While I Was Away

The day after I arrived in DC, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton finally gave here concession speech, acknowledging what most of us knew months ago—she didn’t have a chance to win the Democratic Party nomination. She delivered the speech literally blocks from where I was but I was too busy with the conference to sit and watch it. I am told she urged her supporters to get behind Barack Obama but even so, there are many who are threatening a jump to the GOP. (See the next entry for reactions to that.)

That same Saturday, two sports related stories broke. Venerable ABC Sports journalist Jim McKay died. To us over-40 types he was a legend, covering 12 Olympic Games and in so doing, defining that event. His on-the-spot reporting of the massacre of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games earned him an Emmy award and accolades from his colleagues across the news and sports profession. He will be sorely missed.

That afternoon, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Big Brown, was a big disappointment at the Belmont Stakes. Another year without a Triple Crown winner.