Comments on: George Allen’s book, The Triumph of Character, is due out in June.

By: Bubby Hussein, Hillbilly Sheikh

Bubby Hussein, Hillbilly Sheikh — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:22:42 +0000

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.

By: Steve Vaughan

Steve Vaughan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:23:59 +0000

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.

By: Janis Jaquith

Janis Jaquith — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:57:10 +0000

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

By: Jeff Uphoff

Jeff Uphoff — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:02:39 +0000

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

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:03:50 +0000

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!

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:52:50 +0000

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.

By: Ben C.

Ben C. — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:32:38 +0000

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.