World's Greatest Draft (2 Viewers)

[thatguy]

Regarding recent picks (at least ones that I'm allowing myself to comment on because of the category):

* Hammurabi as an intellectual is an inspired pick. The "Law Giver" indeed. I think a strong argument could be made that he was the first great intellectual.

* David Ben-Gurion I knew nothing about. Just an area of world history I was completely ignorant of thanks to every world history class I ever took stopping at the close of WWII. Doing a quick read up, that is a very interesting and unique selection. It is pretty rare when you get a guy so instrumental in the birth of a nation and the origins of its institutions. I don't know how he'll measure up, but that's to be expected since he's the 19th Leader selected.

* King Louis XIV - Very interesting pick. The Sun King does have a special place in European history during a period where Europe was branching out across the globe and ... well, ... conquering it. But it can certainly be argued that his greatness was merely a furtherance of Richelieu's accomplishments.

I actually think Hammurabi is a top 10 leader (and one could argue that he is top 5) but not nearly as high as an intellectual.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

So ummm what do people think of the placement of Elizabeth as a celebrity? I'm not really this insecure, just trying to change the subject...

I can understand it but I don't think it's her best category. She was on my leader list and I kept her name as a possible wildcard. She certainly belongs here so there is no harm in taking her at all.The problem with the celebrity category is that it is just going to be another wildcard spot only instead of a scientist going there it is going to be someone with some name recognition. She certainly has that. She may be one of the greatest queens in history though, so putting in this, shall we say weird, category is .......... interesting.

 

[thatguy]

So ummm what do people think of the placement of Elizabeth as a celebrity? I'm not really this insecure, just trying to change the subject...

I think this is your first bad pick of the draft. Not to say that Elizabeth doesn't deserve to be drafted, but that she should be in a different category. And it's for the same reason I don't like Mary or King Tut as picks for the category ... their celebrity status today has very little to do with their level of fame while they were alive. Instead it's either been pushed as a cause by another entity, or overly romanticized.

I somewhat agree with your assesment of Mary and Tut; however, in Elizabeth's case you have someone who was famous when she was alive and has remained famous for four hundred years. To the extent that her fame has been romanticized after her life, I think that is another carachteristic of celebrity both in life and death.

I actually think you're making a good case for her as a celebrity. She's kind of like Princess Di except that she actually did things.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Just so I can be a part of the hissyfits going on here - I think larry does a great job of defending his picks when needed. He's actually changed my mind once or twice in this draft and the other and in the other I was higher on his team then most.

The problem here is that some posters, including larry, won't let certain debates go. In my case, I've allowed the attacks or questions on my picks and responded once or twice, and then I move on. Most of the time. There simply isn't enough order in this draft (because of the forum, not tim, he's doing great) to allow really really long discussions. Pick, debate for a few posts, then move on because the next pick was either made already or is about to be made.

I'm still having fun. Getting annoyed that people are taking my targets though. Stop that now. Thanks.

 

[larry_boy_44]

Regarding recent picks (at least ones that I'm allowing myself to comment on because of the category):

* Hammurabi as an intellectual is an inspired pick. The "Law Giver" indeed. I think a strong argument could be made that he was the first great intellectual.

* David Ben-Gurion I knew nothing about. Just an area of world history I was completely ignorant of thanks to every world history class I ever took stopping at the close of WWII. Doing a quick read up, that is a very interesting and unique selection. It is pretty rare when you get a guy so instrumental in the birth of a nation and the origins of its institutions. I don't know how he'll measure up, but that's to be expected since he's the 19th Leader selected.

* King Louis XIV - Very interesting pick. The Sun King does have a special place in European history during a period where Europe was branching out across the globe and ... well, ... conquering it. But it can certainly be argued that his greatness was merely a furtherance of Richelieu's accomplishments.

so Louis XIV was the 20th leader selected?interesting...

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Looking at a few possibilities I'm thinking I will be moving Madonna to the celebrity spot. Yes, I admit, that some of the attacks have prompted this. But truth be told that's where I originally had her on my list and moved her because my performer list was getting small.

But, there is someone/group else I've had down as well for awhile and I'm thinking I'm going there. One note, I had PM'ed Uncle Humana about his judging style and in doing so he told me 10 of his top 20 people. I can assure him and everyone that I won't be picking any of those, as I promised him.

 

[Ozymandias]

Regarding recent picks (at least ones that I'm allowing myself to comment on because of the category):

* Hammurabi as an intellectual is an inspired pick. The "Law Giver" indeed. I think a strong argument could be made that he was the first great intellectual.

* David Ben-Gurion I knew nothing about. Just an area of world history I was completely ignorant of thanks to every world history class I ever took stopping at the close of WWII. Doing a quick read up, that is a very interesting and unique selection. It is pretty rare when you get a guy so instrumental in the birth of a nation and the origins of its institutions. I don't know how he'll measure up, but that's to be expected since he's the 19th Leader selected.

* King Louis XIV - Very interesting pick. The Sun King does have a special place in European history during a period where Europe was branching out across the globe and ... well, ... conquering it. But it can certainly be argued that his greatness was merely a furtherance of Richelieu's accomplishments.

so Louis XIV was the 20th leader selected?interesting...

That may be true. However, they may not necessarily remain in that category. Some of them could go to military, or wild card. Except for Hitler, it is doubtful any would go to painter.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Regarding recent picks (at least ones that I'm allowing myself to comment on because of the category):

* Hammurabi as an intellectual is an inspired pick. The "Law Giver" indeed. I think a strong argument could be made that he was the first great intellectual.

* David Ben-Gurion I knew nothing about. Just an area of world history I was completely ignorant of thanks to every world history class I ever took stopping at the close of WWII. Doing a quick read up, that is a very interesting and unique selection. It is pretty rare when you get a guy so instrumental in the birth of a nation and the origins of its institutions. I don't know how he'll measure up, but that's to be expected since he's the 19th Leader selected.

* King Louis XIV - Very interesting pick. The Sun King does have a special place in European history during a period where Europe was branching out across the globe and ... well, ... conquering it. But it can certainly be argued that his greatness was merely a furtherance of Richelieu's accomplishments.

so Louis XIV was the 20th leader selected?interesting...

He is an interesting pick because of the Cardinal. There is a decent body of evidence that says Richelieu ran France during his reign. But there was also the moment at the cliff, so to speak, when the King came close to removing the Cardinal and in doing so he evidenced that the king is truly the king.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Regarding recent picks (at least ones that I'm allowing myself to comment on because of the category):

* Hammurabi as an intellectual is an inspired pick. The "Law Giver" indeed. I think a strong argument could be made that he was the first great intellectual.

* David Ben-Gurion I knew nothing about. Just an area of world history I was completely ignorant of thanks to every world history class I ever took stopping at the close of WWII. Doing a quick read up, that is a very interesting and unique selection. It is pretty rare when you get a guy so instrumental in the birth of a nation and the origins of its institutions. I don't know how he'll measure up, but that's to be expected since he's the 19th Leader selected.

* King Louis XIV - Very interesting pick. The Sun King does have a special place in European history during a period where Europe was branching out across the globe and ... well, ... conquering it. But it can certainly be argued that his greatness was merely a furtherance of Richelieu's accomplishments.

so Louis XIV was the 20th leader selected?interesting...

That may be true. However, they may not necessarily remain in that category. Some of them could go to military, or wild card. Except for Hitler, it is doubtful any would go to painter.

What is it about painters becoming psychopathic? Are they there one day going, I'm going to paint this nice tree here with this brush and.... oh damn I'm going to kill all the jews!

 

[Orange Crush]

Regarding recent picks (at least ones that I'm allowing myself to comment on because of the category):

* Hammurabi as an intellectual is an inspired pick. The "Law Giver" indeed. I think a strong argument could be made that he was the first great intellectual.

* David Ben-Gurion I knew nothing about. Just an area of world history I was completely ignorant of thanks to every world history class I ever took stopping at the close of WWII. Doing a quick read up, that is a very interesting and unique selection. It is pretty rare when you get a guy so instrumental in the birth of a nation and the origins of its institutions. I don't know how he'll measure up, but that's to be expected since he's the 19th Leader selected.

* King Louis XIV - Very interesting pick. The Sun King does have a special place in European history during a period where Europe was branching out across the globe and ... well, ... conquering it. But it can certainly be argued that his greatness was merely a furtherance of Richelieu's accomplishments.

so Louis XIV was the 20th leader selected?interesting...

Oops. That should have been 18th and 19th. And that may not be entirely accurate based on changing categories.Going back and looking, it looks like two "Leader" picks have already been switched to other categories. So that means there are currently 17 Leaders by current designations.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

:hi:

 

[thatguy]

:hi:

How you doin'?

 

[mad sweeney]

You're not waiting for me are you?

 

[Thorn]

Both of MarioKart's last two picks are being placed in the wrong categories, IMO.

I had the same thought.

Why?

12.20 - Jean Piaget - Scientist

Jean Piaget (9 August 1896 – 16 September 1980) was a Swiss philosopher and natural scientist...

13.01 - Dmitri Mendeleev - Inventor

Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev (sometimes romanized Mendeleyev or Mendeleef; Russian: ru-Dmitri_Mendeleev.ogg listen (help·info)) (8 February [O.S. 27 January] 1834 – 2 February [O.S. 20 January] 1907), was a Russian chemist and inventor....

 

[Thorn]

So ummm what do people think of the placement of Elizabeth as a celebrity? I'm not really this insecure, just trying to change the subject...

I don't think I would have ever thought of her there. She was on my leader list. I guess here is the problem with her and some others I considered who aren't from the modern era: however big of a celebrity they were at the time, there were still vast portions of the world that had no idea who they were. They weren't globally known. Some, like Tut, we could argue have gotten there after their death. I don't think we can do that for Elizabeth.PS I would just like to plug the fact that she did produce some noteworthy poetry...

 

[Funcooker]

After all, it was Louis XIV who said: "Apres mois, le deluge".

nitpick: twas the most gloriously dissolute monarch since Rome, Louis XV, who said "apres moi, le deluge". few have been more right.

 

[Fennis]

no response at all to my pick?

does that mean its great or it sucked?

Well we were afraid. After all, it was Louis XIV who said: "Apres mois, le deluge".We've seen examples of "le deluge" in your posts.

I thought that was George W. Bush. (spotlighting be damned!)

 

[rodg12]

Both of MarioKart's last two picks are being placed in the wrong categories, IMO.

I had the same thought.

Why? Piaget is a legit scientist who happens to study people rather than subatomic particles. Mendeleev invented something that allows many, all, other chemists to do their business with some regularity. The table had to be created in order for future chemists to conduct their experiments. Piaget's thoughts have not had much time to become mainstream but they are affecting all walks of life as we know it... they just aren't pretty to look at, or don't go BOOM!, or won't cause death.

Because in the bios you posted of each one, the first reference made to them was in a different category. Piaget was referred to as a philsopher. Mendeleev was referred to as a chemist.

 

[rodg12]

13.2 King Louis XIV of France, Leader

Are you sure you want Louis the XIV or his twin brother Philippe who took over the crown and is the one who actually accomplished all the great things attributed to Louis??????

 

[FUBAR]

odd, I had scratched him off the list as I thought he was taken, but now I don't see where he was.

Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe (Sac and Fox (Sauk): Wa-Tho-Huk) (28 May, 1888 – 28 March, 1953[1]) was an American athlete. Considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon, played American football at the collegiate and professional levels, and also played professional baseball and basketball. He lost his Olympic titles after it was found he was paid for playing two seasons of minor league baseball before competing in the games, thus violating the amateur status rules.

Thorpe was Native American Indian and European American. Raised in the Sac and Fox nation in Oklahoma, he was named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as "Bright Path". He played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career, and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.

In 1950 Thorpe was named the greatest athlete of the first half of the twentieth century by the Associated Press (AP). In 1999 he was ranked third on the AP list of top athletes of the 20th century.

His professional sports career ended in the years of the Great Depression, and Thorpe struggled to earn a living. He worked several odd jobs, struggled with alcoholism, and lived out the last years of his life in failing health and poverty. In 1983, thirty years after his death, the International Olympic Commission (IOC) restored his Olympic medals to his name.

 

[larry_boy_44]

13.2 King Louis XIV of France, Leader

Are you sure you want Louis the XIV or his twin brother Philippe who took over the crown and is the one who actually accomplished all the great things attributed to Louis??????

I want the one who did all the great things since he's the one that we know actually existed (whereas a twin brother is just an interesting (and very entertaining) story)

 

[Orange Crush]

odd, I had scratched him off the list as I thought he was taken, but now I don't see where he was.

Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe (Sac and Fox (Sauk): Wa-Tho-Huk) (28 May, 1888 – 28 March, 1953[1]) was an American athlete. Considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon, played American football at the collegiate and professional levels, and also played professional baseball and basketball. He lost his Olympic titles after it was found he was paid for playing two seasons of minor league baseball before competing in the games, thus violating the amateur status rules.

Thorpe was Native American Indian and European American. Raised in the Sac and Fox nation in Oklahoma, he was named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as "Bright Path". He played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career, and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.

In 1950 Thorpe was named the greatest athlete of the first half of the twentieth century by the Associated Press (AP). In 1999 he was ranked third on the AP list of top athletes of the 20th century.

His professional sports career ended in the years of the Great Depression, and Thorpe struggled to earn a living. He worked several odd jobs, struggled with alcoholism, and lived out the last years of his life in failing health and poverty. In 1983, thirty years after his death, the International Olympic Commission (IOC) restored his Olympic medals to his name.

About friggin' time the #1 guy in the category goes. 13th round?!? Ridiculous value here.

 

[the moops]

About friggin' time the #1 guy in the category goes.

He is high on the list, but no way is he #1

 

[AcerFC]

13.5 Mani- Religious

Mani (in Persian: مانی, Syriac: ܡܐܢܝ) (c. 210–276 AD) was the founder of Manichaeism, an ancient gnostic religion that was once widespread but is now extinct. Mani was born of Iranian (Parthian) parentage in Assuristan, located in modern-day Iraq, which was a part of the Persian Empire during Mani's life. Mani may have been of Persian parentage.[citation needed]

Mani's father, XXXX or XXXX, was from Hamadan, in present day Iran, and his mother, XXXX, was of the family of the Kamsaragan, who claimed kinship with the Parthian royal house, but the names of his father and mother are both Syriac.

Although Mani's original writings have been lost, portions were preserved in Egyptian Coptic and in later Chinese Manichaean writings.

Manichaeism (in Modern Persian آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese: 摩尼教; pinyin: Móní Jiào) was one of the major Iranian Gnostic religions, originating in Sassanid Persia. Although most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani (Syriac, ܡܐܢܝ, c. AD 210–276) have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived. Manichaeism is distinguished by its eleborate cosmology describing the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process which takes place in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of light from which it came.

Manichaeism thrived between the third and seventh centuries, and at its height was one of the most widespread religions in the world. Manichaean churches and scriptures existed as far east as China and as far west as the Roman Empire. Manichaeism appears to have died out before the sixteenth century in southern China.

The original six sacred books of Manichaeism, composed in Syriac Aramaic, were soon translated into other languages to help spread the religion. As they spread to the east, the Manichaean writings passed through Middle Persian, Parthian, Sogdian, and ultimately Uyghur and Chinese translations. As they spread to the west, they were translated into Greek, Coptic, and Latin. The spread and success of Manichaeism were seen as a threat to other religions, and it was widely persecuted in Christian, Zoroastrian, Buddhist. Later Muslims however showed tolerance to Manichaeism and gave it protected status.

 

[Orange Crush]

About friggin' time the #1 guy in the category goes.

He is high on the list, but no way is he #1

I look forward to debating you when the list is complete.

 

[Fennis]

Awesome Acer. Here is a list of words in your first two sentences that I was not familiar with until your post:

Mani, مانی,Syriac, ܡܐܢܝ, Manichaeism, gnostic, Assuristan.

 

[timschochet]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.

Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

 

[Fennis]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.

Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

Orange Crush?

 

[Fennis]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.

Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

Orange Crush?

Oh wait, hes not drafting.

 

[AcerFC]

Awesome Acer. Here is a list of words in your first two sentences that I was not familiar with until your post:Mani, مانی,Syriac, ܡܐܢܝ, Manichaeism, gnostic, Assuristan.

I guess you are uneducated then Glad I could help. Someone PM me in 2 days when I am up againJust kidding. I am always following along

 

[larry_boy_44]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

anyone have a list of how many Americans are on each team?<--- 0 Americans, BTW

 

[Ozymandias]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

Please don't spotlight.

 

[Orange Crush]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.

Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

Orange Crush?

I'm not a drafter. But I'm flattered I guess.

 

[Orange Crush]

Ok, looking over the teams, it looks like in addition to Usual21, AcerFC may be over the American # Limit.

Acer FC

Einstein (immigrated to U.S. after major accomplishments - could arguably be non-American)

Edison

Michael Jordan

Jefferson

MLK Jr.

Warhol

also, Andy Dufresne is at the 5 limit:

Neil Armstrong

Wilbur Wright

Elvis Presley

Isaac Asimov

Jesse Owens

Several teams have 3 Americans as the next closest.

 

[Fennis]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.

Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

Orange Crush?

I'm not a drafter. But I'm flattered I guess.

You seem to know what's going on.

 

[dparker713]

Ok, looking over the teams, it looks like in addition to Usual21, AcerFC may be over the American # Limit.Acer FCEinstein (immigrated to U.S. after major accomplishments - could arguably be non-American)EdisonMichael JordanJeffersonMLK Jr.Warholalso, Andy Dufresne is at the 5 limit:Neil ArmstrongWilbur WrightElvis PresleyIsaac AsimovJesse OwensSeveral teams have 3 Americans as the next closest.

I know he was allowed in GAD, but Einstein really has no business being classified as an American if he's in the scientist category.

 

[Fennis]

Ok, looking over the teams, it looks like in addition to Usual21, AcerFC may be over the American # Limit.Acer FCEinstein (immigrated to U.S. after major accomplishments - could arguably be non-American)EdisonMichael JordanJeffersonMLK Jr.Warholalso, Andy Dufresne is at the 5 limit:Neil ArmstrongWilbur WrightElvis PresleyIsaac AsimovJesse OwensSeveral teams have 3 Americans as the next closest.

I know he was allowed in GAD, but Einstein really has no business being classified as an American if he's in the scientist category.

For this draft, Tim defined an American as someone born in the United States.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.

Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

What? You harboring gentiles now?

I sent the PM to timschochet - after I sent one to Usual21.

Acer FC is not over the limit; he's at the limit.

The rule is five people born in the United States (third post of page 1, rule 2).

My bad, I knew over the weekend when I updated my spreadsheet two people had five (Acer & Usual - think Andy had 3 or 4 at the time). I forgot I was going to post that info Monday, but I was kind of rushing through airports all day. Totally spaced it yesterday when Hendrix was taken.

Here's another issue now, IMO...if anybody wanted to draft Hendrix today, he was off the table. Now he's back on. We blew through about 18 picks...and we're on a serpentine, so if anybody wanted him, we're going in the opposite direction now (sorry, didn't get much sleep, pretty sure that is darn near incoherent).

Anyway, I don't think Hendrix should go back to draftable status until after pick 14.07. Make sense to you folks?

 

[Orange Crush]

Ok, looking over the teams, it looks like in addition to Usual21, AcerFC may be over the American # Limit.Acer FCEinstein (immigrated to U.S. after major accomplishments - could arguably be non-American)EdisonMichael JordanJeffersonMLK Jr.Warholalso, Andy Dufresne is at the 5 limit:Neil ArmstrongWilbur WrightElvis PresleyIsaac AsimovJesse OwensSeveral teams have 3 Americans as the next closest.

I know he was allowed in GAD, but Einstein really has no business being classified as an American if he's in the scientist category.

For this draft, Tim defined an American as someone born in the United States.

Ah. Then Andy only has 4 Americans then, since Asimov immigrated to the U.S. when he was a toddler.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Ah. Then Andy only has 4 Americans then, since Asimov immigrated to the U.S. when he was a toddler.

 

[Usual21]

Sorry about going over the limit on Americans.

12.07 - Saddam Hussein - Villain

write up later.

 

[FUBAR]

About friggin' time the #1 guy in the category goes.

He is high on the list, but no way is he #1

I look forward to debating you when the list is complete.

makes two of us. #1 is difficult to judge, it comes down to personal preference, but Thorpe is a strong contender for it. Has anyone ever been as well-rounded?

 

[Ozymandias]

Hi everyone, just got in a half hour ago or so, and the OP should be fully updated. Big thanks to Thorn for sending me a list.

Usual21's last selection of Jimi Hendrix is not allowed. He already has 5 Americans selected. Thanks to the unnamed drafter who alerted me to this fact.

What? You harboring gentiles now?

I sent the PM to timschochet - after I sent one to Usual21.

Acer FC is not over the limit; he's at the limit.

The rule is five people born in the United States (third post of page 1, rule 2).

My bad, I knew over the weekend when I updated my spreadsheet two people had five (Acer & Usual - think Andy had 3 or 4 at the time). I forgot I was going to post that info Monday, but I was kind of rushing through airports all day. Totally spaced it yesterday when Hendrix was taken.

Here's another issue now, IMO...if anybody wanted to draft Hendrix today, he was off the table. Now he's back on. We blew through about 18 picks...and we're on a serpentine, so if anybody wanted him, we're going in the opposite direction now (sorry, didn't get much sleep, pretty sure that is darn near incoherent).

Anyway, I don't think Hendrix should go back to draftable status until after pick 14.07. Make sense to you folks?

Personally, I think Hendrix should be declared ineligible. It is unfair to drafters who would have drafted him, but then took someone else because he was not available. It is then unjust to allow someone later to come along and pick him up. Fairer for all concerned.

 

[flysack]

odd, I had scratched him off the list as I thought he was taken, but now I don't see where he was.

Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe (Sac and Fox (Sauk): Wa-Tho-Huk) (28 May, 1888 – 28 March, 1953[1]) was an American athlete. Considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon, played American football at the collegiate and professional levels, and also played professional baseball and basketball. He lost his Olympic titles after it was found he was paid for playing two seasons of minor league baseball before competing in the games, thus violating the amateur status rules.

Thorpe was Native American Indian and European American. Raised in the Sac and Fox nation in Oklahoma, he was named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as "Bright Path". He played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career, and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.

In 1950 Thorpe was named the greatest athlete of the first half of the twentieth century by the Associated Press (AP). In 1999 he was ranked third on the AP list of top athletes of the 20th century.

His professional sports career ended in the years of the Great Depression, and Thorpe struggled to earn a living. He worked several odd jobs, struggled with alcoholism, and lived out the last years of his life in failing health and poverty. In 1983, thirty years after his death, the International Olympic Commission (IOC) restored his Olympic medals to his name.

About friggin' time the #1 guy in the category goes. 13th round?!? Ridiculous value here.

He was first name I thought of when I saw the "Athlete" category. Thorpe did it all, and did it all well.

[edit: spotlighting!]

 

[Doug B]

13.5 Mani- Religious

Guy was a real doosh to the Red Sox.

 

[flysack]

Sorry about going over the limit on Americans.

12.07 - Saddam Hussein - Villain

write up later.

I like this pick, a lot. It may suffer some backlash as a "pick of the times," seeing as the U.S. is in a war because of him. But if you read anything about Saddam's activities before this war, hell, before the first Iraqi War, you'll quickly realize just how much of a total evil scumbag he was.

Google Halabja for some fine examples of this man's evil. Yes, EVIL. When you use poison gas -outlawed worldwide by the Geneva Convention- against civilians in your own effing country, you are effing evil (warning: that link may be to wikipedia, but it also shows a pic of children and animal victims of Saddam's gas attacks).

The incident, which Human Rights Watch (HRW) defined as an act of genocide, was as of 2008 the largest-scale chemical weapons attack directed against a civilian-populated area in history.

These attacks were carried out in 1988, back when the U.S. was feeding Saddam a lifeline of dollars and military training. It was said that Saddam was using the Kurds as test subjects for possible gas attacks against Iran. He apparently liked using nerve & mustard gas because of their ability to affect the genetics of the victims. If they lived, their children were usually born with birth defects, if they could have children at all. There are accounts of the grandchildren of Halabja being born with gross birth defects and lifelong ailments. He wasn't targeting a village, but generations of people.

Personally, Saddam made my opposition to the current Iraqi War very difficult, as it did for many Iraqis themselves. They desperately wanted Saddam ousted, but they didn't want the Americans to do it because they feared exchanging one tyrant for another.

 

[Doug B]

Okay ... I'm on travel today until late afternoon. I've sent my 13th-round pick and a back-up to Flysack, Orange Crush, timcochet, moops, Yankee, and Arsenal of Doom.

If you all really fly today, and get to my 14th round pick before I return, and my 13th round backup pick is still available, please pull the trigger for me.

If both picks get sniped, I'll make it all up when I return.

 

[AcerFC]

Eisntein=not born in US as some have pointed out. I know I can not draft any more Americans

Here is the write up on Ben-Gurion

David Ben-Gurion- Leader

David Ben-Gurion (help·info) (Hebrew: דָּוִד בֶּן-גּוּרְיּוֹן‎, born David Grün on 16 October 1886, died 1 December 1973) was the first Prime Minister of Israel. Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, culminated in his instrumental role in the founding of the state of Israel. After leading Israel to victory in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Ben-Gurion helped build the state institutions and oversaw the absorption of vast numbers of Jews from all over the world. Upon retiring from political life in 1970, he moved to Sde Boker, a kibbutz where he lived until his death. Posthumously, Ben-Gurion was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Important People of the Century.

Ben-Gurion led Israel during its War of Independence. He became Prime Minister on 14 May 1948 and would remain in that post until 1963, except for a period of nearly two years between 1954 and 1955. As Premier, he oversaw the establishment of the state's institutions. He presided over various national projects aimed at the rapid development of the country and its population: Operation Magic Carpet, the airlift of Jews from Arab countries, the construction of the National Water Carrier, rural development projects and the establishment of new towns and cities. In particular, he called for pioneering settlement in outlying areas, especially in the Negev.

When Ben-Gurion returned to government, Israeli forces responded more aggressively to Palestinian guerilla attacks from Gaza—still under Egyptian rule. The growing cycle of violence led Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser to build up his arms with the help of the Soviet Union. The Israelis responded by arming themselves with help from France. Nasser blocked the passage of Israeli ships through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. In July 1956, America and Britain withdrew their offer to fund the Aswan High Dam project on the Nile and a week later Nasser ordered the nationalization of the French and British controlled Suez Canal.[citation needed] Ben-Gurion collaborated with the British and French to plan the 1956 Sinai War in which Israel stormed the Sinai Peninsula thus giving British and French forces a pretext to intervene in order to secure the Suez Canal. Intervention by the United States and the United Nations forced the British and French to back down and Israel to withdraw from Sinai in return for promises of free navigation through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. A UN force was stationed between Egypt and Israel.

Ben-Gurion stepped down as prime minister for what he described as personal reasons in 1963, and chose XXX as his successor. A year later a rivalry developed between the two on the issue of the Lavon Affair. Ben-Gurion broke with the party in June 1965 over XXXX handling of the Lavon affair and formed a new party, Rafi which won ten seats in the Knesset. After the Six-Day War, Ben-Gurion was in favour of returning all the occupied territories apart from Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and Mount Hebron.[11]

Graves of Paula and David Ben-Gurion, Midreshet Ben-GurionIn 1968, when Rafi merged with Mapai to form the Alignment, Ben-Gurion refused to reconcile with his old party. He favoured electoral reforms in which a constituency-based system would replace what he saw as a chaotic proportional representation method. He formed another new party, the National List, which won four seats in the 1969 election. Ben-Gurion retired from politics in 1970 and spent his last years living in a modest home on the kibbutz.

Ben-Gurion is buried alongside his wife Paula at a site in Midreshet Ben-Gurion in the Negev desert.

 

[BobbyLayne]

13.06 Yankee23fan - Next Selection

13.07 Thorn - On Deck

13.08 DC Thunder - In The Hole

13.09 Doug B

13.10 Mad Sweeney

13.11 Big Rocks

13.12 higgins

13.13 John Madden's Lunchbox

13.14 Usual21

13.15 thatguy

13.16 Andy Dufrense

13.17 Herbert the Hippo

13.18 BobbyLayne

13.19 MisterCIA

13.20 Abrantes

 

[Yankee23Fan]

pick coming