Behold! a new blog. (4-20-05)

[WhirlyGirl]

. . .

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WHY "BENEDICT"?
By Keith Olbermann
MSNBC.com
Secaucus, April 20, 2005

KAROL WOJTYLA'S predecessor originally created the name "Pope John Paul" to honor -- and underscore his continuity with -- his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI. His successor has chosen -- as you well know by now -- the name Benedict XVI, raising it into a tie for the second most frequently selected Papal title with “Gregory,” behind the 23 Johns. But it’s an ancient name, now having been chosen by incoming Pontiffs just twice since 1740.

This is not mere statistical trivia. As the unfortunate Cardinal Luciani in 1978 was so careful to recognize those who went before him, the former Cardinal Ratzinger is now invoking the memories of the other fifteen Benedicts. The first, chosen in 579, is so obscure that the only trace of his pontificate is a document showing he granted one an Italian estate to a local Abbot. The second Benedict, we are told, was a great singer -- an unusual resume for a Pope. The third had to fight off an invasion by the Saracens. Numbers four to nine are generally conceded to mark the darkest period in Papal history -- one was deposed, one was killed, one was bribed into resigning. The tenth was literally the "anti-Pope" during the pontificate of Nicholas the second in the 11th Century, but Benedict the 11th made peace with the French.

The 12th we'll get to presently; the 13th was pretty much nondescript; the 14th was feisty (during an argument with the French ambassador, he once seized the man, shoved him into the Papal chair and said "Be Pope yourself!"). And the 15th, who ascended in 1914, tried to keep the Vatican neutral during the first World War and publicly pleaded with world leaders not to fight -- becoming in the process the first Pope to correspond with an American president. There is little doubt the new Pope is trying to evoke that Benedict, and the Saint of the same name, and even the word itself (benedictum) meaning, simply, “blessing.”

But then there was Benedict the 12th and one almost wishes there was still a place for his earthy self-deprecation at the Vatican. Elected in 1342 -- on the first ballot, and when the Popes still ruled more or less in hiding at Avignon, France -- he was Cardinal Jacques Fournier, and he evidently wasn't too happy about his new job. To his fellow cardinals he said, quote, "you have elected a jackass." Certainly that is not the Benedict which the former Cardinal Ratzinger hopes to emulate. But the selection does raise the question: What does the name mean in the end? Does the name shape the Pope or does the Pope shape the name?
(more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240/ )
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[WhirlyGirl]

1. delete

[RevCheesehead]

2. The Pope shapes the name.

At least, to us he does.

I don't think many Americans know or understand Catholic history, nor do many of them want to understand it.

It would have been helpful if there were an American cardinal that advised Ratzinger that "Benedict" in the United States is a name synonymous with "traitor." He might have re-thunk his choice (unless his goal was, indeed, to alienate the American Catholic Church).

[Catchawave]

4. Wow Rev, it never did compute with me about the name choice...

but you're right.

Also, the Ratzinger choice didn't resonate very well with Dems after they figured out he was the one who told priests to refuse communion to pro-choice (aka Kerry) candidates during the 2004 election season.

I think this article was on the DU front page today.

[Clark2008]

3. Geez - that was fast

I just emailed him about two hours ago and told him I missed his blogs!

LOL! :)

(I'm sure I'm not the only one who wondered why he's not blogging as much and asked.)

[Catchawave]

5. Never underestimate the Power of the KOEB !

Though I feel more comfortable nagging the [e-mail] staff. But maybe the power of contacting [e-mail] has priority!

You go girl !

[Berry Cool]

6. Then again, I long for a wholly new one

--not based pretty much on a script he wrote for the show.

Sometimes he delivers the script and then the blog is based on the script, like this time. Other times he blogs and then uses a script based on the blog.

I really, really like the times when what we get in the blog is utterly unique and not ever something that has been used or will be used on the air.

Although I know there's not always time for those.

[gkhouston]

7. there's not always time

especially right now. First it was the Schiavo mess, which seemed to get under his skin, as it did for so many of us. Then he had those long-form broadcasts for the Pope's decline and death, which have got to be pretty wearing since you never know what's going to happen next. And he deserves a little vacation, so I'm not going to slag him for taking some time off for his beloved baseball. Also, it occurs to me that if his folks are snowbirds like Sparky's, maybe they've just flown north in the past week or two also; seems like a lot of snowbirds come home in April, so perhaps he's spent some time with his family, too. Heck, just recuperating from the Schiavo/Pope-a-thon would take me two straight weeks of sack time. (ALONE, Rev.)

[Berry Cool]

8. We got spoiled during election season

and yeah, I don't begrudge him his off time either, really...I just HATE IT FROM MY STANDPOINT! Hah!

In fact, although I really do not want to knock his adoration of baseball, I do worry a bit that now that the season has started, it is going to be a little difficult for him to focus on his job. So much so, in fact, that recently I was tempted to take a page from the book of Letterman, and come up with this...

TOP 10 WAYS WE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF KEITH'S MIND IS NOT ON HIS WORK THIS TIME OF YEAR

10. “Countdown” theme music replaced with organ playing “CHAAAARGE!”

9. Rather than reporting from MSNBC studios in Secaucus, Keith begins doing live remotes from makeshift studios set up in “secure undisclosed locations” (we can’t really see where they are, but we can occasionally hear the crack of a bat in the background, followed by loud cheering)

8. Maps of Iraq during standups mysteriously replaced with subway maps depicting routes to Yankee/Shea Stadiums

7. Keith disappointed new Pope was chosen so soon, as it ruined his plans for “Rotisserie Papal League”

6. Episode of “Michael Jackson Puppet Theatre” features popsicle stick of Michael’s head saying, “If they find me not guilty, me and my ‘big bat’ will be free from now on to ‘play ball with the boys’ anytime! Woo-hoo-hoo!”

5. That little cord you just saw hanging from Keith's ear? Not the producer talking to him. Game on West Coast

4. Finale of “Car Chase of the Week” described not with “…and this felony evader is going to The Big House!” but rather by Keith saying “…aaand he’s OUT!”

3. “Keeping Tabs” replaced by “Seventh Inning Stretch” as Keith invites all the viewers at home to stand up and shake their muscles out before watching the rest of the show. Usual Countdown commercials for stockbrokers, vacation resorts and prescription drugs replaced with video of man yelling “GETCHER ICE COLD BEAH HEAH!”

2. If show is bad, with Keith making lots of distracted mistakes, producer comes out during 10-second bumper segments to discuss problems with him rather than letting him plug upcoming stories. After three-quarters of show is over, if Keith doesn’t improve, producer pulls him, brings in Alison to save, and camera crew cheers Keith as he hangs his head sheepishly and makes his exit (with secret glee, knowing he can still catch the rest of several games in progress)

And the number-one Way We Will Be Able to Tell If Keith’s Mind Is Not On His Work This Time of Year:

1. When he pitches the wad of paper at the end of the show, it’s not into the camera lens but to the cameraman, who swings at it and hits it into the far reaches of the studio, while Monica Novotny dons a glove and tries desperately to field it. Keith’s last words: “And it’s into the brand-new MSNBC weather set…ooh, it’s deep and I don’t think it’s playable.”

Personally, I hope he goes to a lot of weekend games.

[gkhouston]

9. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

but baseball is his passion, not his addiction. Although the frequency of his blogging may suffer, I don't think the quality of his broadcasts will. I still think of the blogging as semi-optional work-related, not something that's absolutely compulsory with a fixed output, although I do miss it when he blogs sparingly.

[Berry Cool]

10. Passion vs. addiction? What's the diff?

Besides which, who cares? ;-)

This was all in fun anyway. I think our man is too happy with his job right now to really allow his "other big interest" to interfere with it too much. And certainly there's no blogging requirements to it...we're just spoiled because not only does he understand what a blog is, he writes really good ones when he does blog.

I find his comprehensive memory regarding even the most obscure baseball facts kind of endearing myself. He's not just a baseball encyclopedia, he's a baseball *database*. A hundred years from now, someone will probably name a search engine after him. "You want to know the combined batting average of the 1899 Cleveland Spiders? I'll have to Olbermann that."

[gkhouston]

11. the difference is (as you stated) is

that he doesn't allow his "other big interest" to interfere with his job, and I'm betting he didn't do anything illegal or go hideously into debt to pay for that amazing baseball card collection, either. As much as he loves his baseball, he's not a slave to it.

And yes, I love his comprehensive memory of baseball, too, mostly because his recall is so effortless and spontaneous. It's not like he's trying to show off his knowledge; it's just that he truly sees the historical parallels and wants to share them, and usually, they're quite fascinating, even to as casual a follower of the sport as I am.

[WhirlyGirl]

12. Damn, Berry! are you a comedy writer or WHAT! ...This is great stuff!

[Berry Cool]

13. Gee thanks, kids

and I agree with you, gkhouston--one of the things I really admire is the way he attempts to set the record straight re ballplayers he thinks have gotten a bad deal from history and whose actual accomplishments have been forgotten or glossed over in ways he thinks are unfair.

And no, I can't see him doing anything illegal to support his collecting habit, either...not the guy who still doesn't think Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame because he bet on games! It would be too offensive to his principles. And one thing we all know is, the man places a high priority on principles. I think he would cut off his own right hand if he thought it was violating the principles of the rest of his body. Besides, I don't think he ever wants to be one of those guys who has to appear on television apologizing all over himself for his poor judgment or his "disease" or whatever. He's seen too many enemies--and too many former colleagues--forced into that unpretty position. And he's going to do what it takes to not go there.

[WhirlyGirl]

14. Reading "The Big Show" was a joy...

. . . in that regard, for someone like me who knows so little of sports -- but probably for many people who are unfamiliar with the early days of baseball and other sports, as well.

I haven't read "More than a Merkle" but I plan to, soon. Keith is such a great crusader for the underdog!
Don't have the URL for this, but you can Google it easily:
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Out of Left Field --
JUSTICE for MERKLE
Keith Olbermann's crusade helps salvage Merkle's rep

By STAN ISAACS
of TheColumnists.com.

The start of this week, Sept. 23, was the 94th anniversary of the infamous Fred Merkle incident. It is the inspiration for the story of a redoubtable guy who has seen an injustice and has been dedicating a part of his life to correcting it.

Keith Olbermann, the irrepressible sportscaster, wants baseball history to record that life has treated Merkle unfairly, that Merkle is not a bonehead. Huzzahs to Olbermann for decades-long effort to clear the unfortunate Merkle’s name.
. . .
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Just finished Freeman's book about the ESPN sweatshop night before last. They should put a bronze plaque on the desk where he & Dan sat side-by-side, night after night, turning "SportsCenter" into an American institution.

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<< one of the things I really admire is the way he attempts to set the record straight re ballplayers he thinks have gotten a bad deal from history and whose actual accomplishments have been forgotten or glossed over in ways he thinks are unfair. >> Berry

[Berry Cool]

15. I have read that

and it's too bad Fred Merkle has no idea how lucky he is to have such a champion!