alternatehistory.com
Basketball and the Democrats
June 15th, 1987
An excerpt from a speech given by Gary Hart in Dubuque, Iowa
“In a civilized and modern society, the kind I hope that you, the people, allow me to build by electing me to the highest office in the land, name calling and personal attacks are not allowed.
The working government of the future is bipartisan, not brutally factional.
Both of the parties in this country are at fault of this gross intolerance against one another already, and the startling thing about it is that it has become an interparty measure.
On my side, Lee Iacocca, a man who I disagree with entirely, has been attacking the character and appearance of the good men of the Democratic Party, a party he claims to belong to and wants to represent in this year’s election.
His words, mocking Senator Simon’s physical appearance and Senator Biden’s record in the senate, are not only offensive but also completely off-base. As a colleague to both, I assure you that they are good, hard working people who fight for the values of the working family every single day.
On the right the problem is no different, though it takes a less unusual demeanor compared to the circus currently engulfing my own party. The face of the hatred and insults is Lee Atwater, a man who’s name you might not know but you very well should.
Atwater works as a strategist and an advisor to the President, and yet his true job is to act as the hired hitman for the Republican Party. You see, Atwater is the one who has created all those attack ads against Senator Quayle that I’m sure you’ve already seen in the last few weeks.
This use of personal attacks, in either party, will tear this country apart. Mark my words now, if we do not choose the path of intelligence and respect, if we choose to wander towards the attractive glow of easy percentage points through mud slinging, we will go down together.
A house divided cannot stand, and I will add today that two parties divided will fall.”
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June 15th, 1987
Lakers win NBA Finals Game Six, Take Second Series win in Three Years
Leading 3 games to 2 in the NBA Finals, the Lakers moved back to their home court to try and secure another championship for stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson.
At the half, however, it looked as if the Celtics were going to push the series to a deciding seventh game. Boston led 56-51 at the half, limiting Johnson to only four points with Dennis Johnson leading the Celtics in scoring with 18 first-half points.
The beginning of the second half began with three straight baskets for the Lakers, giving them a 57-56 lead that they would hold for the duration of the game, winning Game Six and the series by a score of 106-93.
Magic Johnson would finish with 16 points, 19 assists and 8 rebounds, winning the Finals MVP as well as his fourth NBA championship.
A dejected Larry Bird said after the game that “Magic is a great, great basketball player. The best I’ve ever seen.”
As the offseason begins, all eyes will be on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who at age 40 may consider retiring after an illustrious 18 year career. However, there is no way to know the intentions of Jabarr until he makes it known.
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June 22nd, 1987
Jesse Jackson, speaking to a crowd in South Carolina
“In the quest to end the spread of drugs, I want you all as a partner.
And no more excuses to hide behind - I was born in the slums, subculture, subclass, outcast, I was born in the slum, but the slum was not born in me.
And it wasn’t born in you! And it wasn’t born in you! And it wasn’t born in you!
And you stand tall - get up from there, and go forward! Go forward!
Go forward! Go forward!
Listen when I say that a President Jackson will not maintain the status quo. There’s a lot that friends and enemies alike can argue about regarding my ideas, but one thing they can agree on is it will be different from anything they’ve ever seen.
The budget, for instance. Four years at this state’s university now costs less than $30,000. Four years in the state penitentiary, more than $90,000.
I want to change priorities, I want to invest in a head start - in daycare, and in public education, and prenatal care, on the front side of life, rather than in prison care and welfare on the back side of life.
And any of you out there doubting my experience, saying, Reverend Jackson, you’ve never been elected to office. You’ve never passed a bill.
Well, let me ask you this. What does a President do, except set the moral compass for the country, put forth budget priorities, work with the Congress and have a foreign policy that is legal and coherent. I’ll tell you, Reagan and Bush have all the right résumés, but my god, look at this much deficit, look at the trade imbalance, look at what we’ve started in Latin America, with Noriega, and Middle East collapse, and South Africa.
We need leadership, a new sense of direction and courage in his or her direction.
When the primaries start, remember who is pushing the new ideas of this unique modern society and who is looking down the barrel of more of the same.
Thank you all.”
An excerpt from a speech given by Gary Hart in Dubuque, Iowa
“In a civilized and modern society, the kind I hope that you, the people, allow me to build by electing me to the highest office in the land, name calling and personal attacks are not allowed.
The working government of the future is bipartisan, not brutally factional.
Both of the parties in this country are at fault of this gross intolerance against one another already, and the startling thing about it is that it has become an interparty measure.
On my side, Lee Iacocca, a man who I disagree with entirely, has been attacking the character and appearance of the good men of the Democratic Party, a party he claims to belong to and wants to represent in this year’s election.
His words, mocking Senator Simon’s physical appearance and Senator Biden’s record in the senate, are not only offensive but also completely off-base. As a colleague to both, I assure you that they are good, hard working people who fight for the values of the working family every single day.
On the right the problem is no different, though it takes a less unusual demeanor compared to the circus currently engulfing my own party. The face of the hatred and insults is Lee Atwater, a man who’s name you might not know but you very well should.
Atwater works as a strategist and an advisor to the President, and yet his true job is to act as the hired hitman for the Republican Party. You see, Atwater is the one who has created all those attack ads against Senator Quayle that I’m sure you’ve already seen in the last few weeks.
This use of personal attacks, in either party, will tear this country apart. Mark my words now, if we do not choose the path of intelligence and respect, if we choose to wander towards the attractive glow of easy percentage points through mud slinging, we will go down together.
A house divided cannot stand, and I will add today that two parties divided will fall.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 15th, 1987
Lakers win NBA Finals Game Six, Take Second Series win in Three Years
Leading 3 games to 2 in the NBA Finals, the Lakers moved back to their home court to try and secure another championship for stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson.
At the half, however, it looked as if the Celtics were going to push the series to a deciding seventh game. Boston led 56-51 at the half, limiting Johnson to only four points with Dennis Johnson leading the Celtics in scoring with 18 first-half points.
The beginning of the second half began with three straight baskets for the Lakers, giving them a 57-56 lead that they would hold for the duration of the game, winning Game Six and the series by a score of 106-93.
Magic Johnson would finish with 16 points, 19 assists and 8 rebounds, winning the Finals MVP as well as his fourth NBA championship.
A dejected Larry Bird said after the game that “Magic is a great, great basketball player. The best I’ve ever seen.”
As the offseason begins, all eyes will be on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who at age 40 may consider retiring after an illustrious 18 year career. However, there is no way to know the intentions of Jabarr until he makes it known.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 22nd, 1987
Jesse Jackson, speaking to a crowd in South Carolina
“In the quest to end the spread of drugs, I want you all as a partner.
And no more excuses to hide behind - I was born in the slums, subculture, subclass, outcast, I was born in the slum, but the slum was not born in me.
And it wasn’t born in you! And it wasn’t born in you! And it wasn’t born in you!
And you stand tall - get up from there, and go forward! Go forward!
Go forward! Go forward!
Listen when I say that a President Jackson will not maintain the status quo. There’s a lot that friends and enemies alike can argue about regarding my ideas, but one thing they can agree on is it will be different from anything they’ve ever seen.
The budget, for instance. Four years at this state’s university now costs less than $30,000. Four years in the state penitentiary, more than $90,000.
I want to change priorities, I want to invest in a head start - in daycare, and in public education, and prenatal care, on the front side of life, rather than in prison care and welfare on the back side of life.
And any of you out there doubting my experience, saying, Reverend Jackson, you’ve never been elected to office. You’ve never passed a bill.
Well, let me ask you this. What does a President do, except set the moral compass for the country, put forth budget priorities, work with the Congress and have a foreign policy that is legal and coherent. I’ll tell you, Reagan and Bush have all the right résumés, but my god, look at this much deficit, look at the trade imbalance, look at what we’ve started in Latin America, with Noriega, and Middle East collapse, and South Africa.
We need leadership, a new sense of direction and courage in his or her direction.
When the primaries start, remember who is pushing the new ideas of this unique modern society and who is looking down the barrel of more of the same.
Thank you all.”
- Gentleman Biaggi
- Word Count: 940