The first thing that sprang to mind: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=%22the+triumph+of%22&l=1

This isn’t even a political jab, either. It just seems like an awful name when this is the first thing that springs to mind.

Then again, I don’t think I’m his target audience.

Posted by Ben C. on 15 July 2009 @ 8am

See, I think that Allen is kind of missing the point of sports as a meritocracy. It’s not about whether you are a good person or a gentleman or anything like that. It’s about how good you are at your sport. Look at Michael Vick. He will probably be back on a football field within a year or so. Mike Tyson was a convicted rapist who was welcomed back to his sport with open arms after getting out of prison, because he was an amazingly talented boxer. Ty Cobb was a racist, evil asshole whom even his teammates hated. Ty Cobb smacked a black elevator operator because he was “uppity.” When a black security guard got in the middle of it, Cobb stabbed him with a knife. And yet he had records in baseball that stood for half a century.

Sports history is full of complete assholes who succeeded in spite of their bad character because they were very good at doing something with a ball. That’s part of the nature of a true meritocracy.

Posted by Jack on 15 July 2009 @ 8am

Yes. This, combined with rumors that Sarah Palin has a book deal* will make next summer’s list of Light, Unintentionally Hysterical Weekend Reading awesome.

* Maybe she will compare politics to moose-hunting and include a photospread of “Russia, as seen from my house.” If only we could be so lucky!

Posted by Genevieve on 15 July 2009 @ 12pm

Ben C.: First thought that sprang to my mind was that very same connection.

Posted by Jeff Uphoff on 15 July 2009 @ 10pm

“The Triumph of Character” — it must be the story of how Jim Webb won Allen’s Senate seat.

Posted by Janis Jaquith on 15 July 2009 @ 11pm

Jack,.excellent point. And let’s remember that Babe Ruth was fat drunk who was a discipline problem from Day One and that O.J. was one hell of a running back and Pete Rose was a great leadoff man. I guess that was due to their sterling characters.

Posted by Steve Vaughan on 16 July 2009 @ 11am

While there may be merits to the team-building nature of American football for training warfighters, it has little value to governance. And before Allen rewrites history it is important to note that he quarterbacked some of the worst football teams that the Hoos ever fielded. In fact, as I remember it, the school and the students resolved to be done with the sport in the mid ’70’s, presumably to end the embarrassment…that, and the boorish behavior of losers like George F. Allen.

Posted by Bubby Hussein, Hillbilly Sheikh on 17 July 2009 @ 8am