World's Greatest Draft (3 Viewers)

[Arsenal of Doom]

Miguel de Cervantes - Novel/Short Story writer

It's always good to see your judge excited by a pick

 

[larry_boy_44]

should i be worried that my pick sucked?

'cuz... I am... lol

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

should i be worried that my pick sucked?'cuz... I am... lol

No, I'm familiar with Bernini's work and it's quite good. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure how the ranking is going to shake out in this category since there will be a large pool and a few different mediums represented.

 

[larry_boy_44]

should i be worried that my pick sucked?'cuz... I am... lol

No, I'm familiar with Bernini's work and it's quite good. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure how the ranking is going to shake out in this category since there will be a large pool and a few different mediums represented.

whew....quite good is perfect... lol (at least in that category)

 

[BobbyLayne]

Hey timschochet

5.2 - Gian Lorenzo Bernini, non-painter artist

Larry is winning.

Outstanding, LB.

Miguel de Cervantes - Novel/Short Story writer

Personal fav, wtg.

 

[Orange Crush]

The problem with taking a Wildcard this early is that Tim hands out too many '10's. Yeah Voltaire would get one, but so would some lightweight that just happens to catch Tim's fancy.

I don't give 10s to lightweights.

Buddy Holly was a lightweight compared to his GAD peers.And excellent arguments were made criticizing some others (Paul Revere immediately comes to mind).

Buddy Holly is one of the great rock and rollers of all time.And as far as Mr. Revere goes...

We're discussing "wildcard" greatest Americans of all time, and I'm being asked to rank Paul Revere? IT'S PAUL FREAKIN REVERE!!! Are you kidding me? Legend or not, poem or not, the dude gets a ten.

So a guy who was one of several 'great' musicians, in one subcategory of music, who died young, (and was available in the 19th round for those very reasons) gets to share the highest grade for the Wildcard category with XXXXX and XXXXX (both taken in the 4th round who might be drafted here).So I stand by my earlier statement. DO NOT consider taking Wildcards this early. There's much better value to be had by waiting.

 

[Truman]

Sorry about being skipped guys. Had a small situation at the new house that needed immediate attention.

4.07 - Muhammad Ali - Athlete

His nickname says it all. THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.) is a retired American boxer and former three-time World Heavyweight Champion.

As an amateur, Ali won a gold medal at the Olympic in the light heavyweight division gold medal. As a professional, he became the only man to have won the linear heavyweight championship three times.

In 1999, Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and the BBC.

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., who was named for the 19th century abolitionist and politician of the same name. Ali changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964, subsequently converting to Sunni Islam in 1975 and then Sufism.

Ali was known for his fighting style, which he described as "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee". Throughout his career Ali made a name for himself with great handspeed, as well as swift feet and taunting tactics. While Ali was renowned for his fast, sharp out-fighting style, he also had a great chin, and displayed great courage and an ability to take a punch throughout his career.

Muhammad Ali defeated almost every top heavyweight in his era, which has been called the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Ali was named "Fighter of the Year" by Ring Magazine more times than any other fighter, and was involved in more Ring Magazine "Fight of the Year" bouts than any other fighter. He is an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and holds wins over seven other Hall of Fame inductees.

This is the guy I wanted to be when I was 4 years old. Love this dude.

Strange that the #1 athlete gets picked 3rd in his category.

 

[FUBAR]

Perhaps a reach, but IMO he's one of the few living people who deserve to be picked:

5.04: Nelson Mandela, Rebel

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (IPA: [xoˈliɬaɬa manˈdeːla]; born 18 July 1918) was the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, serving in the office from 1994–99. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. The South African courts convicted him on charges of sabotage, as well as other crimes committed while he led the movement against apartheid. In accordance with his conviction, Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island.

Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela has supported reconciliation and negotiation, and has helped lead the transition towards multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, many have frequently praised Mandela, including former opponents. Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.

Anti-apartheid activities

In 1961, Mandela became leader of the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (translated Spear of the Nation, and also abbreviated MK), which he co-founded.[28] He coordinated sabotage campaigns against military and government targets, making plans for a possible guerrilla war if the sabotage failed to end apartheid.[29] Mandela also raised funds for MK abroad and arranged for paramilitary training of the group.[29]

Fellow ANC member Wolfie Kadesh explains the bombing campaign led by Mandela:

"When we knew that we going to start on 16 December 1961, to blast the symbolic places of apartheid, like pass offices, native magistrates courts, and things like that ... post offices and ... the government offices. But we were to do it in such a way that nobody would be hurt, nobody would get killed."[30] Mandela said of Wolfie: "His knowledge of warfare and his first hand battle experience were extremely helpful to me."[8]

Mandela described the move to armed struggle as a last resort; years of increasing repression and violence from the state convinced him that many years of non-violent protest against apartheid had not and could not achieve any progress.[31][8]

Later, mostly in the 1980s, MK waged a guerrilla war against the apartheid regime in which many civilians became casualties.[29] Mandela later admitted that the ANC, in its struggle against apartheid, also violated human rights, sharply criticising those in his own party who attempted to remove statements supporting this fact from the reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[32]

Up until July 2008, Mandela and ANC party members were barred from entering the United States — except the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan — without a special waiver from the US Secretary of State, because of their South African apartheid regime era designation as terrorists.[33][34]

[edit] Arrest and Rivonia trial

Main article: Rivonia Trial

On 5 August 1962 Mandela was arrested after living on the run for seventeen months, and was imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort.[35] The arrest was made possible because the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) tipped off the security police as to Mandela's whereabouts and disguise.[36][37][38] Three days later, the charges of leading workers to strike in 1961 and leaving the country illegally were read to him during a court appearance. On 25 October 1962, Mandela was sentenced to five years in prison. Two years later on 11 June 1964, a verdict had been reached concerning his previous engagement in the African National Congress (ANC).[39]

While Mandela was imprisoned, police arrested prominent ANC leaders on 11 July 1963, at Liliesleaf Farm, Rivonia, north of Johannesburg. Mandela was brought in, and at the Rivonia Trial they were charged by the chief prosecutor Dr. Percy Yutar with the capital crimes of sabotage (which Mandela admitted) and crimes which were equivalent to treason, but easier for the government to prove.[40] The second charge accused the defendants of plotting a foreign invasion of South Africa, which Mandela denied.[40]

In his statement from the dock at the opening of the defence case in the trial on 20 April 1964 at Pretoria Supreme Court, Mandela laid out the clarity of reasoning in the ANC's choice to use violence as a tactic.[41] His statement revealed how the ANC had used peaceful means to resist apartheid for years until the Sharpeville Massacre.[42] That event coupled with the referendum establishing the Republic of South Africa and the declaration of a state of emergency along with the banning of the ANC made it clear that their only choice was to resist through acts of sabotage.[42] Doing otherwise would have been tantamount to unconditional surrender. Mandela went on to explain how they developed the Manifesto of Umkhonto we Sizwe on 16 December 1961 intent on exposing the failure of the National Party's policies after the economy would be threatened by foreigners' unwillingness to risk investing in the country.[43] He closed his statement with these words:

“ During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.[31] ”

Bram Fischer, Vernon Berrange, Harry Schwarz, Joel Joffe, Arthur Chaskalson and George Bizos were part of the defence team that represented the accused.[44] Harold Hanson was brought in at the end of the case to plead mitigation.[45] All except Rusty Bernstein were found guilty, but they escaped the gallows and were sentenced to life imprisonment on 12 June 1964.[45] Charges included involvement in planning armed action, in particular four charges of sabotage, which Mandela admitted to, and a conspiracy to help other countries invade South Africa, which Mandela denied.[45]

[edit] Imprisonment

Robben Island prison yard

Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island where he remained for the next eighteen of his twenty-seven years in prison.[46] On the island, he and others performed hard labour in a lime quarry.[47] Prison conditions were very basic. Prisoners were segregated by race, with black prisoners receiving the fewest rations. Political prisoners were kept separate from ordinary criminals and received fewer privileges.[48] Mandela describes how, as a D-group prisoner (the lowest classification) he was allowed one visitor and one letter every six months.[49] Letters, when they came, were often delayed for long periods and made unreadable by the prison censors.[8]

Whilst in prison Mandela undertook study with the University of London by correspondence through its External Programme and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws.[50] He was subsequently nominated for the position of Chancellor of the University of London in the 1981 election, but lost to Princess Anne.[50]

In his 1981 memoir Inside BOSS[51] secret agent Gordon Winter describes his involvement in a plot to rescue Mandela from prison in 1969: this plot was infiltrated by Winter on behalf of South African intelligence, who wanted Mandela to escape so they could shoot him during recapture. The plot was foiled by British Intelligence.[51]

In March 1982 Mandela was transferred from Robben Island to Pollsmoor Prison, along with other senior ANC leaders Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni, Ahmed Kathrada and Raymond Mhlaba.[49] It was speculated that this was to remove the influence of these senior leaders on the new generation of young black activists imprisoned on Robben Island, the so-called "Mandela University".[52] However, National Party minister Kobie Coetsee says that the move was to enable discreet contact between them and the South African government.[53]

In February 1985 President P.W. Botha offered Mandela conditional release in return for renouncing armed struggle.[54] Coetzee and other ministers had advised Botha against this, saying that Mandela would never commit his organisation to giving up the armed struggle in exchange for personal freedom.[55] Mandela indeed spurned the offer, releasing a statement via his daughter Zindzi saying "What freedom am I being offered while the organisation of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts."[53]

The first meeting between Mandela and the National Party government came in November 1985 when Kobie Coetsee met Mandela in Volks Hospital in Cape Town where Mandela was being treated for prostate surgery.[56] Over the next four years, a series of tentative meetings took place, laying the groundwork for further contact and future negotiations, but little real progress was made.[53]

Throughout Mandela's imprisonment, local and international pressure mounted on the South African government to release him, under the resounding slogan Free Nelson Mandela![57] In 1989, South Africa reached a crossroads when Botha suffered a stroke and was replaced as president by Frederik Willem de Klerk.[58] De Klerk announced Mandela's release in February 1990.[59]

[edit] Release

On 2 February 1990, State President F.W. de Klerk reversed the ban on the ANC and other anti-apartheid organisations, and announced that Mandela would shortly be released from prison.[60] Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in Paarl on 11 February 1990. The event was broadcast live all over the world.[61]

On the day of his release, Mandela made a speech to the nation.[62] He declared his commitment to peace and reconciliation with the country's white minority, but made it clear that the ANC's armed struggle was not yet over:

“ Our resort to the armed struggle in 1960 with the formation of the military wing of the ANC (Umkhonto we Sizwe) was a purely defensive action against the violence of apartheid. The factors which necessitated the armed struggle still exist today. We have no option but to continue. We express the hope that a climate conducive to a negotiated settlement would be created soon, so that there may no longer be the need for the armed struggle. ”

He also said his main focus was to bring peace to the black majority and give them the right to vote in both national and local elections.[62]

AWARDS:

1960s

In the 1960s, Mandela received two honorary recognitions by two university students' unions in the United Kingdom.[1]

Year Granted by Recognition

1964 University College London Elected Honorary President of the Students' Union

1965 University of Leeds Elected Honorary President of the Students' Union

Statue of Nelson Mandela at a Johannesburg shopping mall.

[edit] 1970s

In the 1970s, Mandela received three honorary recognitions by one university and one university students' union, both in the United Kingdom, and one in Lesotho.[1]

Year Granted by Recognition

1973 Scientists of the University of Leeds A newly-discovered nuclear particle is named the "Mandela particle"

1975 University of London Union Honorary life membership

1979 University of Lesotho Honorary Doctorate of Law

[edit] 1980

In 1980, Mandela received an award from the Government of India in New Delhi for "international understanding".[2]

Granted by Recognition

Indian Council for Cultural Relations Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding

[edit] 1981

In 1981, Mandela received three honorary recognitions from British, Scottish, and Austrian organizations.[3]

Granted by Recognition

City of Glasgow Freedom of the City of Glasgow Scroll

London Borough of Brent Road in Brent named after Mandela

International panel of judges Bruno Kreisky Award for merit in human rights

[edit] 1982

Granted by Recognition

London School of Economics Students' Union Elected Honorary Life President of the Students' Union

[edit] 1983

Granted by Recognition

Honorary citizenship of Rome, February

Honorary citizenship of Olympia, Greece, 17 March

City College of New York Honorary Doctorate of Laws 5 June

City Council of Dublin, Ireland Unveiled sculpture in a city park by Elisabeth Frink dedicated to Nelson Mandela, 26 June

Award of the order Star of International Friendship in gold by the East Germany, 18 July

City Council of Harlow, UK Renamed one of its major roads in honour of Nelson Mandela, 18 July

AUEW/TASS, one of United Kingdom's major trade unions Held a special ceremony to rename their executive committee room the 'Nelson Mandela Room', 18 July

Freedom of London Borough of Greenwich, 20 July

UNESCO Awards its first Simon Bolivar International Prize jointly to Nelson Mandela and King Juan Carlos of Spain at a ceremony in Caracas, Venezuela, on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Simón Bolívar, 24 July[4]

City Council of Leeds, UK Names the Civic Hall 'Nelson Mandela Gardens', 10 December

Park in Hull, UK, named 'Mandela Park'

Lancaster University, UK Honorary Doctorate of Laws

City of Cardiff, Wales Named a street after Nelson Mandela

The Students Unions of University of Warwick, Coventry Polytechnic (now Coventry University) and South Bank Polytechnic (now London South Bank University) named rooms in honour of Nelson Mandela

New York City renamed square in front of South African mission to the United Nations 'Nelson and Winnie Mandela Plaza'

[edit] 1984

* Honorary Degree, Free University of Brussels, 13 January

* London Borough of Camden Council, names the street where the Anti-Apartheid Movement has its headquarters as 'Mandela Street'.

* London Borough of Hackney Council, renames a housing block after Nelson Mandela, April

* Playa Giron Award, Cuba, awarded by Fidel Castro

* Honorary membership of National Association of Local Government Officers [NALGO] United Kingdom

* London Borough of Haringey Council, names housing development after Nelson Mandela

* Monument to Nelson Mandela unveiled in Merrion Square, Dublin

* Elected Honorary Member of the Students Association, University of Strathclyde, Scotland

* Freedom of the City of Wijnegem, Belgium

* Awarded Star of International Friendship, German Democratic Republic, 27 August[5]

* Freedom of the City of Aberdeen conferred on both Nelson and Winnie Mandela, 29 November

* School in German Democratic Republic named 'Nelson Mandela School'

[edit] 1985

* Revenue Staff Federation, United Kingdom, names its Commonwealth trade union scholarship after Nelson Mandela

* London Borough of Southwark names new road 'Mandela Way'

* Nottingham City Council names a room in a sports centre

* The Third World Prize, awarded annually by the London-based Third World Foundation for Social and Economic Studies, awarded jointly to Nelson and Winnie Mandela

* Awarded freedom of the City of Hull, United Kingdom.

* Awarded the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize by Human Rights Institute of The Bar of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, 29 March

* Nigerian writers organisation, Writers and Journalists Against Apartheid (WAJAAP), confers title of Life Patron

* Town of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, renames its speakers' corner Nelson Mandela Corner, September

* Freedom of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October

* Honorary citizenship of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October

* Diploma of Honour and Friendship from the University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October

* Statue of Nelson Mandela erected in London by Greater London Council, unveiled by Oliver Tambo on 28 October

* Senegal's President Abdou Diouf inaugurates Soweto Square and Nelson Mandela Avenue in the centre of Dakar, Senegal, 6 December

* Awarded Doctor of Laws degree by Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, December

[edit] 1986

Street sign in Glasgow, Scotland.

* Elected Honorary Life President of the National Union of Mineworkers of South Africa

* Awarded the W E B DuBois International Medal by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP)

* Coventry City Council named new building after Mandela

* Presented with the Alfonso Comin Foundation Peace Award in Barcelona, Spain

* Freedom of the Borough of Islwyn, Wales, given to Winnie and Nelson Mandela

* International Peace and Freedom Award by the Workers International Centre, Stockholm Sweden

* Awarded, with Winnie Mandela, the Third World Prize by the Strategic and International Studies Group of Malaysia, 5 May

* Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Zimbabwe

* Park in Leicester, England, named after Mandela

* Honorary membership awarded to Winnie and Nelson Mandela by the National Union of Seamen, United Kingdom

* St George's Place in Glasgow, Scotland, the location of the South African consulate is renamed Nelson Mandela Place. [6]

* Made Honorary Freeman of Newcastle[7]

[edit] 1987

* First person to receive the Freedom of the City of Sydney, Australia, 9 January.

* Honorary Degrees, Winnie and Nelson Mandela, United States Ross University Medical School in the Caribbean

* Named Patron of Isipingo and District Football Association, Natal

* Honorary Degree, University of Michigan, USA

* Honorary Degree. University of Havana, Cuba

* Honorary Citizen, City of Florence, Italy

* Honorary Doctorate, Karl Marx University of the German Democratic Republic, Leipzig, 11 November

* Dutch football player Ruud Gullit dedicates his European Footballer of the Year award to Nelson Mandela

[edit] 1988

* Park in Montreal named "Parc Winnie-et-Nelson-Mandela"

* Awarded Bremen Solidarity Prize, Federal Republic of Germany

* Nelson and Winnie Mandela given honorary membership of the National Union of Teachers, United Kingdom

* Awarded freedom of the City of Dublin, Ireland

* Awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, by the European Parliament

* Honorary Doctorate conferred, University of Carabobo, Venezuela, June

* People of Lefkada, Greece, award the Medal of Peace, August

* Honorary citizenship conferred by nine Greek municipalities Egaleo, Ellenikon, Glyfada, Ilioupolis, Daissariani, New Filadelfia, Nikaea, Preveza and Zogrofu

* Honorary degree in Political Science awarded by the University of Bologna, Italy, 12 September

* Honorary citizenship bestowed by the Town Council of the city of Bologna, Italy, September

* Awarded the United Nations Human Rights Fourth Award, 10 December

* Nelson Mandela Road named, New Delhi, India, 10 December

[edit] 1989

* Augusto César Sandino Award bestowed by Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, Managua, 21 February

* Freedom of the Municipality of Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. Award received on his behalf by Oliver Tambo

* Awarded Peace Prize of the Tipperary Peace Committee, Ireland

* Nuremberg Platz renamed 'Nelson Mandela Platz', Nuremberg, Germany, June

* Honorary Doctorate of Laws, York University, Toronto, Canada, 16 June

* Square in Clayes-sous-Bois, France, named 'Nelson Mandela Square', September

[edit] 1990

Lenin Peace Prize Medal, awarded 1990

* Made Honorary Life President of National Union of Mineworkers when he addressed its Central Committee, 21 April

* Granted freedom of the City of Harare, Zimbabwe, March

* 'Mandela Day', a public holiday declared in Zimbabwe on 5 March

* Awarded the Lenin Peace Prize for 1990, May

* Bestowed the Dr António Agostinho Neto Order, the highest honour of the People's Republic of Angola, 12 May

* Bestowed the award 'Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria', Lagos, 14 May

* Awarded the Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights in Tripoli, Libya, 19 or 20 May

* Honorary degree in political science by the Cairo University, Egypt, May

* Bestowed Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, October

* Doctorate, honoris causa, conferred by University of Malaya, November

* Honorary Doctorate in law, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, 28 November

[edit] 1991

* Honorary LL.D Degree conferred, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 6 September

* Awarded Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize, 8 December

* Awarded Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize by UNESCO[8]

[edit] 1992

* Installed as Chancellor of the University of the North (now called University of Limpopo), 25 April

* Honorary LL.D Degree conferred by the University of Fort Hare, 9 May

* Honorary Doctorate conferred at the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal, 30 June

* Presented with the Freedom of Miami Beach Medallion of Honour, Johannesburg, 29 September

* Pakistan conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan, 3 October

* Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, Oviedo, Spain, 31 October

* Received the "Spirit of Liberty" award at the "People for the American Way" award ceremony, 8 November

* Received the Isitwalandwe Medal from the ANC.

* Awarded the Atatürk International Peace Prize by Turkey, but refused the award citing human rights violations committed by Turkey during that time, but later accepted the award in 1999.[9][10]

[edit] 1993

Bill Clinton presented Mandela with the Philadelphia Liberty Medal on July 4 1993

* Received Gleitsman Foundation International Activist Award, Johannesburg, 12 May

* Received Philadelphia Liberty Medal. Presented by President of the United States Bill Clinton, Philadelphia, USA, 4 July

* Honorary Degree conferred, Clark Atlanta University, 10 July

* Received Apostolic Humanitarian Award, Johannesburg, 15 September

* Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Soochow University, Taiwan, 1 August

* Awarded J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding, Washington, DC, 1 October

* Received Honorary Degree from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, 8 October

* Awarded Nobel Peace Prize Oslo, Norway, 10 December

* Named Person of the Year by Time Magazine, Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin

[edit] 1994

* Received the New Nation/Engen Man of the Year Flame of Distinction award, 24 March

* Elected Newsmaker of the Year, with Deputy President F W de Klerk, by the Johannesburg Press Club, 25 May. Prof Kader Asmal received the award on 29 September

* Received the Hunger Project's 8th annual Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, London, 19 July

* Received Anne Frank medal for human rights and tolerance, Johannesburg, 15 August

* Received Sheikh Yusuf Peace Award from the Muslim Women's Federation, 10 September

* Received the Arthur A Houghton Star Crystal Award for Excellence from the African-American Institute, 6 October

* Received Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award from Africare, 6 October

* Honorary Doctorate, Howard University, 7 October

* Received freedom of the town of Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, 21 October (initially granted in 1989)

* Received the Olympic Gold Order from International Olympic Committee president, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Cape Town, 16 November

* Received Man of the Year Award from the Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Southern Africa, Johannesburg, 19 November 1994

* Honorary Doctorate awarded by University of South Africa

* Awarded the "Commonwealth Champion of Health" medal, received by South African athletes at the Commonwealth Games, Canada

[edit] 1995

* Africa Peace Award - sponsored jointly by the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) - presented at a ceremony in Durban, March

* 'Nelson Mandela Road' to Katse, Lesotho, inaugurated, 13 July

* Received Pretoria Press Club's 1994 Newsmaker of the Year Award, Pretoria, 20 July

* Granted the Freedom of Uitenhage, Uitenhage, 14 September

* Awarded Honorary Fellowship of the College of Medicine of South Africa, Johannesburg, 17 October

* Harvard Business School Statesman of the Year Award, 14 December

* Human Rights Institute, with President Mandela as honorary chairman, launched in London by the International Bar Association, December 1995

[edit] 1996

* Awarded honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

* Indira Gandhi Award for International Justice and Harmony bestowed. Award received by Justice Minister Dullah Omar in New Delhi, India, January

* Received the World Citizenship Award of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

* U Thant Peace Award bestowed by Sri Chinmoy, 29 January

* Created Knight of the Order of the Elephant by the Danish Queen Margrethe II, Copenhagen, 18 February

* Awarded the National Order of Mali (Grande Croix), Mali's highest decoration, Bamako, 3 March

* Received the Freedom of the City of London, London, 10 July

* Received the Degree of Doctor of Civil Law by Diploma of the University of Oxford[11] and honorary degrees from the Universities of Cambridge (LLD),[12] London (London School of Economics),[13] Bristol, Nottingham, and Warwick (LLD)[14] and from De Montfort and Glasgow Caledonian Universities in the garden of Buckingham Palace, 10 July A photograph of the event is available on the Glasgow Caledonian University Archives website

* Received Honorary Doctorate from Sorbonne University, Paris, 15 July

* Received Honorary Doctorate from Stellenbosch University, 25 October

* Received the Freedom of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 29 November

* Awarded the The Battle of Adwa and the Victory of Adwa Centenary Medal by the Crown Council of Ethiopia in 1996 [1]

[edit] 1997

Nelson Mandela's former house in Soweto, Johannesburg, now Mandela Family Museum.

* Mandela Family Museum opens in Soweto, 29 November[15]

* Awarded Honorary Degree by the University of the Philippines, Manila, 2 March

* Created Knight of the Royal Swedish Order of the Seraphim, Stockholm, 3 March

* Received Freedom of the City of Pietermaritzburg, 25 April

* Received Freedom of the City of Bloemfontein, 16 May

* Baker Avenue in Central Harare, Zimbabwe, Renamed Nelson Mandela Avenue, 19 May

* Received Freedom of Boksburg, 26 June

* Received Freedom of Oxford, United Kingdom, 11 July

* Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, 17 July

* Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Cape Town, 19 September

* Received the American Public Health Association Presidential Citation, Pretoria, 14 October

* Awarded the Collar of the Nile by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Cairo, 21 October

* Received Freedom of City of Edinburgh, Scotland, 27 October

* Received Freedom of City of Cape Town, 27 November

* Received Honorary Degree from the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 4 December

* Multi-purpose room at SUNY Binghamton re-named Nelson Mandela's Room

[edit] 1998

* Received Honorary Doctoral Degree from the University of South Australia, University of Fort Hare, 23 April

* Awarded Honorary Doctorate, University of Zululand, 30 May

* Awarded the Freedom of the City and County of Cardiff, Cardiff, 16 June

* Awarded the Chris Hani Award at the 10th National Congress of the South African Communist Party, Johannesburg, 1 July

* Awarded Honorary Degree by the University of Mauritius, 11 September

* Park in Montreal named again "Parc Nelson-Mandela", 14 September

* Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 18 September

* Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, Washington, 23 September

* Appointed Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada, 24 September.[16]

* Nelson Mandela public school named in his honour in Toronto.

* Presented with Award in Recognition of his Contribution to Democracy, Human Rights and Freedom by the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa, 19 November

* Created a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav by the King of Norway.

[edit] 1999

* Received the Deutscher Medienpreis, Baden-Baden, Germany, 28 January

* Awarded the Oneness-Peace Earth-Summit-Transcendence-Fragrance Award, Pretoria, 9 March

* Received the Golden Medal of the City of Amsterdam, Netherlands, 10 March

* Received honorary doctorate from Leiden University, Netherlands, 12 March

* Awarded the Freedom of the City of Durban, Durban, 16 April

* Received Honorary Doctorate from the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 30 April

* Received Ukraine's Highest Decoration, the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Cape Town, 5 May

* Appointed Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia, Canberra, 9 June

* Received Jesse Owens Global Award, Johannesburg, 21 September

* Received insignia of Honour from the African Renaissance Institute, Johannesburg, 11 October

* Received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Botswana, Gaborone, 14 October

* Received the Baker Institute Enron Prize for Distinguished Public Service at Rice University, Houston, 26 October

* Awarded the Freedom of the City of Lydenburg, Lydenburg, 3 November

* Appointed to the Order of Australia on 15 November; presented with the insignia of the order by Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Pretoria.

* Was among 18 included in Gallup's List of Widely Admired People of the 20th Century, from a poll conducted of the American people in December 1999.

* Awarded honorary doctorate from Uppsala University, Sweden, 3 December

* Presented with Temple of Understanding Annual Award to Religious and Political Leaders for Outstanding Service to Humanity, Cape Town, 5 December

* Presented with the Gandhi-King Award by the World Movement for Nonviolence at the World Parliament of Religions, Cape Town, 5 December

* Listed as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine

* Accepted the Atatürk International Peace Prize from Turkey, after refusing the award in 1992.[17]

* Created Knight of the Dutch/Luxembourgian Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, Netherlands, 10 March

[edit] 2000

Nelson Mandela National Museum - Information Centre at Qunu.

* The Nelson Mandela National Museum is officially opened in Soweto, 11 February[18]

* Awarded honorary Doctorate of Laws by Trinity College, Dublin, 11 April

* Appointed honorary Queen's Counsel by the House of Lords, United Kingdom, 3 May[19]

* Awarded SABS Gold Medal, Sandton, 10 June

* BT Ethnic Multicultural Media Award, London, 29 June

* Received World Methodist Peace Award, London, 29 June

* International Freedom Award, Memphis, Tennessee, 22 November

* Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

* Awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters from the Australian National University, 6 September

[edit] 2001

* International Gandhi Peace Prize, Presidential Palace, New Delhi, 16 March

* Made an Honorary Freeman of Leeds, 30 April[20]

* Made an Honorary Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge, 2 May

* Awarded the first King Shaka Award in recognition of bravery, 25 July 2001

* Park Public School renamed Mandela Park Public School, Toronto, Canada, 17 November

* Received honorary doctorate of law from Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, 17 November

* Granted Honorary Citizenship of Canada, 19 November

* Awarded the LLD Honoris Cause from the University of the Free State

* Awarded the D Tech Education Honoris Cause from the Technikon Free State

* Human Rights Lifetime Achievement award by the SA Human Rights Commission, Johannesburg, 11 December

* Made an Honorary Administrator For A Day at SUNY Binghamton

[edit] 2002

* Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, 6 April

* New hall of residence at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa named 'Nelson Mandela Hall'

* Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Ghana, 24 April

* Awarded the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Medal, Middleburg, The Netherlands, 8 June.

* Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award, by George W. Bush, Washington, USA, 9 July

* Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal from Canada.

* Awarded the Order of Mapungubwe - Platinum Category by President Thabo Mbeki, Union Buildings, Pretoria, December 2002.[21]

[edit] 2003

* Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law by the National University of Ireland, Galway, 20 June

* Elected an Honorary Life member of the Literary and Debating Society, NUI, Galway.

* Named a Hero of Freedom by the Libertarian magazine Reason.[22]

[edit] 2004

* Sandton Square in Johannesburg, South Africa is renamed Nelson Mandela Square on 31 March with the unveiling of a 6 m bronze statue (see photo, top of page).[23]

* Listed as one of the 100 most influential people of 2004 by Time magazine

* Made a Bailiff Grand Cross of The Order of St John[24]

[edit] 2005

* Amherst College honorary degree.[25]

* Listed as one of the 100 most influential people of 2005 by Time magazine

[edit] 2006

* New Statesman - Listed as the number 2 in the 50 "Heroes of our time".[26]

* Awarded Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award[27]

* Made an honorary member of Manchester United as the club toured South Africa in the winter of 2006.[28]

* Conferred an honorary doctorate in government and politics by Universiti Teknologi Mara, the biggest public university in Malaysia, in recognition of his tireless efforts and triumph in struggling for the people's rights in his country and strengthening their socio-economy.[29]

[edit] 2007

* The Westminster Council agrees to erect a statue of Mandela opposite the Houses of Parliament in London.[30]

* Honorary citizen of Belgrade, Serbia.[31] "for his huge humanitarian past and contributions to mankind".

[edit] 2008

* In January 2008, the Europe-based A Different View cited Mandela as one of the 15 Champions of World Democracy. Other champions mentioned were Lech Walesa, Corazon Aquino, and Vaclav Havel.[32]

* Michigan State University LLD honoris causa. [33]

 

[Ozymandias]

I hate this pick, when I know I have a long, long wait ahead and so many worthy people on my draft list. I thought I might hold off on authors for a while, but a pick that I think has too much value is still sitting there. I had him behind Joyce on my own list, but he’s an author who should certainly get consideration for #1 in the novel and short story category, since he authored what is considered to be the first modern novel. He’s a contemporary of my first pick, and the two are often linked as having the greatest overall influence on western literature.

Miguel de Cervantes - Novel/Short Story writer

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (Spanish pronunciation: [miˈɣel ðe θerˈβantes saˈβeðɾa] in modern Spanish; September 29, 1547 – April 23, 1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered the first modern novel by many,[1] is a classic of Western literature and is regularly regarded among the best novels ever written. His work is considered among the most important in all of literature.[2] His influence on the Spanish language has been so great, that Spanish is often called la lengua de Cervantes (The language of Cervantes).[3] He has been dubbed el Príncipe de los Ingenios the Prince of Wits.

Cervantes, born at Alcalá de Henares, was the fourth of seven children of Rodrigo de Cervantes, a surgeon born at Alcalá de Henares in a family whose origins may have been of the minor gentry, and wife, married in 1543, Leonor de Cortinas, who died on October 19, 1593. The family moved from town to town, and little is known of Cervantes's early years. In 1569, Cervantes moved to Italy, where he entered as valet into the service of Giulio Acquaviva, a wealthy priest who was elevated to cardinal the next year. By then Cervantes had enlisted as a soldier in a Spanish infantry regiment and continued his military life until 1575, when he was captured by Algerian pirates. He was ransomed by his captors and the Trinitarians and returned to his family in Madrid.

In 1585, Cervantes published a pastoral novel, La Galatea. Because of financial problems, Cervantes worked as a purveyor for the Spanish Armada, and later as a tax collector. In 1597 discrepancies in his accounts of three years previous landed him in the Crown Jail of Seville. In 1605 he was in Valladolid, just when the immediate success of the first part of his Don Quijote, published in Madrid, signaled his return to the literary world. In 1607, he settled in Madrid, where he lived and worked until his death. During the last nine years of his life, Cervantes solidified his reputation as a writer; he published the Exemplary Novels (Novelas ejemplares) in 1613, the Journey to Parnassus in 1614, and in 1615, the Ocho comedias y ocho entremeses and the second part of Don Quixote. xxxxxxx noted that, "Cervantes leaves open the pages of a book where the reader knows himself to be written."[4]

Cervantes' historical importance and influence

Cervantes' novel Don Quixote has had a tremendous influence on the development of prose fiction. It has been translated into all major languages and has appeared in 700 editions. The first translation was in English, made by Thomas Shelton in 1608, but not published until 1612. Shakespeare had evidently read Don Quixote, but it is most unlikely that Cervantes had ever heard of Shakespeare. xxxxxxx raised the possibility that Cervantes and Shakespeare were the same person.

Don Quixote 's influence can be seen in the work of xxxxxxx, xxxxxxx, xxxxxx, and xxxxxx, as well as in the classic 19th-century novelists xxxxxx, Dickens, xxxxxx, xxxxxx, and xxxxxxx, and in the works of James Joyce and xxxxxxxx. The theme of the novel also inspired the 19th-century French artists xxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxx.

The Euro coins of €0.10, €0.20, and €0.50 made for Spain bear the portrait and signature of Cervantes.

The Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, a digital library, hosted by the University of Alicante, the largest digital archive of Spanish-language historical and literary works in the world, is named after Cervantes.

Outstanding pick. For the Spanish language, he probably occupies a position which is even superior to that enjoyed by Shakespeare in English. It is truly a universal book, has been translated into virtually every language, and its main characters are instantly recognizable.

 

[FUBAR]

I guess I didn't need to rush my pick this morning.

 

[HERBERT THE HIPPO]

Sorry about being skipped guys. Had a small situation at the new house that needed immediate attention.

4.07 - Muhammad Ali - Athlete

His nickname says it all. THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.) is a retired American boxer and former three-time World Heavyweight Champion.

As an amateur, Ali won a gold medal at the Olympic in the light heavyweight division gold medal. As a professional, he became the only man to have won the linear heavyweight championship three times.

In 1999, Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and the BBC.

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., who was named for the 19th century abolitionist and politician of the same name. Ali changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964, subsequently converting to Sunni Islam in 1975 and then Sufism.

Ali was known for his fighting style, which he described as "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee". Throughout his career Ali made a name for himself with great handspeed, as well as swift feet and taunting tactics. While Ali was renowned for his fast, sharp out-fighting style, he also had a great chin, and displayed great courage and an ability to take a punch throughout his career.

Muhammad Ali defeated almost every top heavyweight in his era, which has been called the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Ali was named "Fighter of the Year" by Ring Magazine more times than any other fighter, and was involved in more Ring Magazine "Fight of the Year" bouts than any other fighter. He is an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and holds wins over seven other Hall of Fame inductees.

This is the guy I wanted to be when I was 4 years old. Love this dude.

Strange that the #1 athlete gets picked 3rd in his category.

Strange that the #1 athlete gets picked 3rd in his category.

You really think Ali is the #1 sports figure in the history of the world?????? HELL NO........

 

[AcerFC]

OK, I expect to be blasted with this pick but the way things are going, I feel like I need to get it in now (even though I am not convinced anyone else would have taken him). Plus I was one pick away and Fubar took Mandela (not crying, just saying)

The person I am picking is the best ever at what he did. Numbers do not always play a major role when determining greatness but this person had the numbers. I know this is a WORLDS GREATEST DRAFT and you may think that this person does not fit into a world category. I would ask you to think about this. Before this player played, no one outside of America cared less about this sport. Once this player took over and his name was out there, he was arguably one of the most recognizable faces. For that reason, he can also be slotted as a celebrity.

Today there are people all over the world who play the game and in my opionion (because I have not read any studies on it) it is because of this one man. When foreigners picked up a ball, they didnt say they wanted to be like Vlad, they didnt want to be like John, they didnt want to be like Paulo. They wanted to be like Mike. And the global implications that came along with being Mike is what led me to this pick

5.5 Michael Jordan- Athlete

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player and active businessman. His biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."[1] Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.

After a stand-out career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as one of the stars of the league, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line at Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness." He also gained a reputation as one of the best defensive players in basketball.[2] In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat." Though Jordan abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but he returned for two more NBA seasons in 2001 as a member of the Washington Wizards.

Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances and three All-Star MVP, ten scoring titles, three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA record for highest career regular season scoring average with 30.12 points per game, as well as averaging a record 33.4 points per game in the playoffs. In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. He is currently a finalist to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Jordan is also noted for his product endorsements. He fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1985 and remain popular today.[3] Jordan also starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam. He is currently a part-owner and Managing Member of Basketball Operations of the Charlotte Bobcats in North Carolina.

With five regular-season MVPs (tied for second place with Bill Russell; only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won more, six), six Finals MVPs (NBA record), and three All-Star MVPs, Jordan is the most decorated player ever to play in the NBA. Jordan finished among the top three in regular-season MVP voting a record 10 times, and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.

Honors and awards

Michael Jordan and Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill game honoring the 1957 and 1982 men's basketball teams.Olympic Gold Medal: 1984, 1992

NBA Champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998

NCAA National Championship: 1982

NBA MVP: 1987/88, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1995/96, 1997/98

NBA Finals MVP: 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98

NBA Leading Scorer: 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98

All-NBA First Team: 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98

All-NBA Second Team: 1984/85

NBA All-Star Game: 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1987/88, 1995/96, 1997/98

NBA All-Defensive Team: 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1987/88

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1984/85

NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner: 1987, 1988

ACC Freshman of the Year: 1982

ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year: 1984

USBWA College Player of the Year: 1984

Naismith College Player of the Year: 1984

John R. Wooden Award: 1984

Adolph Rupp Trophy: 1984

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1991

Ranked #1 by SLAM Magazine's Top 75 Players of All-Time

Ranked #1 by ESPN Sportscentury's Top 100 Athletes of the 20th century

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I'm going to throw a bit of a curveball here in this very, VERY Amero-centric draft. (did I spell that right?)

I saw that Neil Armstrong was picked earlier this round and i was considering him after the big-time explorers (Magellen, Polo, & Columbus)...

However, there were two thoughts that I had about people who definitely should be considered at least equivalent to Armstrong if not in higher regard to Armstrong. Those men being the first man to leave the planet earth and fly into outer space and the first man to orbit the planet earth from in space.

So I looked these men up and I was surprised to find that it was actually the same man. That man is my pick at 4.19.

4.19 Yuri Gagarin, explorer

Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin (Russian: Ю́рий Алексе́евич Гага́рин, Jurij Aleksejevič Gagarin Russian pronunciation: [ˈjurʲɪj ɐlʲɪˈksʲeɪvʲɪtɕ gɐˈgarʲɪn]; 9 March 1934 - 27 March 1968), Hero of the Soviet Union, was a Soviet cosmonaut. On 12 April 1961, he became the first human in space and the first to orbit the Earth. He received medals from around the world for his pioneering tour in outer space.

as has been said before, it takes a lot of courage to sail off someplace that no human has ever been before and look at things that no man has ever seen before. However, Yuri Gagarin flew solo out into space in a ship to a place where no human being had ever been before.Columbus sailed east into nothingness, not knowing what was there. However, it was still water underneath his ship and wind blowing in the sails. There was still oxygen, there were still fish, it was still earth, even if a part of the earth that had not yet been seen by Europe at the time.

Mr. Gagarin, however, went someplace no other human before him had ever gone (although many, many had dreamed of going there). He did something that no one before him had ever done, gone someplace unlike any other place a human had ever been. No gravity, no oxygen, no life. No one had ever been in the conditions that Mr. Gagarin experience when he left the atmosphere, and only a small handful of men since have ever seen and experienced what he saw and he experienced.

Great pick. So it's obvious now that the rule of thumb in this draft is no one will fall. If you plan on someone falling, your plan sucks.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Gagarin is a good pick. But no way was I going to take the Russian over the American.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

Perhaps a reach, but IMO he's one of the few living people who deserve to be picked:

5.04: Nelson Mandela, Rebel

He's a pretty good rebel and humanitarian pick, maybe a little early but probably not much.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

pick coming.........

 

[FUBAR]

I actually like the Jordan pick and strongly considered him.

The athlete I want though will probably fall in the 10-15 range, so I'll wait for it.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

5.5 Michael Jordan- Athlete

I actually think he's better in this draft than in the GAD. Outside of Pele, no one is more immediately recognizable and associately with his sport around the world than MJ. Basketball is also probably 2nd only behind soccer for global popularity. He was clearly going to be drafted and should probably be close to the top in the athlete rankings.

 

[AcerFC]

5.5 Michael Jordan- Athlete

I actually think he's better in this draft than in the GAD. Outside of Pele, no one is more immediately recognizable and associately with his sport around the world than MJ. Basketball is also probably 2nd only behind soccer for global popularity. He was clearly going to be drafted and should probably be close to the top in the athlete rankings.

I just wasnt sure where he fit in with the Global theme. All of the Europeans playing in the NBA are a result of what Jordan was able to do on the world scale so I thought it fit.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

5.5 Michael Jordan- Athlete

I actually think he's better in this draft than in the GAD. Outside of Pele, no one is more immediately recognizable and associately with his sport around the world than MJ. Basketball is also probably 2nd only behind soccer for global popularity. He was clearly going to be drafted and should probably be close to the top in the athlete rankings.

Basketball ranks 10th

 

[AcerFC]

5.5 Michael Jordan- Athlete

I actually think he's better in this draft than in the GAD. Outside of Pele, no one is more immediately recognizable and associately with his sport around the world than MJ. Basketball is also probably 2nd only behind soccer for global popularity. He was clearly going to be drafted and should probably be close to the top in the athlete rankings.

Basketball ranks 10th

That is interesting. If you dont want to post the list here for spotlighting reasons, would you mind PMing me. I would be interested to see itETA: I would like to have seen its ranking before Jordan

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I like the Jordan pick. He's arguably the first truly global athlete.

 

[timschochet]

Good morning, everyone. I will be here for a short time this morning, then gone for several hours, and won't be able to update until tonight. Some more good picks, especially Jordan and Mandela, IMO. I can't really comment on Bernini and Cervantes. I haven't seen the sculptures and never read Cervantes. But they're obviously quite famous and well respected.

 

[BobbyLayne]

5.5 Michael Jordan- Athlete

I actually think he's better in this draft than in the GAD. Outside of Pele, no one is more immediately recognizable and associately with his sport around the world than MJ. Basketball is also probably 2nd only behind soccer for global popularity. He was clearly going to be drafted and should probably be close to the top in the athlete rankings.

Basketball ranks 10th

That is interesting. If you dont want to post the list here for spotlighting reasons, would you mind PMing me. I would be interested to see itETA: I would like to have seen its ranking before Jordan

Yeah you missed India's billion cricket fans.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

5.5 Michael Jordan- Athlete

I actually think he's better in this draft than in the GAD. Outside of Pele, no one is more immediately recognizable and associately with his sport around the world than MJ. Basketball is also probably 2nd only behind soccer for global popularity. He was clearly going to be drafted and should probably be close to the top in the athlete rankings.

Basketball ranks 10th

I dig some digging around on this because it just seems so wrong, and I think it depends on what you mean when you say a sport is popular. There may be more people playing ping pong, for instance, but I don't think that really translates into global popularity for our purposes. I actually found this article in a sports business journal speculating on whether basketball had passed soccer in global popularity:

The English Premier League (EPL) is the "embodiment of sporting globalisation," but in recent years the popularity of soccer has "plummeted, taking down with it the sport's leading brand," the EPL, in favor of basketball and the NBA, according to Julian Borger of the Manchester GUARDIAN. The "meteoric rise of basketball in China almost certainly means basketball has now surpassed [soccer] as the world's leading sport, in terms of the number of active players." The success of basketball in China represents "one of the most stunning marketing coups of our time." Fourteen NBA games are broadcast live every week on state TV and 51 regional stations in the country. In January, the NBA set up four offices in China. The contrast with the EPL's fortunes "could not be starker," as the league "does not have an office or a single representative in Beijing." But "a lot of this is not" of the EPL's making, as "some of it is due to chance." Borger: "We are now in the midst of a second round of sporting globalisation. It is a more voluntary affair, requiring willing sellers and willing buyers, so Britain's sporting exports are facing much stiffer competition." It is "not enough for today's professional clubs, leagues and associations to collect subscriptions and ticket receipts -- like any other corporation, they must grow, and that ultimately means spilling over their borders" (Manchester GUARDIAN, 12/6).

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Again, given my new controlling theory that no one will fall to the next pick so grab him/her now when you can and don't look back, I am taking another "father."

I am going to select a king who created an empire that changed the course of world history. A king who is considered a great by three different empires that lasted long after his reign. Simply put, he's not just considered the father of the German and French monarchies, he is considered the Father of all of Europe. His empire created a new European commonality that continued for centuries, and in some respects continues today. He is Charles the First in France, Germany and among the histories of the Holy Roman Empire.

His coronation birthed the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was constant war expanding that empire. His economic, cultural and theological reforms rebirthed Europe. His was annointed a saint by the Holy Roman Empire. The name given by later generations to Charles, King of the Franks, first sovereign of the Christian Empire of the West is the man I select.

Charlemagne who was the greatest ruler in Europe in the centuries following the fall of the Roman empire. In a long reign that lasted from A.D. 768 to 814, he conquered most of western Europe and converted many of its pagan peoples to Christianity. In 800 he became the Emperor of the Romans. Under Charlemagne's rule, Europe experienced a great revival in learning and the arts, which had declined dramatically after the collapse of Rome. The legends that grew up around Charlemagne focus on his military and political skills and on his moral conduct.

'Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky'.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Basketball is 1st or 2nd in terms of dollars spent, spectators, ad revenue, etc. Big bidness.

10th? Maybe in participation, though I think that might be old data.

Listen, dragon boat racing is usually top 8 on those kind lists (seriously), and it's a once a year thing in NYC.

Wherever you live, probably not a dragon boat race within 500 miles.

 

[thecatch]

Charlemagne who was the greatest ruler in Europe in the centuries following the fall of the Roman empire.

I like the pick. Good value.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Again, given my new controlling theory that no one will fall to the next pick so grab him/her now when you can and don't look back, I am taking another "father."

I am going to select a king who created an empire that changed the course of world history. A king who is considered a great by three different empires that lasted long after his reign. Simply put, he's not just considered the father of the German and French monarchies, he is considered the Father of all of Europe. His empire created a new European commonality that continued for centuries, and in some respects continues today. He is Charles the First in France, Germany and among the histories of the Holy Roman Empire.

His coronation birthed the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was constant war expanding that empire. His economic, cultural and theological reforms rebirthed Europe. His was annointed a saint by the Holy Roman Empire. The name given by later generations to Charles, King of the Franks, first sovereign of the Christian Empire of the West is the man I select.

Charlemagne who was the greatest ruler in Europe in the centuries following the fall of the Roman empire. In a long reign that lasted from A.D. 768 to 814, he conquered most of western Europe and converted many of its pagan peoples to Christianity. In 800 he became the Emperor of the Romans. Under Charlemagne's rule, Europe experienced a great revival in learning and the arts, which had declined dramatically after the collapse of Rome. The legends that grew up around Charlemagne focus on his military and political skills and on his moral conduct.

'Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky'.

Very solid, nice one.

 

[FUBAR]

Again, given my new controlling theory that no one will fall to the next pick so grab him/her now when you can and don't look back, I am taking another "father."

I am going to select a king who created an empire that changed the course of world history. A king who is considered a great by three different empires that lasted long after his reign. Simply put, he's not just considered the father of the German and French monarchies, he is considered the Father of all of Europe. His empire created a new European commonality that continued for centuries, and in some respects continues today. He is Charles the First in France, Germany and among the histories of the Holy Roman Empire.

His coronation birthed the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was constant war expanding that empire. His economic, cultural and theological reforms rebirthed Europe. His was annointed a saint by the Holy Roman Empire. The name given by later generations to Charles, King of the Franks, first sovereign of the Christian Empire of the West is the man I select.

Charlemagne who was the greatest ruler in Europe in the centuries following the fall of the Roman empire. In a long reign that lasted from A.D. 768 to 814, he conquered most of western Europe and converted many of its pagan peoples to Christianity. In 800 he became the Emperor of the Romans. Under Charlemagne's rule, Europe experienced a great revival in learning and the arts, which had declined dramatically after the collapse of Rome. The legends that grew up around Charlemagne focus on his military and political skills and on his moral conduct.

'Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky'.

good theory, I had considered him since round 3 but opted for others.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

4.13--Vladimir Ilyich Lenin-Rebel

Since I have two of the three persons who have major schools of Communist thought named after them, I'll get the third. This should definitely help my Pinko Draft.

Lenin was the ultimate rebel. He took the theory of Marx and made it into the ideology that overthrew the Russian Czarist empire and founded a movement that at one point in time appeared to be prepared to sweep the world. Lenin founded the USSR and defeated the reactionary forces including expeditionary forces from Britian and the US in the early 1920s. He was one of the few Russian leaders who could keep Stalin at bay, and Marxist-Leninist thought was the basis of all Soviet ideology until 1988.

He is still revered as a god in Russia and his Tomb on Red Square that displayes his embalmed body is still a major tourist attraction

Yes, Lenin, rounds out my pinko draft.

Great, great pick.Was going to pick him in R4 myself, but wasn't sure where to slot him.

He saw the danger of Stalin, but was bed ridden, dying and powerless to stop him.

I believe he was more a genuine Socialist and if he & Trotsky were in charge we would have got to see a real socialist experiment, rather than the nonsense we've had since.

Obviously Lenin wasn't a saint, but he was more faithful to the ideas of Marx

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

It's hard to argue with Euclid being one of the greatest scientists, if not the greatest scientist ever. But who do you rank him over?

Newton?

Einstein?

Pasteur?

Darwin?

Archimedes?

Yet another impossible category...

Fixed

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Staying with my "originator" theme that became highly influential, I am going to pick a couple of them in this post. Art is viewed and interpreted by the viewer, so while some artists may be deemed "great" there are others that are great in their own way. Not much of an introduction for the following guy other than he helped to coin the term "Impressionism" with one of his paintings. Without further ado, Mario Kart gives you:

4.20 - Claude Monet - Painter

Claude Monet (French pronounced [klod mɔnɛ]) also known as Oscar-Claude Monet or Claude Oscar Monet (14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926)[1] was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting.[2] The term Impressionism is derived from the title of his painting Impression, Sunrise.

In 1872 (or 1873), he painted Impression, Sunrise (Impression: soleil levant) depicting a Le Havre landscape. It hung in the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874 and is now displayed in the Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris. From the painting's title, art critic Louis Leroy (no danger of spot lighting) coined the term "Impressionism", which he intended as disparagement but which the Impressionists appropriated for themselves.

Vétheuil dans le brouillard

Haystacks (sunset)

Water Lillies

Houses of Parliament = Awesome

Mario Kart

Leaders -

Military - Sun Tzu (post #45)

Scientist -

Inventor -

Discoverer/Explorer - Giovanni da Pian del Carpine (post #1281)

Humanitarian/Saint/Martyr -

Novelist/Short stories -

Playwrights/Poets - Geoffrey Chaucer (post #1295)

Villain -

Athlete -

Composer -

Musicians/Performers -

Painter - Claude Monet (post #2236)

Artist/Non-Painter -

Philosopher -

Religious Figure -

Celebrity -

Intellectual -

Rebel -

Wildcards -

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

As long as we are discussing Parisian museums, my own personal favorite is Musée d'Orsay.

That's my second-favorite, after Rodin.

Why are these better to see than Musee Du Louvre?

 

[timschochet]

4.13--Vladimir Ilyich Lenin-Rebel

Since I have two of the three persons who have major schools of Communist thought named after them, I'll get the third. This should definitely help my Pinko Draft.

Lenin was the ultimate rebel. He took the theory of Marx and made it into the ideology that overthrew the Russian Czarist empire and founded a movement that at one point in time appeared to be prepared to sweep the world. Lenin founded the USSR and defeated the reactionary forces including expeditionary forces from Britian and the US in the early 1920s. He was one of the few Russian leaders who could keep Stalin at bay, and Marxist-Leninist thought was the basis of all Soviet ideology until 1988.

He is still revered as a god in Russia and his Tomb on Red Square that displayes his embalmed body is still a major tourist attraction

Yes, Lenin, rounds out my pinko draft.

Great, great pick.Was going to pick him in R4 myself, but wasn't sure where to slot him.

He saw the danger of Stalin, but was bed ridden, dying and powerless to stop him.

I believe he was more a genuine Socialist and if he & XXXXXX were in charge we would have got to see a real socialist experiment, rather than the nonsense we've had since.

Obviously Lenin wasn't a saint, but he was more faithful to the ideas of Marx

See, this is the sort of rewriting of history I'm talking about. The idea, still prevelant among many people, that if only Lenin had lived, things would have been so much better in the USSR.Lenin was a killer, just as bad as Stalin except that he didn't get the chance. Witness what happened to the Mensheviks, the Kronstadt Sailors, the purges of 1921, ANYONE who got in his way. Lenin did not approve of Stalin, but he would have approved of most of Stalin's crimes; we know this because Lenin recommended the forced collectivization of the Ukraine which Stalin carried out, and which caused the death of something like ten million people. Lenin would have loved Stalin's purges, since he had plenty of his own, with similar results.

When will you guys realize that it's the SYSTEM that's bad here. It can't work. Communism results in death and misery. Lenin was a bad, bad, man.

 

[flysack]

I've only read one Victor Hugo novel, but what a novel it is: Les Miserables probably among the top 20 best novels I have ever read. Now these are memorable characters: the heroic Valjean, the law and order Javert, the fiend Thenardier, the naive Marius. The book is also a great defense of Christianity; perhaps the best argument I have ever read for how Christian morals and self-sacrifice can improve one's life. Larry, regarding the argument we had yesterday, this book represents the best of your position. And it is a find romantic read, and very suspenseful. I mentioned that two French novels were among my very favorites, and I expected both authors to be selected; this is one of them.

Van Gogh should be easy top 5. Plus, he cut off a piece of his ear, which has got to say something right? There may be a couple of guys above him though.

One thing I want to add about Vincent- I went to MOMA last year in NY and looked at Starry Starry Night and I was not that impressed. I admit being a neophyte about art, but I'm not sure what makes that painting such a classic, compared to many other works there which I really enjoyed quite a bit more.

1. Hugo. I'll add this to the argument: Hugo was enormously influential on everyone who came after him. He's one of those writers whom other writers mention constantly, and not just the French, the English and Americans loved him too. As a playwright, I'm a bit out of my water, but who hasn't heard of Les Miserable?

I don't think he's top 5 material in Novel/Short Story, but he's clearly a great value pick. He may do better in the playwright/poet category.

Which brings me to something else: THAT IS ONE !@#$% OF A CATEGORY TO FIGURE OUT. A few friends and I were talking about this draft last night, and after the #1 playwright and #1 poet (The Bard and Homer) we had no clue how to rank the rest. I can't specify why, because even a coded recount of our conversation will spotlight too much. Our conclusion: it should be two categories.

It's too late now. I'd hate pick or judge that category though. What a headache.

2. I can't believe you weren't impressed with Starry Night, Tim. I saw it at The Met ten years ago and was mesmerized. I sat on a bench behind the ever-present crowd of people, and just starred at it for over two hours. The colors are so vibrant. The strokes are so thick, rich, intense, purposeful. Like everyone I'd already seen a gazillion copies in college dorm rooms, so I couldn't help thinking that I was experiencing what Walter XXXXXXXX said about the dissolution of the aesthetic aura in the age of mechanical reproduction. I was in the presence of the original, and it absolutely shocked me how powerful it was (I had expected the exact opposite to happen). It was one of my top 10 life moments, I think, my first epiphany about the nature of art.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Perhaps a reach, but IMO he's one of the few living people who deserve to be picked:

5.04: Nelson Mandela, Rebel

Almost picked him in the 3rd round instead of Pasteur while trying to think of suitable rebels.Greap pick, great rebel.

 

[flysack]

Again, given my new controlling theory that no one will fall to the next pick so grab him/her now when you can and don't look back, I am taking another "father."

I am going to select a king who created an empire that changed the course of world history. A king who is considered a great by three different empires that lasted long after his reign. Simply put, he's not just considered the father of the German and French monarchies, he is considered the Father of all of Europe. His empire created a new European commonality that continued for centuries, and in some respects continues today. He is Charles the First in France, Germany and among the histories of the Holy Roman Empire.

His coronation birthed the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was constant war expanding that empire. His economic, cultural and theological reforms rebirthed Europe. His was annointed a saint by the Holy Roman Empire. The name given by later generations to Charles, King of the Franks, first sovereign of the Christian Empire of the West is the man I select.

Charlemagne who was the greatest ruler in Europe in the centuries following the fall of the Roman empire. In a long reign that lasted from A.D. 768 to 814, he conquered most of western Europe and converted many of its pagan peoples to Christianity. In 800 he became the Emperor of the Romans. Under Charlemagne's rule, Europe experienced a great revival in learning and the arts, which had declined dramatically after the collapse of Rome. The legends that grew up around Charlemagne focus on his military and political skills and on his moral conduct.

'Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky'.

Are you claiming Leader or Military?In general, could everyone at least claim a provisional category when you draft someone? Speaking as a judge, it'd help a lot.

You can always switch later, but for now, it's help me when forming a provisional ranking.

Thanks.

 

[BobbyLayne]

As long as we are discussing Parisian museums, my own personal favorite is Musée d'Orsay.

That's my second-favorite, after Rodin.

Why are these better to see than Musee Du Louvre?

I love everything about Musée d'Orsay - the architecture, the layout, just very cool experience. Plus it's manageable.The Louvre is like going to the Metropolitan or the Smithsonian - overwhelming, you need a week or two just to scratch the surface. Easy to feel rushed because there is too much to see, so you are less apt to linger and enjoy.

 

[flysack]

4.13--Vladimir Ilyich Lenin-Rebel

Since I have two of the three persons who have major schools of Communist thought named after them, I'll get the third. This should definitely help my Pinko Draft.

Lenin was the ultimate rebel. He took the theory of Marx and made it into the ideology that overthrew the Russian Czarist empire and founded a movement that at one point in time appeared to be prepared to sweep the world. Lenin founded the USSR and defeated the reactionary forces including expeditionary forces from Britian and the US in the early 1920s. He was one of the few Russian leaders who could keep Stalin at bay, and Marxist-Leninist thought was the basis of all Soviet ideology until 1988.

He is still revered as a god in Russia and his Tomb on Red Square that displayes his embalmed body is still a major tourist attraction

Yes, Lenin, rounds out my pinko draft.

Great, great pick.Was going to pick him in R4 myself, but wasn't sure where to slot him.

He saw the danger of Stalin, but was bed ridden, dying and powerless to stop him.

I believe he was more a genuine Socialist and if he & XXXXXX were in charge we would have got to see a real socialist experiment, rather than the nonsense we've had since.

Obviously Lenin wasn't a saint, but he was more faithful to the ideas of Marx

See, this is the sort of rewriting of history I'm talking about. The idea, still prevelant among many people, that if only Lenin had lived, things would have been so much better in the USSR.Lenin was a killer, just as bad as Stalin except that he didn't get the chance. Witness what happened to the Mensheviks, the Kronstadt Sailors, the purges of 1921, ANYONE who got in his way. Lenin did not approve of Stalin, but he would have approved of most of Stalin's crimes; we know this because Lenin recommended the forced collectivization of the Ukraine which Stalin carried out, and which caused the death of something like ten million people. Lenin would have loved Stalin's purges, since he had plenty of his own, with similar results.

When will you guys realize that it's the SYSTEM that's bad here. It can't work. Communism results in death and misery. Lenin was a bad, bad, man.

I find your Red Scare theories interesting and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.Tim, he's claiming Rebel and as a rebel, Lenin was enormously successful. All the rest of your anti-pinko ranting is irrelevant.

EDIT: I say this because, as the Leader judge, they would be relevant if he claimed Leader (or Villain).

 

[Usual21]

Again, given my new controlling theory that no one will fall to the next pick so grab him/her now when you can and don't look back, I am taking another "father."

I am going to select a king who created an empire that changed the course of world history. A king who is considered a great by three different empires that lasted long after his reign. Simply put, he's not just considered the father of the German and French monarchies, he is considered the Father of all of Europe. His empire created a new European commonality that continued for centuries, and in some respects continues today. He is Charles the First in France, Germany and among the histories of the Holy Roman Empire.

His coronation birthed the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was constant war expanding that empire. His economic, cultural and theological reforms rebirthed Europe. His was annointed a saint by the Holy Roman Empire. The name given by later generations to Charles, King of the Franks, first sovereign of the Christian Empire of the West is the man I select.

Charlemagne who was the greatest ruler in Europe in the centuries following the fall of the Roman empire. In a long reign that lasted from A.D. 768 to 814, he conquered most of western Europe and converted many of its pagan peoples to Christianity. In 800 he became the Emperor of the Romans. Under Charlemagne's rule, Europe experienced a great revival in learning and the arts, which had declined dramatically after the collapse of Rome. The legends that grew up around Charlemagne focus on his military and political skills and on his moral conduct.

'Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky'.

There goes my round 5 pick. Good snipe.

 

[timschochet]

I've only read one Victor Hugo novel, but what a novel it is: Les Miserables probably among the top 20 best novels I have ever read. Now these are memorable characters: the heroic Valjean, the law and order Javert, the fiend Thenardier, the naive Marius. The book is also a great defense of Christianity; perhaps the best argument I have ever read for how Christian morals and self-sacrifice can improve one's life. Larry, regarding the argument we had yesterday, this book represents the best of your position. And it is a find romantic read, and very suspenseful. I mentioned that two French novels were among my very favorites, and I expected both authors to be selected; this is one of them.

Van Gogh should be easy top 5. Plus, he cut off a piece of his ear, which has got to say something right? There may be a couple of guys above him though.

One thing I want to add about Vincent- I went to MOMA last year in NY and looked at Starry Starry Night and I was not that impressed. I admit being a neophyte about art, but I'm not sure what makes that painting such a classic, compared to many other works there which I really enjoyed quite a bit more.

1. Hugo. I'll add this to the argument: Hugo was enormously influential on everyone who came after him. He's one of those writers whom other writers mention constantly, and not just the French, the English and Americans loved him too. As a playwright, I'm a bit out of my water, but who hasn't heard of Les Miserable?

I don't think he's top 5 material in Novel/Short Story, but he's clearly a great value pick. He may do better in the playwright/poet category.

Which brings me to something else: THAT IS ONE !@#$% OF A CATEGORY TO FIGURE OUT. A few friends and I were talking about this draft last night, and after the #1 playwright and #1 poet (The Bard and Homer) we had no clue how to rank the rest. I can't specify why, because even a coded recount of our conversation will spotlight too much. Our conclusion: it should be two categories.

It's too late now. I'd hate pick or judge that category though. What a headache.

2. I can't believe you weren't impressed with Starry Night, Tim. I saw it at The Met ten years ago and was mesmerized. I sat on a bench behind the ever-present crowd of people, and just starred at it for over two hours. The colors are so vibrant. The strokes are so thick, rich, intense, purposeful. Like everyone I'd already seen a gazillion copies in college dorm rooms, so I couldn't help thinking that I was experiencing what Walter XXXXXXXX said about the dissolution of the aesthetic aura in the age of mechanical reproduction. I was in the presence of the original, and it absolutely shocked me how powerful it was (I had expected the exact opposite to happen). It was one of my top 10 life moments, I think, my first epiphany about the nature of art.

1. I'm not aware that Hugo wrote plays, or poems. Perhaps he did, I just don't know. His fame is as a novelist.2. I know what you're saying; my wife said the same thing, and she was an art major at UCLA. I just didn't see it myself. Other paintings I can't mention at the moment impressed me with their colors much more, but again I don't claim to know anything about this subject. I would compare it to when I went to Napa Valley and engaged in wine tasting. There were wines I liked more than others, but I had no expertise at all.

 

[timschochet]

I find your Red Scare theories interesting and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.Tim, he's claiming Rebel and as a rebel, Lenin was enormously successful. All the rest of your anti-pinko ranting is irrelevant.EDIT: I say this because, as the Leader judge, they would be relevant if he claimed Leader (or Villain).

I think it's an excellent choice for rebel and said so at the time. I was responding to JML's comments. Lenin, had he lived a long life, would be considered equal with or just below Hitler as the greatest monster who ever existed.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

As long as we are discussing Parisian museums, my own personal favorite is Musée d'Orsay.

That's my second-favorite, after Rodin.

Why are these better to see than Musee Du Louvre?

I love everything about Musée d'Orsay - the architecture, the layout, just very cool experience. Plus it's manageable.The Louvre is like going to the Metropolitan or the Smithsonian - overwhelming, you need a week or two just to scratch the surface. Easy to feel rushed because there is too much to see, so you are less apt to linger and enjoy.

I've been to the Louvre, but only had 3 hours in a whistle stop tour 9 years ago.I'll have a few more days later this year for our wedding anniversary.

 

[BobbyLayne]

2. I know what you're saying; my wife said the same thing, and she was an art major at UCLA. I just didn't see it myself. Other paintings I can't mention at the moment impressed me with their colors much more, but again I don't claim to know anything about this subject. I would compare it to when I went to Napa Valley and engaged in wine tasting. There were wines I liked more than others, but I had no expertise at all.

I think it's hilarious MoMA keeps displays it in a gallery with about 20 other artists. Go there on a Friday night or weekend, and they'll be like 20 crowded around it. Meanwhile there are amazing masters left, right, behind, but that's one always cited, so visitors feel compelled to find it.

 

[Thorn]

5.07 Gustavus Adolphus, Military

I'm not really sure what the reaction to this pick will be. I admittedly know very little about military history, but my understanding is that this Swedish king is the father of modern warfare, and I don't want to get down to researching the next tier. This guy led Sweden to defeat, in successive wars, Denmark, Russia, and Poland. And that's before he took on the Thirty Years War.

Today's military leader, when asked, who was the greatest "Captain of Military History" would probably reply with the likes of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, XXXX, or Napoleon. These captains, while leading their exceptional armies, provided significant innovations in operational and strategic art that are still practiced today. Although these contributions are noteworthy, their changes were evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. Truly the most prolific revolutionary but least well known "Captain of Military History" was Gustavus Adolphus, "The Father of Combined Arms Warfare." A skilled and conscientious monarch, he created the grand army of Sweden which in the early 1630s during the Thirty Years' War, saved Germany from becoming a Catholic state under the auspices of the Emperor XXXX. Gustavus' innovations and improvements in the use of field artillery, redesigned battle formations, streamlined logistics, use of cavalry as a shock weapon and improvements to musketry highlight the importance of his contributions to today's warfighter.

Before Adolphus, armies mostly operated with groups of unorganized mercenaries with little in the way of a chain of command. He organized his men to act as a unit, he made use of supply lines and bases, and integrated it all with his calvalry, infantry and artillery to form the world's first professional army.

 

[Thorn]

PM sent to DCThunder.

 

[timschochet]

5.07 Gustavus Adolphus, Military

I'm not really sure what the reaction to this pick will be. I admittedly know very little about military history, but my understanding is that this Swedish king is the father of modern warfare, and I don't want to get down to researching the next tier. This guy led Sweden to defeat, in successive wars, Denmark, Russia, and Poland. And that's before he took on the Thirty Years War.

Today's military leader, when asked, who was the greatest "Captain of Military History" would probably reply with the likes of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, XXXX, or Napoleon. These captains, while leading their exceptional armies, provided significant innovations in operational and strategic art that are still practiced today. Although these contributions are noteworthy, their changes were evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. Truly the most prolific revolutionary but least well known "Captain of Military History" was Gustavus Adolphus, "The Father of Combined Arms Warfare." A skilled and conscientious monarch, he created the grand army of Sweden which in the early 1630s during the Thirty Years' War, saved Germany from becoming a Catholic state under the auspices of the Emperor XXXX. Gustavus' innovations and improvements in the use of field artillery, redesigned battle formations, streamlined logistics, use of cavalry as a shock weapon and improvements to musketry highlight the importance of his contributions to today's warfighter.

Before Adolphus, armies mostly operated with groups of unorganized mercenaries with little in the way of a chain of command. He organized his men to act as a unit, he made use of supply lines and bases, and integrated it all with his calvalry, infantry and artillery to form with world's first professional army.

I know very little about this guy, except that his invasion of Poland created untold miseries for my Polish-Jewish ancestors. The Jews of Poland, who up to that point have been relatively unmolested and allowed to create a rich culture and heritage, were accused of helping the Swedes invade. The result was centuries of massacres, progroms, ghettoes, anti-Semitic laws and general mistreatment which eventually culminated in the Holocaust, which took place mostly in Poland with the full cooperation of the Polish people. Thanks for the help, Gustavus!

 

[timschochet]

There's a least a few more eligible servants of the proletariat for Comrade Thunder to select...

 

[BobbyLayne]

5.07 Gustavus Adolphus, Military

Not sure where Ozy will slot him, but I like this pick. He inherited a rather ragtag army, greatly improved the infantry, and used his cavalry as shock troops. Because of him Sweded had a northern empire for more than 100 years. His influence was significant as other countries adopted his tactics.Good work here, Thorn.