Jay Kersting's Blog

So, during the first segment in the 10:00 hour of Partyline on Tuesday, I locked horns with "Lefty" when I called him out on his distortions. Listeners to KLIK know who he is and, with his moniker, where he stands.

You see, Lefty is one of those people who likes to "find" the facts to fit his argument rather than to find facts to FORM an argument.  In this case, I called him out for distorting the facts. 

Distorting the facts is bad enough.  Forgetting them, well, that is just plain sloppy.  And here is an example that I can share with you.

A lot of folks around here recall Game Six of the 1985 World Series. Cardinals fans remember, vividly, that Don Denkinger blew a call at first base that allowed Jorge Orta to remain there. Most Royals fans will admit that a mistake was made and then point out that this officiating error occurred with just one out in the ninth. But Cardinals fans, well, they forget that Darrell Porter and Jack Clark missed a pop fly allowing Steve Balboni to get on base. That Orta WAS thrown out at third on Jim Sundberg's bunt. (Two outs for those scoring at home.) Whitey Herzog called for the intentional walk of Hal McRae who was replaced by speedy Onix Concepcion. And that after Concepcion scored on Dane Iorg's hit, that Porter MISSED THE TAG on Sundberg to allow the winning run.

The Cardinals choked after a bad call. Right?

Yes, but there is more to this story.

You need to remember the OTHER bad call of the night. And Cardinals fans do not want to know that the Royals got jobbed by the umpires as well.

In the same game, where no one scored until the eighth inning, Frank White stole second base. It was clear on EVERY angle of the television replays. But the umpire called him out. Can you honestly tell me that Frank White could not have scored from second on the Pat Sheridan's single? Really?

So, that would have given the Royals a run in the fourth. And that could have changed the momentum. And that could have changed the outcome.

But do you hear Royals fans bitching and whining 22 and a half years later about THAT bad call. NO! You know why? Because following a little adversity, the Cardinals CHOKED!! On October 26th of 1985 in the bottom of the ninth the Cardinals CHOKED! Five innings earlier, the Royals did not.

And in game seven, the Cardinals did not put up a single run to the Royals ELEVEN.

Now, this is HISTORICAL FACT. This is not revisionist. When your friendly Cardinals fan tells you that Don Denkinger cost the Cardinals the I-70 Series, you now can correct them. Because as Paul Harvey would say, now you know the rest of the story. And the WHOLE story.

So, back to people like Lefty. I will know that I am right and I will admit when I am wrong. Anyone who has listened to the show knows this. I am strong in my beliefs and I will defend them. But know that I do so with facts that have been used to form those beliefs, and that have not been twisted around.

It is like the Ronald Reagan quote from 1964.

The Pakistani government did NOT sign a treaty with Al-Qaeda.  With the Taliban and against the wishes of the United States, yes.  But there is a difference between the two groups.  Those who DO NOT know this difference are a bit dangerous.  The United States did send financial support to the Taliban during the Clinton Administration.  This was to subsidize NOT growing opium poppies.  So, did we support Al-Qaeda?  No, but we did support members of groups that later splintered off and became Al-Qaeda.

The "Bush Doctrine" is not that we will attack unilaterally and without provocation.  The "Bush Doctrine" like it or not is that IF a nation-state suppports terrorist organizations INSIDE or OUTSIDE their borders, financially or with safe haven, we have the right to defend oursevles by declaring them an enemy nation-state.  (Whether or not the USA acts on it or not...see Iran as an example)  Iraq had given support and safe haven to Abu Nidal.  Well, up until he tried to whack Saddam Hussein at least.  That put them at the top of the list.

These are facts.  Check for yourself.  I invite you to do so...and if you find an error, let me know.

Oh, and once again, on October 26th of 1985, both the Royals and the Cardinals were victims of bad calls.  The Royals played on.  The Cardinals CHOKED.  Get over it. 

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Worth noting........

The Florida Primaries are CLOSED primaries, which means that you have to affiliate with a party to vote in the primary.  I don't like this idea, because it hurts independents like me.  Good news for me that I DON'T live in Florida.

But, this proves that John McCain can get the votes of Republicans and not just draw independents.  

I was flipping between the basketball game and the Florida Primary results and both were exciting for a while.  And both events had the same feel.  In fact, Bill Hemmer made a sports analogy during his reports last night.

Rudy Giuliani is to drop out of the race later today according to several reports. 

Endorsing Senator John McCain will probably get him more momentum, both in votes and in finances, that he needs.

As for the Democrat side, I found it HILLARIOUS that Hillary Clinton went to Florida to make a victory speech.   Congratulations Senator Clinton....you won NOTHING.  No Delagates.  Zip.  Zero.  Nada.

Oh, but she did get the endorsement of the more obscure ranks of the Kennedy family.  I think even Mikey Skakel came out of the woodwork. 

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Speaking of the basketball game, nice to see the Volunteers pull out the win.  That was NOT a sure thing to say the least.  But a win is a win. 

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Dick Cheney is celebrating his birthday today.  He is sixty seven for those who are counting.  If you are there for the cake, he will need help with the candles.

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And finally, I spoke with my brother Topher last night.  He told me the story of putting Boba Fett to sleep on Monday.  Despite being ravaged with lymphoma and blind, Boba Fett was playfull with Topher, Zari and friends until the end.  And even had a smile at the very end.

Ben said it best, "He was a good dog.  I will miss him."  True enough.