Game 30: Calvin Coolidge vs. Super Bowl XXX
There's a story, a joke really, about 30th President Calvin Coolidge. Not sure if it's true. Coolidge was famous, even while President, for not talking a lot. If this joke can be trusted, the great wit Dorothy Parker was at a White House dinner, and she said to him: "Mr. President, I made a bet with a friend that I can get more than two words out of you." He replied: "You lose." Pretty good line. Parker probably made it up. If Coolidge really was that funny, why didn't he blab more, like Howie Mandel? Coolidge certainly kept things low key in office, and Miss Parker wasn't the only intellect to take note. H.L. Mencken wrote: "There were no thrills while he reigned, but neither were there any headaches. He had no ideas, and he was not a nuisance."
Here's what would have been a good line: if Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown pulled a Coolidge and said "you lose" to the Steelers during Super Bowl XXX. Brown rose from his own sort of quiet obscurity to pick off two Neil O'Donnell passes and help the Cowboys win 27-17.
The 1996 Super Bowl was a decent game. Not a classic. The Steelers never held the lead or even a tie, but things kept threatening to become close. Pittsburgh got to within 3 points, trailing 20-17 in the 4th quarter, and then they sacked Cowboys QB Troy Aikman to force a punt and get the ball back late. But then that Larry Brown picked off a pass intended for backup WR Andre Hastings and took it to the Steelers' four-yard line. RB Emmitt Smith punched it in for the game-sealing TD. The Cowboys were on their way to being the team of the 1990s.
Brown forever joined the list of "what's his name?" football heroes who will always be remembered for stepping up big when the stakes were highest (for example, remember that other guy?). Coolidge receded forever onto the list of Presidents about whom not much more is remembered than their names. Punch one in for the Super Bowls.
Score after this match: Presidents 16, Super Bowls 14
Go to next match.
Here's what would have been a good line: if Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown pulled a Coolidge and said "you lose" to the Steelers during Super Bowl XXX. Brown rose from his own sort of quiet obscurity to pick off two Neil O'Donnell passes and help the Cowboys win 27-17.
The 1996 Super Bowl was a decent game. Not a classic. The Steelers never held the lead or even a tie, but things kept threatening to become close. Pittsburgh got to within 3 points, trailing 20-17 in the 4th quarter, and then they sacked Cowboys QB Troy Aikman to force a punt and get the ball back late. But then that Larry Brown picked off a pass intended for backup WR Andre Hastings and took it to the Steelers' four-yard line. RB Emmitt Smith punched it in for the game-sealing TD. The Cowboys were on their way to being the team of the 1990s.
Brown forever joined the list of "what's his name?" football heroes who will always be remembered for stepping up big when the stakes were highest (for example, remember that other guy?). Coolidge receded forever onto the list of Presidents about whom not much more is remembered than their names. Punch one in for the Super Bowls.
Score after this match: Presidents 16, Super Bowls 14
Go to next match.
click for full scorecard
1 Comments:
Coolidge restored public confidence in the White House after the scandals of his predecessor's administration, and his policies helped fuel enormous national prosperity.
Though a Republican, Coolidge signed which decreased personal income tax rates, eliminating them for most Americans while increasing estate and gift taxes.
Though overtly pro- business, Coolidge supported better wages and shorter work weeks, opposed child labor, favored safety measures in factories and even worker representation on corporate boards.
Though generally quiet, he did speak out on behalf of the rights of African- and native-Americans.
Finally, can anyone really complain about less hot air and pomposity emanating from Washington?
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