel free to come into chat. Whether you lurk outside the chat, or come into the chat you'll still be able to see and hear the show. I of course would prefer you came into chat because I would love to hear all points of view and all opinions. But lurking is fine too.
Thank you for letting me take up a moment of your life you will now never get back.
Thanks!Peace - Stephanie.http://www.stickam.com/politicallysound
Tonight I gather Barack was on Fox News with O'Reilly. I have not seen the video so I can only judge by two text reports.
1. Fox News: Obama: Surge Succeeded beyond our wildest dreams
2. MSNBC News: Iraqi surge exceeded expectations, Obama says
Violence maybe down ... but why ?
1. The "Awakening" in Anbar province where groups were paid by the American military to patrol neighborhoods and to fight against other Sunni insurgents. Was that part of the 'surge' or pre surge?
2. Ethnic/Religious cleansing in Baghdad. Not something that seems to be mentioned as going on. And with good reason ... people get upset about it ... be it Kosovo or Georgia or Rwanda.
Here is a map that shows population shifts in Baghdad from July 2006 to July 2007.
Is that a success beyond wildest expectations ?
It seems really sad to see something we detest elsewhere is described as a victory!
For McCain to chose Palin is demeaning to Hillary Clinton supporters—as though any token woman would do for an office a heart beat from the presidency of the world’s sole super power. Pathetically bad decision-making ability on the part of McCain, in bold type for the world to see.
All I can truly say is this will be a feast for the Democrats and I am looking forward to the carnage. With this pick McCain wanted his party enthused and united heading into today’s Republican convention, but the novelty of a good looking woman running mate will soon die down in the following days.
McCain, with this selection is trying to wrest the mantle of “change” from Obama, saying the Democrat talks change while he brings change.
Obama leads among female voters but McCain is trying to lure members of Clinton’s disaffected flock and some of Obama’s young voters,but thats how far it can go.
There are obvious problems with Palin’s selection and these are beginning to surface and dominating discussion. Some of the assumptions McCain has gambled on could collapse like a house of sand.
Luring Women
For many women the selection is likely to smack of tokenism. Hillary supporters wanted her for herself and her policies - does McCain think any woman will do? And would any man with Palin’s record have even be considered?
Whereas McCain’s moderate policies on climate change and immigration muted his conservatism in the public eye, strapping Palin to McCain makes the choice for female voters stark.
Palin is so anti-abortion she rejects it even in cases of rape and incest- decrying a woman’s right to choose abortion?-interesting.
She supports the teaching of Creationism in schools is against gay marriage and she is a global warming sceptic.
McCain ’s experience argument collapses
Palin was until two years ago a mayor of a town of 7000 people. References on news sites after her selection to George Bush snr’s pick of Dan Quayle in some ways miss the mark - Quayle at least had four years in Congress and eight years in the Senate for Indiana before he was chosen.
Republicans have trotted out the fiction that Obama is less experienced than Palin - which at least puts pressure on the Democrats to directly, comprehensively, refute that charge.
Obama is a former president of the Harvard Law Review, community organiser, member of the Illinois state senate, and law lecturer, who has run campaigns for the House of Representatives and the Senate. At the Senate he has been a member of the foreign relations committee and been involved in legislation to control nuclear weapons and boost public accountability in the use of Government funds. He has spent more than a year creating and debating domestic and foreign policy for his campaign.
Palin does have governing experience - unlike McCain, Obama or Biden - but of Alaska a state with less than 700,000 people and for less than two years.
Selecting a running mate is considered the first presidential decision a prospective president makes.
The bottom-line criterion is that he or she has to be capable of taking over if the president dies. Apart from the surprise crises that may arise and which no one can predict, the next president of the United States will have to deal with the economy headed for recession, health and housing issues, withdrawal from Iraq, the conflict in Afghanistan, terrorism, Pakistan, Iran and its nuclear programme, the problems of climate change and difficulties with Russia and North Korea.
McCain is 72 and has had bouts of skin cancer. He would be the oldest president yet at time of taking office.
When Obama was making his choice, he had enough insight to realise he needed a person with foreign policy experience to help to close his security deficit with McCain but also to help him govern. He specifically said he wanted someone he could trust and who would speak his mind. The selection of Biden didn’t contradict any of those statements.
McCain, after saying he would pick someone capable of being president, has not done so. His decision says he is focused more on winning than governing and that he feels he can handle all foreign/security matters as president himself - or with other advisers. Not Palin.
McCain has undercut BOTH his central arguments: That he is ready to lead and Obama isn’t, if McCain is experienced enough to lead, his Vice President should be too.
McCain is also risking his previous great advantage - his candidacy’s sense of safety and reassurance in comparison with Obama.
McCain’s selection of a vice president who lacks national and foreign policy experience and doesn’t meet any objective measure of a credible president, makes the whole thing look reckless, cosmetic and gimmicky. Above and all says a lot about McCain’s flawed judgement.
Full article at here
An unidentified man man stands next to to picture of American presidential candidate Barack Obama at a fund raising campaign for American presidential candidate Barack Obama in Lagos, Nigeria, Monday Aug. 11, 2008. The event, held by a group calling itself 'Africans for Obama 08,' drew hundreds of people from the Nigerian business elite. Each paid more than $2,000 to munch on grilled snails, sip from flutes of Veuve Cliquot and Moet & Chandon and join in a lively, if poorly executed, series of the 'fist bumps' popularized by Obama and his wife, Michelle
This was sent to me by the writer's friend.As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on Sarah Palin, Senator McCain's choice for VP. As an Alaska voter, I know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that he picked her. The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles. She is a life time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school system.We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad, but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are many, most without teeth), could think this use of funds is appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to informative web sites. She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has "green" policies. The only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment. Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla, a small red neck town outside Anchorage.The average maximum education level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade. Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put Palin in office in the first place. I know what I'm talking about. These people don't have a concept of the world around them or of the serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don't care. So long as they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the wilderness, they're happy. I wish I were exaggerating. Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal. She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn't like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man's performance and ability weren't considered; it was a totally personal firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn't close to the scandal of Ted Steven's corruption, it shows that Palin isn't "squeaky clean" and causes me to think there ay be more issues that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn't care. When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable if it weren't so serious. Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics (admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs, knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment, health care systems - you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me. In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate as Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton. To those of you who, like me, supported Hilary and were upset that she did not get the nomination, please don't think that Sarah Palin is a worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you think the media and the democratic party may have done to undermine her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To those of you who are independent or undecided, don't let the choice of Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain's judgment. While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally, a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president. I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high. I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis. Jackie S.
This was sent to me by the writer's friend.
As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on Sarah Palin, Senator McCain's choice for VP. As an Alaska voter, I know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that he picked her. The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles. She is a life time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school system.We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad, but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are many, most without teeth), could think this use of funds is appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to informative web sites. She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has "green" policies. The only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment. Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla, a small red neck town outside Anchorage.The average maximum education level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade. Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put Palin in office in the first place. I know what I'm talking about.
These people don't have a concept of the world around them or of the serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don't care. So long as they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the wilderness, they're happy. I wish I were exaggerating. Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal. She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn't like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man's performance and ability weren't considered; it was a totally personal firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn't close to the scandal of Ted Steven's corruption, it shows that Palin isn't "squeaky clean" and causes me to think there ay be more issues that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn't care. When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable if it weren't so serious. Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics (admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs, knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment, health care systems - you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me. In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate as Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton. To those of you who, like me, supported Hilary and were upset that she did not get the nomination, please don't think that Sarah Palin is a worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you think the media and the democratic party may have done to undermine her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To those of you who are independent or undecided, don't let the choice of Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain's judgment. While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally, a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president. I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high. I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis. Jackie S.
My husband John has a lot of opinions. As a political science major, now working at an investment bank, this one is worth listening to. Here's his take on taxes:
How long can the Republican Party keep trotting out the promise of cutting your taxes - certainly never increasing them - when your country is running up the most massive debt in history? When you spend way more than you earn, it eventually catches up to you. The only way you can right the sinking ship is to either raise more revenue or cut expenditures, preferably both. With a society that is already suffering from a huge class disparity, finding ways for mega rich Americans to keep more of what they have is not helping. Your current account deficit is a glaring example of a society that is living off the savings of others. When China and the oil barons of the Middle East lose their interest in your currency and bonds, there will be no place to go but down. I guess you can always pass off your debt to the next generation, but in your lifetime there will be hell to pay if someone in the US doesn't have the guts to do the right thing. Who wouldn't like to keep more of their income? In Canada, we pay way more in taxes overall than the US. What do we get for it? Yearly budget surplusses and a social welfare system that, while not perfect, at least attempts to address the disparity between rich and poor. It is beyond me how the word "liberal" has become a negative label in the US.Maybe things have reached the point where neither McCain nor Obama can right the sinking ship that is the USA, but I will say this, the whole world has a vested interest in the outcome of your next election and four more years of what we have all just endured will benefit no one.
I was up in Collingwood during the Democratic Convention - a couple of days away from the city. My mom and my aunt Joan visiting from Jamaica and I had our own Convention Watch parties every night. We all liked Hillary Clinton's speech, loved the moment when she moved to nominate Barack Obama by acclamation, and loved, loved, LOVED Barack's speech. My one quibble: who was the DJ? With all the songs written about and for Barack Obama, wouldn't one of them have made a great fit for say, the moment when he was acclaimed? The crowd would have been on their feet joining Cocoa Tea to "Shout Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama!" Or how about after Joe Biden's speech, when he made his surprise appearance? Here's the replay as it would have gone down in my world: "We have a suprise guest tonight" Joe Biden: "Who?" Cue the chorus (Barack...Barack...) of Sparrow's Barack The Magnificent as Barack strides on stage. Nice, huh? I realize it could have been somewhat self aggrandizing to play a song called Barack The Magnificent while accepting the nomination (particularly since he made reference to accepting the nomination "with great humility"), but there were other opportunities. Why were they missed? I think... maybe... the organizers simply didn't know about them. I mean, I was loving the Motown, but for future reference, here are what I think could have been great Convention Songs:
Sparrow's Barack The Magnificent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnjKmpIlFn8&feature=related
And Cocoa Tea's Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tw8tesd5EA
Sadly, I don't know how to post just the songs, so I've posted the YouTube links, but try to ignore the comments at the bottom of both videos (although again, I use the word video loosely as both are just photos). They're mainly ignorant and ridiculous, full of poor grammar and worse spelling. But I digress... Enjoy the music!
